1 Capital Union Building – Penn State Harrisburg Administration Building – Penn State Schuylkill

Internships and Experiential Learning Opportunities for Business Professionals, Advisory Board Members, and Civic Leaders at Penn State’s Campus/Colleges William J. Mahar Associate Provost and Senior AssociateDean for Academic Affairs Associate Provost and Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Capital College

3 Internship? “Internship” refers to short-term practicum experiences, cooperative education programs, and other types of experience-based learning. Capital College academic internships combine an on-site supervised work experience with a structured academic learning plan for which a student earns academic credits. Nearly 300 active [non-student teaching] internship sites are available in the Capital region.

4 Typical Distribution of Non-Student Teaching Internships at Penn State Harrisburg Penn State Harrisburg Internships 2003 Spring 124 Summer 98 Fall 133 Total Internships 355 Source: Penn State Harrisburg, Office of Career Services, Annual Report [Board of Advisors Report]

5 Benefits to Students Internship experience increases students’ interests in their respective majors Helps them learn how to make effective presentations Helps students attain detailed knowledge about their potential professions in a realistic setting Students learn how to work with people and get along with colleagues Source: Capital College Internship Task Force Report, February 7, 2004

6 Benefits to Students Increases students’ self-motivation and personal growth Helps some students obtain hours toward certification or licensure Helps them discover whether they really want to pursue a specific career Increases self- confidence and helps develop useful skill sets Source: Capital College Internship Task Force Report, February 7, 2004

7 Benefits to Students Internship experience bridges the gap between classroom theory and workplace realities The internship environment can be “success and learning oriented” rather than competitive Internship experience increases students’ interests in their major and their chances of finding a job before graduation Structured internships help students appreciate the learning benefits provided by the internship

8 National Association of Colleges and Employers – 2003 Survey Data Employers cite internship programs as the most effective recruiting method for the second consecutive year Increase in conversion rate from internship experience to full-time employment 1998 – Interns 14.5 % and Co-ops 12% 2003 – Interns 32% and Co-ops 33.5%

9 Employers Report: “Internships Are Good for Business” 85% of nearly 400 employers reporting had Internship/Cooperative education programs in 2003 compared with 75% in 2001 Over 55% of new non-education hires had internship experiences

10 How Do Students Locate Internships? 1. Search the Web?    

11 How Do Students Locate Internships? 2. Call Mom and Dad? Uncle Ned? 3. Check with Career Services at a Penn State Campus/College?   tml tml tml

12 How Do Students Locate Internships? 4. Check Penn State Web Pages at Other Campus/College Locations?  book/Internships.html book/Internships.html book/Internships.html  ships.htm ships.htm ships.htm 

13 How Can Advisory Board Members Help? 1. Contact key faculty members and administrators to obtain information about Penn State internships 2. Contact Career Services personnel at Penn State locations 3. Create internship programs in your own businesses or corporate organizations 4. Organize career support subcommittees of a campus Advisory Board to promote internships

14 How Can Advisory Board Members Help? 5. Establish flexible agreements with specific academic programs – PHEAA and Penn State Harrisburg 6. Form partnerships with specific majors and programs, such as Information Sciences and Technology, Computer Science, Communications, and Humanities or Liberal Arts 7. Seek service learning arrangements that benefit your organization and student interns

15 How Can Advisory Board Members Help? 8. Determine whether internship or service learning programs are supported by parent organization or corporate headquarters and link local program to national initiatives 9. Help a Penn State campus/college promote its internship programs in your professional and civic organizations 10. Publish brochures or information pieces about your company’s internship program and distribute materials to college career services professionals 11. Attend campus/college internship fairs and share information with students

16 How Can Advisory Board Members Help? 12.Encourage Penn State students to participate in Penn State’s Harrisburg or Washington semesters 13.Work with a Penn State campus/college to post your company’s internships to appropriate Penn State pages 14.If your company has an international operation or non-US partner, establish internships in foreign countries so US students can learn about business operations in different cultures

17 How Can Advisory Board Members Help? 15. Work with Penn State students and faculty to develop a problem-solving learning experience through an internship or cooperative experience 16. Meet with your company’s interns during the semester and discuss learning experiences with them 17. Publish internship success stories in corporate newsletters and other organizational publications

18 How Can Advisory Board Members Help? 18. Arrange meetings between interns and upper management to discuss organizational values, ethics, and business planning 19. Use testimonials from former interns to attract new interns and show community outreach vision of your organization 20. Link your organization with Penn State’s web pages at

19 How Can Advisory Board Members Help? 21. Connect with Penn State through a “Friends of Penn State” access account 22. Help your civic and community service agencies by suggesting internships as ways to support volunteers in arts organizations and advocacy groups 23. Serve as informal mentor to interns in your organization during regular internship activities 24. Check in regularly with national internship organizations to review trends and opportunities

20 Some Non-Penn State Internship Resources        

21 Sample Testimonials “My internship at the Harrisburg YWCA prepared me for my career in a major human service organization in Pittsburgh. Without the internship, I would never have had the confidence to pursue this career or open my own business.” Ms. Kimberly Anastas, Capital College Alumna, Self-Employed Public Relations Consultant, Pittsburgh, PA.

22 Sample Testimonials “I never knew how much I loved magazine publishing until I began my internship with the Central Pennsylvania Business Journal. I love my career, and I hope I can help other Penn State interns achieve their career goals.” Ms. Denise McMullen Remillard, Capital College Alumna, 1987, Vice-President, Journal Publications, Inc. Harrisburg, PA.

23 Want Copies? Please see: h ttp:// College Internships.ppt h ttp:// College Internships.ppt Telephone:

24 Capital Union Building – Penn State Harrisburg Administration Building – Penn State Schuylkill