The value of a great internship is undeniable. Spending a summer between semesters in the real-world can teach a student lessons about themselves, their work ethic, and their career goals that can put them ahead of the game when they start seeking employment post-graduation. For a lucky few, it can even lead straight into a full-time position. Some find opportunities close to home, while others venture further afield to grab experiences that will garner a glowing rÉsumÉ. Across the nation, institutions of higher education are being encouraged to place as much emphasis on career-readiness as academic success. Internships are a required element of Penn State Lehigh Valley degree programs and the Career Services office works diligently with both students and employers to find the right placement. “Our campus is fortunate to be situated in a region with opportunities in a variety of industries,” said Mike Hertel, director of academic support. “We do our best to make sure students are as prepared as possible, and we also vet employers’ internship opportunities for their value. We want to make sure our students are doing more than getting coffee and sorting mail.” As valuable as internships still are to a college student’s experience, in the last few years Penn State Lehigh Valley has begun to look for other ways to expose students to career fields and employers, and vice versa. To that end, two years ago Susan Chappell ’84 was hired to a new position as the alumni and corporate liaison responsible for connecting the campus and businesses in mutually beneficial ways. Chappell has seen interest from many companies in bringing the real world to the classroom, though not necessarily in the same way.
We do our best to make sure students are as prepared as possible, and we also vet employers’ internship opportunities for their value. We want to make sure our students are doing more than getting coffee and sorting mail.
“Each company is different, so we work together to come up with a program that will best fit their needs and goals while providing valuable experience for our students,” said Chappell. Whether through traditional internships or creative collaboration with prospective employers, faculty and alumni mentors or academic research experiences, Penn State Lehigh Valley is committed to helping students find ways to make themselves stand out from the crowd. Following are just a few examples of the students and programs that represent this changing definition of real-world experience. continued on next page
—Mike Hertel, Director of Academic Support FALL 2013 17