Internships are a critical element of the higher education experience, providing students with an opportunity to obtain valuable skills, expand their networks, and segue into post-graduate employment. Employers often use internship experience to seek and evaluate potential candidates. According to a 2022 poll conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), ”85% of responding employers indicated internships are the top recruiting method for their investment of time and money, far ahead of career fairs (9%), on-campus visits (3%), and participating in campus panels (3%).”
The NACE Guide on Internships recommends that student internships be paid to promote equity, remove barriers to access, and aid in creating a diverse workforce. Moreover, paid internships lead to increased job offers and higher starting salaries for students. According to the NACE 2022 Student Survey, “paid interns earned a median starting salary of $62,500 compared to unpaid interns who reported earning a median starting salary of $42,500.”
The compensation gap between paid and unpaid student interns is evident and this disparity is likely to follow a similar pattern throughout the students’ career path.
“Colleges and universities that prioritize paid internships or other workforce development programs as part of their student achievement goals are equipping students with valuable tools they can use on campus and post-graduation to attain better professional opportunities,” said John Churchill, AVDF Director of Programs.
To help prepare a shifting demographic of students for a competitive job market and increase retention rates, Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas launched an internship program designed to help students achieve success on their professional journey. In recent years, the university has experienced an increase in underrepresented minority students and first-generation students. AVDF awarded the university with a $275,000 grant in 2019 to help address student retention challenges and job preparedness needs for their evolving student body.
More than 50 Southwestern students who were either first-generation, eligible for the Pell Grant, or part of an underrepresented minority group participated in the year-long paid internship program which took place over a four-year term. The program cultivated occupational readiness and professionalism for junior students by equipping them with critical skills and providing meaningful experiences necessary for postgraduate success.
The students participated in a variety of internships on campus including alumni relations, sustainability, laboratories, marketing, health promotion and more. In addition to the intern position, Southwestern alumni and faculty mentored students on topics such as financial literacy, networking, interviewing and salary negotiation. About 20 students received funding support in the summer for workforce development to cover expenses such as technology, transportation and conference fees.
The paid internship program and associated activities resulted in very positive outcomes. In particular, 98% of the participants are still enrolled at Southwestern or have graduated, exceeding the university’s institution-wide rate of about 79%. In addition, some of the staff positions created during the program to help coordinate and enhance students’ employment experiences are now permanent.
Through a survey, student participants expressed how they benefited from the internship program.
“My position has allowed me to build up more confidence in my skills as a professional and has been a great space to think creatively and boldly,” said one student.
“This internship is the first leadership role that I had in my work experience where I am in ‘charge’ of a team and role in an organization. I got to see how much I grew up to this point especially regarding teamwork, presenting, and organizational skills,” said another student.
Most colleges and universities have an existing work-study structure for students and Southwestern University’s internship program can potentially serve as a model for others.
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