The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) notes that employers now value candidates who can demonstrate a broad mix of problem-solving, communication, and technical abilities. MTU will hold its Spring 2026 Academic Minor Fair on Wednesday, Jan. 28, for students interested in adding complementary skills and credentials to their degree programs. The event runs from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the East Reading Room of the Library.
The fair will feature 80 minors across departments ranging from engineering and computing to humanities and business. Academic advisors will be available for students to learn how minors fit into degree plans and to explore areas that match their academic interests and professional goals. “Attending the minor fair gives students an opportunity to talk to many different departments and colleges about minors all in one place,” said Maria Bergstrom, the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education at MTU. “It’s an efficient way to see what is available and get your questions answered.”
Recent survey data from NACE shows strong employer demand for graduates who can demonstrate a diverse set of competencies. In its 2025 report, employers identified problem solving (88.3 percent), teamwork (81.0 percent), written communication (77.1 percent), initiative (73.7 percent), and strong work ethic (73.2 percent) as the top desired skills in new hires. Technical skills, verbal communication, flexibility, analytical reasoning, and attention to detail are also ranked highly. Additional value is placed on interpersonal, leadership, computer, entrepreneurial, and creative abilities. “Helping your résumé and application stand out from the crowd, can be something that helps your résumé and application be more memorable to recruiters, especially if you are able to talk about why you chose it and how you think it is relevant to what you want to do in your career,” said Bergstrom.
The fair highlights how completing a minor can supplement a student’s major with skills relevant to modern corporate and project-based environments. Program combinations, university materials note, can provide applicants with additional evidence of competency during internships, job searches, and early career placement. “You can gain technical skills from outside your major or expand your understanding of social, cultural, ethical, and other contexts for the kinds of problems you want to work on,” Bergstrom explained. “Taking courses outside your major also exposes you to diverse approaches to problems and makes you a more flexible collaborator.”
Minors represented at the fair span fields such as cybersecurity, aerospace engineering, public health, and writing. Essential Education minors, including AI ethics, diversity studies, and economics and society, will also be showcased.
A full list of minors is posted on the university’s Essential Education Blog. Academic units interested in participating may contact coordinator Steve Patchin at shpatchi@mtu.edu. To find out more, go to the MTU website and look at the “Events Calendar” section.
