An Externship/Job Shadowing Program National Society for Experiential Education – October 2009 Lisa Garza, UT Dallas

Snapshot of UT Dallas and Career Center Getting Started Research – dont reinvent the wheel Timelines, sponsor/student recruitment, placement process, orientation, spotlights Reflection and Evaluation outcomes Challenges and Successes Updates for Discussion and Q&A UT Dallas Career Center - NSEE 2009

4-year, public university with 15,000 students Founded in 1969 – celebrating 40 years! 63% undergraduate students Largest undergraduate majors: Business Administration – 1256 Biology Interdisciplinary Studies – 630 Accounting – 624 Electrical Engineering – 584 UT Dallas Career Center - NSEE 2009

Reports to Student Affairs Centralized/De-centralized model 15 professional, full-time staff members (not including support and student staff) Internship Program Internship courses Internship postings and internship development Manage internship process for several academic departments Internship Team (Associate Director, Internship Coordinators) proposed, developed, and managed the program last year. Added our Recruiting Coordinator this year to manage contact with sponsors. UT Dallas Career Center - NSEE 2009

Why do we need this program? Spring 2008 – Research – what are other schools already doing? Time of year – winter, spring, summer break Operated by Career Center, Alumni, Academic Dept. Process – recruit sponsors or students first? What we decided and why Proposal turned in/approved by late summer Began sponsor recruitment in Oct UT Dallas Career Center - NSEE 2009

6 month process from beginning to end Competing with Alternative Spring Break, vacations, internships, jobs, and other activities Oct-Nov – Sponsor Recruitment Dec-Jan – Student Recruitment Feb – Selection/Matching/Placement/Notification Mar – Orientation/Externship/Reflection/Evaluation UT Dallas Career Center - NSEE 2009

Oct/Nov 2008; applications due Nov. 28 th Online applications Hard-copy applications at all employer events Used existing employer base – s to: Current/former/potential internship sites Career Expo/event attendees On-campus interview participants Information through Alumni Relations Personal contacts Resulted in applications from 22 organizations listing 38 externship openings UT Dallas Career Center - NSEE 2009

Student applications available Dec. 1, 2008 Published list of available opportunities Wanted to reach students prior to winter break Applications available online; hard-copies in office and at all student programs s/online recruiting system/website/fliers Resulted in 39 student applications 5 were graduate students and not eligible 1 did not attend orientation 33 total student participants UT Dallas Career Center - NSEE 2009

No expectations Students preferences were across the board in terms of industry, but many sites not selected Ended up working with only 12/22 sites Numbers were small enough = simple matching process Went back to some sponsors and asked them to take another student or 2 (or 8!) Everyone was SO accommodating and willing to help Placed all students (except 1) with their first choice UT Dallas Career Center - NSEE 2009

Mandatory – only 1 student did not attend Gave them 3 dates to choose from Lots of enthusiasm for the NEW program; giveaways Topics: professionalism; expectations; reminders/guidelines; post-externship activities Folder: release form; planning form; 20 questions; thank you template; self-reflection; evaluation form UT Dallas Career Center - NSEE 2009

Recognition for students/sponsors and publicity for next year Asked for student interest at orientation Completed site visit and took photos Provided guide questions to the students and gave them time to respond via Information was put on our website and used in various presentations UT Dallas Career Center - NSEE 2009

Required evaluation forms for students and sponsors Received from 26/33 students Received from 10/12 sponsors (covering 18 students) Suggested self-reflection for students Focus group – optional 4 students participated – different majors and different externship locations Able to really dig down and get great feedback UT Dallas Career Center - NSEE 2009

Sponsors 100% of respondents said they would host again 100% said students level of professionalism/preparedness for externship was excellent/good Students 100% - provided me with info about a career field 100% - helped to clarify my career goals 96% - allowed me to connect career options to my major 88% - provided me with new networking contacts 100% of focus group participants identified something they learned about an industry/career and about themselves UT Dallas Career Center - NSEE 2009

Timeframe for sponsors – 4 months between application and actual program dates Unknown # of applicants Selection/Matching/Placement process UT Dallas Career Center - NSEE 2009

Student feedback Learning has occurred 100% of participants (not graduating) said they would do it again! Great feedback from sponsors Information about internship/job openings More on-campus exposure for our department, especially this year with new sophomore option UT Dallas Career Center - NSEE 2009

Branding – name and logo Sophomore Year Experience (SOYE) option with 2 components: Externship – guaranteed placement (Yikes!) Internship – preparation seminars and directed assistance in locating/acquiring summer position Brought in 4 th team member to assist with sponsor communications UT Dallas Career Center - NSEE 2009

Questions for me? Current programs at other schools? Challenges? Successes? UT Dallas Career Center - NSEE 2009

Lisa Garza, Associate Director UT Dallas Career Center UT Dallas Career Center - NSEE 2009