Southeast Community College students are highly sought-after, thanks in part to their participation in the Internship Education experience.
SCC’s program is designed to help employers build a network that leads to the best and brightest students for their workforce. As they bring in talented SCC students for an internship experience, they can answer a variety of questions, including: Does this person match the values of my organization? Are they the right fit talent-wise that I may want on a permanent basis?
Internship Education is a structured educational strategy integrating classroom studies with learning through productive work experiences in a field related to a student’s academic or career goals. It provides progressive experiences in integrating theory and practice. The internship is a partnership among students, SCC and employers, with specified responsibilities for each party. Student objectives are established through mutual agreement by the student, the employer, and the Internship Education Coordinator.
Students register for the Internship Education course and earn college credit for the internship experience. Internship experiences are non-paid employment. The course is designed for students who have completed specific courses in their Program of Study and have achieved a grade-point average of at least 2.0 on a scale of 4.0. Coordinators work closely with employers and students to determine the optimum arrangement.
Internship Education is non-paid employment.
Internship Education Responsibilities
The Employer:
- Provide the student with training, supervision and work experiences related to career or academic goals.
- Help the student achieve his/her learning objectives with work experiences that include an appropriate learning environment and productive work.
- Evaluate the student’s performance at designated time(s).
- Notify SCC of any changes made or needed in the Internship Education experience training agreement.
The Student:
- Adhere to the policies of the employer, just as any other employee.
- Competently perform assigned work and complete agreed-upon objectives.
- Complete all necessary records for Internship Education files.
The College:
- Recognize Internship Education as an educational strategy integrating classroom learning and progressive work experiences, with a constructive academic relationship between teaching faculty and internship faculty or administrators.
- Develop a structure for multiple work experiences in a formalized sequence, with study leading to degree completion of a Program of Study.
- Formally recognize the internship experience on student records (e.g. grade, credit hours, part of degree requirement, notation on transcript, etc.).
- Provide pre-employment preparation for students, as well as ongoing advising.
- Maintain contact with the employer and the Internship Education student during the term to ensure a successful experience.
Benefits To All
The program has excellent benefits to the employer, the student and the College. To that end, the Internship Education experience is designed to develop or enhance a set of outcomes.
For the employer:
- Utilize well-prepared short-term employees while cutting recruiting and training costs.
- Provide real-world work experiences to students who are serious about learning and working and who have accumulated knowledge and classroom experience.
- Provide an opportunity to hire the student upon graduation.
- Enhance the partnership with SCC.
- Provide input on the quality and relevance of SCC’s curriculum.
For the student:
- Increase confidence and positive self-image through a worthwhile on-the-job experience.
- Increase opportunity for employment after graduation.
- Understand the relationship between classroom theory and workplace practice.
- Fulfill the “experience required” stipulation associated with many job openings.
- Gain new or advanced skills.
- Develop a professional network.
- Help clarify career goals.
- Enhance interpersonal skills.
- Earn college credit.
For the College:
- Help in the recruitment of new students.
- Help retain current students.
- Provide wider range of learning opportunities for students.
- Enrich the program’s curriculum.
- Enhance its reputation in the employment community.
- Improve the job placement rate of graduates.
- Enrich partnerships with business and industry.