The vast majority of Pennsylvania business executives from large companies believe the 14 state-owned universities are doing a good job of preparing students for their careers, according to a new survey.

More than 500 executives, randomly selected from companies with more than 50 employees, were asked to rate the performance of the State System of Higher Education in preparing their students for the workforce. All are directly involved in hiring employees.

Eighty-eight percent – nearly nine in 10 – rated the State System universities as “excellent” or “good.” Most said they believe the universities are teaching students what they need to know in order to be successful in the workplace.

The results mirror an earlier survey of employers that indicated that most business and industry leaders in the Commonwealth believe that State System graduates are among the best prepared workers they hire.

“The results of this latest survey is another strong endorsement of our universities,” said State System Chancellor James H. McCormick. “Business executives know they can count on quality when they hire a State System graduate.”

The business leaders identified the key traits they are looking for when hiring, including effective communication, interpersonal, organization and independent thinking skills. The majority of those surveyed said they believe the state-owned universities are teaching students the important things they need to know.

Among the common strengths the survey respondents said they seem among recent graduates are technical and computer skills, motivation and work ethic and job preparation.

Nearly three in five executives said their organizations have an ongoing relationship with a college or university. The majority of those relationships take the form of internships, student teachers and job placements. More than half of the organizations represented have an ongoing relationship with at least one of the State System universities.

The scientifically designed telephone survey was conducted in November and December by Millersville University’s Center for Opinion Research. Other surverys conducted on behalf of the State System in recent years have included students, alumni, legislators and the general public. All of generally indicated strong satisfaction with the performance of the universities.

With more than 96,000 students, the State System of Higher Education is the largest provider of higher education in the Commonwealth. Its 14 universities offer more than 250 degree and certificate programs in more than 120 areas of study. More than 360,000 System alumni live and work in Pennsylvania.

The state-owned universities are Bloomsburg, California, Cheyney, Clarion, East Stroudsburg, Edinboro, Indiana, Kutztown, Lock Haven, Mansfield, Millersville, Shippensburg, Slippery Rock and West Chester Universities of Pennsylvania. The System also operates branch campuses in Clearfield, Kittanning, Oil City and Punxsutawney and several regional centers, including the Dixon University Center in Harrisburg and the University Center for Southwest Pennsylvania in Pittsburgh. The regional centers are part of the Educational Resources Group, which is responsible for coordinating statewide programming.