Division of Business Administration revolutionizes
Student Internship Program
by Dr. Kacy Crabtree
S
ociety is changing quite rapidly on multiple fronts, forever impacting the marketplace and how we prepare our students for life and work beyond Lees-McRae College. “Internships” has been the new buzz word on campus during the 2011-12 academic year. While we have strong internship programs in several academic programs, the Division of Business Administration has revolutionized how internship programs will develop on campus in the near future.
at the national and international level. In addition, the Business Advisory Council mentors business students as they prepare for applying and interviewing for internships. Operating a successful internship program is a full-time job in itself. Internships are secured not only through advisory council members, but also through alumni, regional business owners, and public relations events. It is not uncommon to continue placing students at certain venues once relationships at businesses have been established.
The mission of the Division of Business Administration is to provide the highest It is vital that students and internships quality educational experience consisting of are a good match to assure a successful classroom, research, practical experiences and experience for all involved. Let us examine internships, preparing the inner workings of the students to be successful internship placement process in the business industry. “At BRICA, besides in the Division of Business Specific goals of the Administration: the great opportunity internship program • Each student is given of learning a little bit are threefold: (1) to an Internship Policy and about every aspect provide a real life work Procedure Manual before they experience for students; of a successful begin the process, guiding (2) to empower students, business, I learned a students through the process after completing their and reminding them of the lot about myself. I’m internship, to bring importance of combining new perspectives to the sure my internship academics with real work classroom during their experience will make experience. final year of study, and all the difference as I • A database containing (3) to build successful internship information is plan my career path.” partnerships within the maintained and updated business communities. Marcelo Tatai ’12 regularly in order to Faculty in the Business successfully match students Administration program with the proper internship. strives to offer an internship opportunity to • Faculty communication concerning all business majors during the summer before internships begins in October, including their senior year. “An internship is a great making business contacts and students way for our business students to gain practical sending out resumés and cover letters. experience and learn outside of the classroom. It’s this hands-on experience in a professional • Students look through the database and environment that offers our students the decide what internship opportunity they opportunity to put classroom learning to real are interested in pursuing. The student use. The one thing our students cannot get in can choose to apply for more than one the classroom is experience and internships potential placement. give them that,” said Dr. Trudy Morlino, • A deadline date is set for applying, former program coordinator for the Business resembling that of a job application Administration program. In certain situations, process. the internship experience actually turns into a • Once the resumés and cover letters are job offer upon graduation. submitted, the business faculty reviews Last year, the division formed a Business applications to determine possible Advisory Council, which consists of business placements. professionals from all sectors of society. The • Faculty will ask the employers if they Council assists the business faculty with would like to select their intern or if finding viable internship opportunities for the the faculty should make the placement. students through their business connections
Most of the time, faculty make the final selection as they know the student’s personality, skills, and career goals best. Business students have been placed in reputable locations throughout the region, country, and internationally, representing the College, the business program and themselves with skill and integrity. Areas of internships include accounting, finance, management, and marketing, along with learning about the infrastructure and operations of their respective organization. Below is a list of recent internship placements: • +3 Network • AARP/TaxAide Volunteer Program • Avery County Economic Development • Bank of America • Banner Elk Winery • Beech Mountain • BRICA Inc. • Chambers of Commerce • Dogout Management • Ripken Baseball • Miami Dolphins • S & D Coffee • Sidi America • Specialized Cycling • Tweetsie Railroad Theme Park • Unibank (Panama) • Unilever (Germany) • Univision Ms. Star Kepner, Chair of the Division of Business Administration states, “As I acquired the internship program, which had four students in the summer of 2010, I never dreamed with just a ‘little’ push and cultivation it could have grown to what I am working with today – 32 possible internship opportunities! The business faculty and advisory council are already cultivating new internship opportunities for summer 2013!” Moving forward, the Division of Business Administration will be looking for a full-time internship placement coordinator. In addition, the business faculty is readily available to work with colleagues in other programs and will play an important role in the future development of a career center, where all Lees-McRae students can explore internships, service work and career options. The Pinnacles | Spring/Summer 2012 | 9