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On Leap Day: Intern Guru Closes Gap Between School and Work

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INTERNSHIPS on LEAP DAY 2008

A Vision of the Way Things Are Supposed to Be

By Matthew Zinman
Founder, The Internship Institute

Today's the day. An opportunity. THE opportunity.

If you've ever wondered how things got to be THIS way, let's LEAP the other direction to our future and wonder instead about how things are supposed to be. 

Here are the Four New Realities About Internships:
    1) MANDATORY to graduate
    2) FAIR PAY for everyone
    3) CENTRALIZED on campuses
    4) SELF FUNDED by students

Every time we change something, it always ripples to another; which is to say: there are objections to remedy.  For now, please refer to this vision chart.  Everything will become clear and happen, all in due time. 

In short, I will appeal to every college and university and, if I have to -- students and parents -- to create a fund using 1.5 credits of students' (and parents) hard-earned tuition money (and loans) to privatize a system of Employment Readiness and Career/Internship Placement Centers on campuses everywhere to "plug in" to the employer community and seamlessly integrate into how each school does it.

Thank you for all your kindness and support.  We need all we can get to make this work.

Happy Leap Day!

Matthew

 

Students Pay Tuition for Internship Credits; Ever Wonder Where the Money Goes?

A recent study by the University of Michigan-Dearborn elicits curiosity about something beyond its purpose.

UMD surveyed career centers at 64 institutions to address student needs for employment preparedness.  They evaluated various methodologies (and lack there of) for implementing a successful experiential learning program.  The work is ground-breaking by its own merits. (Nice goin' UMD!)  What's more is a cross-reference of data, which reveals the following;

1) Students can earn on average up to 6 internship credits within their major

2) More than 90% of schools charge students tuition for "recoupment of the cost of administrative and educational oversight"

3) However, ONLY 22% of career centers were classified as "high-touch" (see footnote)

This begs a very interesting question:  Where's the money going that universities charge students for internship credits?  And how much money is that?

Career Centers Get the Short End, Students Get the Shaft

I’ve experienced way too little about how career centers and universities operate. Every campus I come across seems to do things differently. One commonality I fail to understand is why career centers run on shoe-string budgets. The latest news from NACE (National Association of Colleges and Employers) is that the average amount that four-year colleges and universities allot for career services per student is about $10 whole bucks.

Let me get this straight. The annual cost of education these days [according to the College Board] at a four-year public institution of higher learning is about $6,185 for public institutions and $23,712 for private schools. So, out of all that tuition, only $10.53 [to be exact] trickles back to students in the form of career services? Can that be right?

Actually, I think less than half of students ever utilize career services and less than half of career centers have services of direct benefit to internships. Now we’re getting somewhere.  What’s more is that my sources tell me the NACE study is flawed because it does not account for the full operating budget, most of which is staff compensation. And we all know the good work of career centers is about its people. They’ve got plenty. What more could they want? Don’t they bring in tons of other money without having to rely so much on institutional funding? Let’s imagine we could double their funding to average about $20 per student. Would they even know what to do with all that cash?

I’ve got it. They can hand out free sticks of gum to every student they can interest in taking a photocopy of that résumé guide. There you have it. Problem solved. Good thing too, ‘cause now universities can go back to their true priorities: giving faculty more incentives to publish instead of teaching better.

Can you point me to the Employment Readiness Center on campus?

Hey, do you know where I can find the Employment Readiness Center?  It's like - a campus hub.  Truly unbelievable.  All of those professionals are so good at helping students connect with the right internships and job opportunities.  I guess their job's easy now with the experiential education requirement in effect.  Every student has to complete an intake assessment for the data to go right into the master registry.  So now, every time an employer calls to recruit students, the employment center professional is just a few keystrokes away from matching up dozens of candidates.

And then we woke up.  Okay, I'll speak for myself.  Just a daydream I guess.

I know.  I know.  Someone out there's thinking if THAT is what this guy fantasizes about; it might be time for him to get a life.  I'm trying my best people.  How 'bout you?  What's your dream sequence for the perfect career center?  Let's get this party started.  it begins ... you're BMOC (or "W"): the prez.  You can do anything to improve work readiness and, dare I say, STUDENT PLACEMENT.  What say you?

Are You an InternGuru?

There's no substitute for experience.  Be it fact-based knowledge, colorful perspective or true insight, we invite you to be a part of InternGuru.  Our door's always open.  We've set the table.  Share your appetite for learning and community.  Speak your mind!  Just tell it like it is!

Fiscal Responsibility: More Bowl Games, Less Learning Please!

What's the business of higher education? Is it about Network TV contracts for sports teams (GO OWLS!) OR is it about doing everything possible to give "customers" (a.k.a. students) the best chance for career success?

What?!?  Is that a "Boo" I hear?  Hey, it's a free country.  But, next time, if I may gently advise ... you might want to put the beer bong down first.

I like March Madness and Bowl Games as much as the next guy.  But I'd feel better about who loses (being a Philly fan and all) if I knew that student tuition and loan money got put to better use.

So let's talk fiscal responsibility.  Better yet, let's talk fiscal irresponsibility.  Care to take the thorn out of your side? Where do you see money going to waste? Where do you see opportunity abound?  Nominate your favorite pet project.  Wax on.

I've got it.  Let's make internships mandatory.  Develop curricula for prep courses, standardize learning outcome assessments, pass a law that all interns be paid no less than minimum wage (preferably more), and hold every employer accountable for the experience they provide. 

Yeah, that's the ol' peppah!  (Guru bonus points if you get this one)

Come on.  Have a little fun.  It's ok!  You're among friends!