Pa. urges graduate retention

By BETH LUCAS
Collegian Staff Writer

Students majoring in technological fields may be able to help Pennsylvania "lead the nation into the 21st century" by staying in the state, said Gov. Tom Ridge.

This month, Ridge announced his "Pennsylvania's Part of You" campaign that aims to keep college graduates in-state.

As of Fall Semester 1998, 58.6 percent of Penn State graduates were working in Pennsylvania, according to the Office of Career Services. However, Ridge would like to see this number grow, especially in technology-based fields.

"We found that especially in this region, there is a high demand for high-tech jobs, but the demand outweighs the supply," said Ken Guza, technical recruiter for Manpower Technical, 101 Innovation Blvd. "But people just aren't enrolling in high-tech fields like they used to."

The campaign consists of a video showing the highlights of living in Pennsylvania, which includes testimonials from Joe Paterno and Fred Rogers of children's television fame. The department also works with statewide businesses to provide a World Wide Web site (www.madeinpajobs.com) that lists more than 100 available technical jobs in the state, said Lauren Cotter Brobson, director of communications for Pennsylvania's Department of Community and Economic Development.

Students currently attending a Pennsylvania school will be targeted, she said.

"Pennsylvania is quickly becoming a high-tech state," Brobson said. "This trend is so new that the perception tends to be this is an old industrial state, but steel mills aren't going to be in the future for this state."

Pennsylvania's technological growth is ranked No. 5 in the nation, Brobson said. Among northeastern states, Pennsylvania is growing the fastest and creating jobs in fields including computer programming and pharmaceutical technology. But there are between 8,000 and 10,000 unfilled openings, Brobson said.

The growth can be attributed in part to the drop in computer prices, said Jim Gatto, partner at Micros & More Inc., Rt. 322.

"Computers are affordable to businesses now, so this new field has opened up," he said.

Penn State hopes to educate workers for these jobs with its new School of Information Sciences and Technology (IST), which opens Fall Semester 1999, said Steve MacCarthy, Penn State executive director of university relations.

Penn State President Graham Spanier announced in a speech last Tuesday that $4.5 million of the university's 1999-2000 budget will be allotted to the new IST school. He added employers already have offered to hire every graduate of the school.

"We hope and believe that by establishing the new program, we'll be in a position to help the governor's intent," George McMurtry, special assistant to the provost for IST, said.

"We will certainly help educate people who will be excellent candidates for the technology industry the state is encouraging."