2008 Winter - University Of Southern Indiana

Real-world TrainingInternships and co-operative programsgive students valuable work experienceStudents who complete co-op orinternship experiences find themselvesa step up on the ladder to asuccessful career. As job candidates,their names often rise to the top.Internships give students a jumpstart on their professional careers, saidPhilip L. Parker, director of CareerServices and Placement for theUniversity of Southern Indiana.“When I meet with seniors whohave done internships, I see a significantdifference,” he said. “They alreadyhave a sense of professionalism. Theyhave begun to build a professional network.They have a confidence aboutthemselves becausethey’ve been in theworkplace withprofessionals intheir chosencareer.”During the lastyear, 110 employershired USI studentsParkeras interns. Parkerpoints out advantagesto employers:“They get the benefit of havingdedicated and ambitious students who,with the right course work behindthem, can make a valuable contributionto the organization.”Many academic departments atUSI require that students reach junioror senior status before completing aninternship to assure they have a goodfoundation of knowledge to apply intheir real-world experience.Another advantage for employers isthe opportunity to identify talent theymay want to bring on board when astudent is ready to graduate.In recent years, Career Servicesand Placement has facilitated 250-300internships a year. Parker wants todouble that number.Depending on the employer,students earn academic credit orget paid experience.While Parker wants to expandinternship opportunities in all fields, helists increased opportunities for studentsstudying liberal arts—including history,sociology, and English—as a high priority.“We always have a need for internshipsfor those students,” he said.Another priority is to increaseopportunities for students majoring inSTEM (science, technology, engineering,and mathematics) areas.Nationwide programs are under way toencourage more students to pursuecareers in STEM areas to prepare forthe in-demand jobs of coming years.In summer 2007, 25 engineeringstudents completed internships. Parkersaid that AK Steel in Rockport, Indiana,has committed to USI being a primaryschool for recruitment of engineeringinterns and co-op students. AK Steelemployed seven USI engineering studentslast summer.Career Services works with manyregional employers and also helps studentslearn about internship opportunitiesnationwide.In summer 2007, managementmajor Christina Warren completed aninternship at Sargent and Lundy, anengineering firm in Chicago. BryceBullock, a finance major, also wasin Chicago. He worked for GeneralElectric. Brittany Oeth, a marketingmajor, worked for UniversityDirectories, based in Chapel Hill,North Carolina. Several studentsworked in Indianapolis, includingLauren Omohundro who completedan internship with the office of CheriDaniels, Indiana’s first lady. In springsemester, Scott Carr was chosen asDemocratic Intern of the Year forhis work with the Indiana GeneralAssembly.December 200712University of Southern Indiana