In a move to prepare students for a job market transformed by rapid advances in artificial intelligence, the Meditz Dean’s Office is launching a new spring seminar aimed at closing the digital skills gap employers say is widening every year.
“Digital Edge: Tools for Career Readiness” is a six-week, hands-on seminar that teaches students how to use emerging technologies, interpret data and build practical digital tools that are now standard across nearly every industry. The course is open exclusively to students who have completed Meditz Sophomore Success, continuing the school’s push toward a universal foundation in career readiness.
“While I don’t see myself personally participating, I think it would be a great idea, especially for those students who heavily rely on technology and analyzing data for their current major and future jobs,” said sophomore Biology major Lauren Discesare, who just completed Sophomore Success this fall.
According to Amna Haider, Director of Data Management and Enrollment at Fairfield Meditz, the trend is impossible to ignore. “Sixty-six percent of employers say they wouldn’t hire a candidate without AI skills; the Digital Edge seminar makes sure our students aren’t left behind.”
Haider says this skills gap is exactly what inspired the development of the new seminar: “We created the Digital Edge seminar to help students confidently explore the tools shaping modern industries and stand out among their peers.”
Digital Edge focuses on practical, industry-relevant skills students can apply immediately during internships and early career roles. Participants will learn to interpret, manage and analyze data as well as apply AI tools responsibly and effectively.
Haider notes that the hands-on model is the core of its value, “By the end of six weeks, students won’t just understand AI, they’ll understand its capabilities, its limitations and how to use it responsibly.”
Students will also complete a portfolio with data work, AI automation and examples of digital problem-solving tailored to their future career paths.
For Steph Gallo, Director of Career Planning for the College of Arts and Sciences, Digital Edge responds to a straightforward need: Students must graduate ready for workplaces that are already fully digital.
“Our students get great jobs, but what they often don’t get are some of the digital tools used across industries,” Gallo explains. “We have to at least acknowledge that AI is here and we need to teach students how to utilize it ethically and efficiently no matter their major.”
Gallo emphasizes that the seminar isn’t just for traditionally tech-oriented students, “You could be a Bio major, a Math major, a Comm major. This is about learning how to use digital tools to become more efficient in whatever field you’re in.”
Digital Edge is launching as a small, designed pilot. The instructional team expects to refine the curriculum in real time. “It’s never been done before, so we’re probably building the plane while we’re flying it a little bit,” Gallo adds. “We’re starting with 15 students, seeing what works and adjusting from there.”
Both Gallo and Haider expect Digital Edge to grow quickly as student demand and employer expectations continue to rise. “As AI evolves, so will this seminar,” Gallo says. “Our goal is simple: Every student should graduate fluent in the technologies shaping their futures.”
