Baruch College puts a lot of effort into supporting student career readiness. However, many students often graduate without ever listening to professionals from the industries they plan to work in. 

Hosting guest speakers is one of the most effective methods to bridge the gap between the classroom and the real world. 

Guest speakers offer students a realistic perspective on various industries and careers, ultimately guiding them in the right direction. 

Not every department needs guest speakers, but specific courses would benefit from them. 

However, there are some challenges. During the fall and spring semesters, many classes struggle with fitting their entire curriculum into such a short academic calendar. 

To avoid this problem, Baruch should host guest speaker panels and opportunities during club hours, ensuring all classes have enough time to follow alongside their curriculum and meet learning objectives. 

Another issue Baruch faces is the incentive. Baruch should foster meaningful connections with professionals and provide a reason for them to speak to students on campus. 

A professional speaker program that all faculty can have access to may help students develop positive connections with alumni and promote speakers through social media. Implementing this program would show the speakers that their knowledge is valued at Baruch. 

At the end of the day, students deserve to hear valuable advice and insights from real voices from the industries and careers they want to enter. Professors can describe unique career paths, but speakers can provide unique anecdotes.  

If Baruch really wants to help students prepare for their path after college, they need to start bringing professionals into the classrooms.