2007-2008 Annual Report of Service - Shippensburg University

Institute for Public Service 31
Economic Development Internships
“Year of the InternSHIP”
Margaret Light, Internship Program
Coordinator
Dr. Tracy Schoolcraft, Associate Provost and
Dean of Graduate Studies and project
director
The 2007-2008 Economic Development—Internships
Initiative allowed Shippensburg
University to begin campus-wide
coordination of our internship programs. We
identified a future goal of college-level of centralization
for our internship programs. However,
increased university coordination efforts
could be accomplished in the areas of both internal/organizational
(policies and procedures)
and external/marketing communications. The
2007-2008 initiative began our enhanced communications,
both internal and external.
The grant program coordinator documented
college-level and department-level internship
processes in a written plan. Excerpts
and approved recommendations are on a new
internship section of the University website
as “Best Internship Practices.” The new webpage
also includes a table matching High
Priority Occupations (HPO) to University
majors. New communication processes include
college-level contacts and consistent
communications to employers (regarding new
intern programs). These communications add
university-level coordination to college-level
processes. Marketing processes include internships
included in billboard, radio, print, and
web advertisements. A postcard mailing campaign
was conducted for 533 potential new
employers in 13 nearby counties. A projected
internship needs survey is planned for both
new and existing intern employers.
On-campus events sponsored by this
grant included a career information event
for students of the College of Education and
Human Services (eighty-seven students attended),
and a bus trip to a regional internship
fair for students of the College of Arts and
Sciences (forty-five students planned). Also, a
workshop for faculty and administrators about
internship benefits and best practices was offered
by a certified trainer from a professional
association: the Cooperative Education and
Internship Association (thirty attended).
Travel funds supported fifteen students
with a financial need to travel to internships
in Pennsylvania. Faculty travel funds allowed
four faculty members to travel to develop new
internship sites or programs and to also bring
three employers to our campus to speak about
internships.
Stakeholder groups served by this internship
grant program include students (both
undergraduate and graduate), faculty and
administrators, and employers. Completed
internships increased this year by about eight
(from 1,256 to 1,264). Growth in new internship
sites/positions is estimated at 137 new
sites/positions.
This grant program has contributed
to regional development by strengthening
the communications between Shippensburg
University and intern employers. Our marketing
campaign has raised awareness of our
internship programs. Our new webpage and
“New Intern Programs” form have identified
ways for employers to provide information to
us. Our planned projected internship needs
survey will provide another opportunity for
employers to reach us.
The Grant Program Coordinator also
attended a Greater Chambersburg Chamber
Foundation Workforce Development Initiative
breakfast and has offered to join a Cooperative
Education Consortium. In 2008-2009, this
Consortium may help the university meet goals
of providing alternative and complementary
experiences to internships such as cooperative
education, job shadowing, and externships.