Experiential Education at Ursuline College

Internships and Co-operative Education

Meegan Cox

Coordinator of Experiential Education

Overview

This presentation will: Define the types of experiential education

programs available at Ursuline College Explore the benefits of participation in these

programs Briefly summarize the Office of Counseling

and Career Services’s (OCCS) policies and procedures

Provide Student and Employer Testimonials

What is Experiential Education?

Experiential education is

“any form of education that emphasizes personal experience of the learner rather than learning from lectures, books, and other second hand sources.”

(McBrian & Brandt, 1997, p 38)

Experiential Education at Ursuline

Departments offering experiential education:

Nursing – Clinicals and Practicum

Education – Student Teaching

Long Term Care – Field Practicum

Social Work – Field Experience

OCCS provides opportunities to all other majors through: Internships Cooperative Education

What is an Internship?

Internships: Meaningful temporary work experiences directly

related to the student’s academic major For juniors and seniors with significant progress

in their major course work May be paid or unpaid Academic credit is always awarded Learning objectives/goals relate work

experiences to academic discipline

What is a Co-op? Co-ops:

Longer term work experiences in the student’s major (at least two semesters)

Always paid Not for credit Available for Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors Student is hired as a co-op on a part time basis

Related semesters of work in the co-op position will allow the student to work towards increasingly more meaningful and in-depth assignments

What’s the Difference?

Internships: Paid or unpaid Usually part-time Always for academic

credit Short term Often project based

Co-ops: Always paid Full or part-time Not for credit Long term or

recurring, but must be related semesters

In-depth

What’s the Same?

Participating in either of these programs will: facilitate student learning in the major

and in the career allow students to make intellectual

connections between course work and on the job assignments

boost student resumes increase professional competencies define career goals often lead to full time job offers upon

completion

Benefits of Participating in an Internship or Co-op: Employment!

60.2% of co-op students are offered employment upon completion (NACE, 2004)

57.6% of student interns are offered employment (NACE, 2004)

85.5% of employers report higher retention rates of hires from their own co-op or intern programs as compared to other college hires (NACE, 2004)

Students with job related experience spend less time in the job search (2.5 months) than those without (6.3 months) (Kysor & Pierce, 2000)

Benefits: Higher Salaries!

49.7% of employers say that they offer higher salaries to new college graduates with internship/co-op experience (NACE, 2004)

32.5% say they offer higher salaries to students from their own internship/co-op program (NACE, 2004)

These students tend to receive promotions and higher merit pay increases in their first job than students without experience (Kysor & Pierce, 2000)

What are the Benefits to Ursuline Students? Of the Ursuline students who participated in an

internship in the spring semester of 2005:

38% received job offers, promotions, or increased responsibility as a result of their internship

89% reported that their internship experience was high quality and would recommend the experience to other students

All received career and resume boosting experiences including networking opportunities with professionals in their field

What are the Common Concerns of Students?

For many students an internship or co-op is their introduction to a professional work setting and they may experience disillusionment (Sweitzer and King, 1999)

Students may fear that the internship they chose is not in a career track that they want to follow

They may be disappointed when the internship that seemed so exciting on paper involves some not so exciting leg work

Students may need coaching in professional behavior (punctuality, dress, demeanor, email and phone etiquette)

The staff of the OCCS have experience helping students with all of these issues, please do not hesitate to contact us at 440-646-8322 for guidance

Academic Requirements

All internships are facilitated through the Office of Counseling and Career Services

Faculty and Coordinator of Experiential Education approval of internship or co-op job description

Must be related to academic major Internships are always for credit Two site visits, one by the coordinator and one by the faculty

advisor Evaluations by the supervisor of the student’s professional

development and by the student of the work site

Complete requirements are available in the Internship and Co-operative Education Guides available in MU130 or at http://www.ursuline.edu/career_serv/index.htm

Now The Fun Part . . .

Student and Employer Testimonials . . .

“Some of the artifacts I was able to handle were amazing...things people dream of touching!  Such as The Supremes gowns and Ray Charles' sunglasses. 

I designed and made a pair of curtains for the "Tommy: The Who" exhibit and some stage skirting for the Ray Charles Exhibit, which many higher ups said "Really made the exhibit."   I am currently applying for assistant designer positions across the U.S. where I can utilize the great experience I have attained at the Rock Hall.”

Che’ PaskertFashion Merchandising Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Exhibitions Intern

Kendall Christian Chief Preparator

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame “I have found that when

interns are trusted and given challenging work, they rise to meet their responsibilities with flying colors. Che’ was a perfect example of how an intern can be a real asset to the team. I’m confident that her experience with us will benefit her in her job search.”

Jennifer Risch Business AdministrationJacobs Field/SportService Intern

“My internship experience at Jacobs Field has given me an opportunity to put all my studies to use. Working for SportService, I am surrounded by professionals in my field who are eager to share advice with me and help me with my entrance into the business world.

SportService has hired me as a full-time supervisor now that my internship is complete, and I will be applying for an assistant manager position at the end of the season.

I am very satisfied with my internship opportunity, it has provided me with great experience to support the education that I have received over the past four years.”

Rob StrosniderJacobs Field/SportService Manager

“Jen adapts well and fits into our structure very well. She helps our management group by displaying professionalism as well as bringing a positive and enthusiastic attitude. Jen is a ‘can do’ individual and a nice addition to our team – we’re glad she is aboard.”

Linda Belcher Interior Design/Graphic Design International Women’s Air and Space Museum Interior Design Intern

“The goals of my internship were to create space plans to convert a non-functional multi-purpose space into a storage space for the expansion of the museum’s extensive collection of artifacts and records. I also had learn and comply with ADA requirements.

The internship gave me opportunities to exercise my Auto CAD skills, network, make decisions, assist in selecting and purchasing office furnishings, supervise volunteers and staff, do field work, and handle and preserve artifacts.

The skills I gained from Ursuline College allowed me to successfully complete the tasks that were set before me.”

Joan Hrubec and Linda Belcher

Joan Hrubec CuratorInternational Women’s Air and Space Museum

“Having a summer intern is a new experience for the IWASM. Fortunately we found that Linda brought to us talents that we could really utilize. She has designed our new storage room to best fit our collection and files, making the best use of the space available.

Working a large number of components into our limited space was a challenge, but she met it with enthusiasm, determination, and professionalism. She has also brought a lot of details to our attention that we would not have considered ourselves. Working with Linda has been an educational and pleasant experience.”

Joan Hrubec and Linda Belcher

What are Employers Saying?

“The work our intern did in the office was invaluable to us, and I noticed a marked improvement in her interpersonal skills too. When she first came to us she was very quiet, by the end of her internship she was able to attend and participate in meetings and work with clients as a professional. She was also able to make contacts with 200 of the local agencies that we work with, allowing her to actively network for her next job.”

Sheila Lee, Assistant Director, RSVP Cleveland

What are Employers Saying?

“Darlene’s help has been invaluable and her willingness to learn and effort toward accomplishing her goals is refreshing. It is clear that Darlene’s commitment to HELP goes above and beyond that of a normal employee, her care and concern for all consumers is evident in her excellent work.”

Joan Ackerman, Director of Development, HELP Foundation Inc.

What are Employers Saying?

“Heather is a pleasure to work with. She is a ‘quick study’ and very reliable with the assignments she has been given. She maintains an enthusiastic and professional demeanor.”

Joanne Rogers, Director of Staff Development, University Hospitals Home Care Services

What are Employers Saying?

“Jason has done an outstanding job as an intern and an employee, his professional demeanor, his ‘can do’ attitude, and problem solving skills are excellent.”

Caroline Zito, Bailiff, Summit County Court of Common Pleas

Student Quotes

“Everything I learned in my classes regarding ethics and protecting the privacy of clients/patients came to the forefront, my ability to be caring and objective about peoples’ situations was helpful. My organizational and strategic planning skills were well used, also I was independently able to set priorities and accomplish assigned tasks.”

Joyce Hullett, Family Studies, Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity

Student Quotes

“This internship has glued together the pieces of the puzzle from my education and previous work experience to provide me with a base to grow and prosper from. I am continuing to learn and am confident that my future success will be a result of my educational and professional building blocks.”

Cindy Mackow, Accounting, Ro-Mai Industries

Student Quotes

“I truly have developed my academic skills while working on this project and will continue with a better awareness of technology development.”

Cheryl Dickerson, Business, Student Technology Assistant Intern

Questions?

Make an appointment to learn more:

Call Meegan Cox at 440-646-8321

Or email mcox@ursuline.edu

References

Kysor, D. & Pierce, M. (2000). Does intern/co-op experience translate into career progress and satisfaction? National Association of Colleges and Employers Journal, Winter 2000, 25-30.

McBrien, J. & Brandt, R. (1997). The language of learning: a guide to education terms. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.

NACE Research (2004). 2004 Experiential education survey executive summary. The National Association of Colleges and Employers. Retrieved May 26, 2004, from the NACE Web site: http://www.naceweb.org/

Sweitzer, H. & King, M. (1999). The successful internship: transformation and empowerment. Pacific Grove Books.