Kevin Peterson, an intern working on Boeing Co.'s Space Launch System (SLS) stands for a photo at the Boeing facility in Huntsville, Alabama, on June 8, 2012. Photographer: Mike McCormick/Boeing via Bloomberg

Faced with a wave of retiring engineers and scientists and the need for precise expertise, U.S. companies –including GE, Boeing, United Technologies Corp. (UTX) and Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) — are reaching into colleges to make contact with students far earlier than they ever have. Their involvement extends to advising and shaping curricula so graduates can plug into jobs faster with less training time and cost.

Read more at Bloomberg.