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Abstract

Anecdotal stories by professionals working in the heritage management industry, specifically Cultural Resource Management (CRM), describe feeling unprepared for the work upon graduating with an undergraduate anthropology degree. Likewise, recent graduates complain that they are unqualified for posted CRM jobs even though many hope to enter the field upon graduation. This anecdotal information raises questions about whether undergraduate academic training adequately prepares students for compliance archaeology. Although anecdotes suggest the academy could do a better job at preparing undergraduate students for compliance work, few resources exist to evaluate these claims. To further complicate the issue, some academics rightly question whether undergraduate education should focus on training students to enter the industry at the expense of a more holistic education. They also question who should be responsible for training students to enter the industry. This article explores these complicated issues and presents initial results from a recent pilot survey conducted in Colorado that was designed to examine undergraduate student preparation for compliance work. Using these preliminary results, we evaluate perceived gaps in training and offer possibilities for addressing these gaps that range from partnerships between CRM and academia to curriculum reform where appropriate.

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In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted.