Description:

We know that internships are critical for a successful transition into meaningful careers, especially in the liberal arts. Arts and humanities students who need to gain experience through internships find that opportunities available are mostly unpaid, creating a barrier for under-resourced students. In this presentation, New College of Florida will detail a program model that increases access and equity to paid arts and humanities-related internships through community-driven projects. The presenters, college career services professionals, are both arts-related and first-generation graduates. So, we know first-hand how the lack of access to paid work-based education significantly impacted our careers and futures. Furthermore, the program model to be discussed in this proposal can be applied at other four-year, non-arts institutions and provides a way to engage arts and humanities students in internships in an equitable and accessible manner. In today’s uncertain job market, all students, regardless of major, must prioritize internships/work-based learning as a part of their academic experience. The Sarasota-Manatee Arts and Humanities (SMAH) Internship Program, created at New College of Florida, aims to increase access to paid internships specifically for students interested in pursuing work in arts-related fields bringing opportunities to those who often don’t have them. Furthermore, the employers that provide internship opportunities in these interest areas are usually under-resourced, nonprofit organizations or government agencies. As a result, this mutually beneficial program uniquely funds community-driven projects, which, in turn, provide opportunities for students. Essentially, these projects fill both community and student needs. The SMAH Internship Program brings us one step closer to ensuring all graduates, especially those in the liberal arts, are career-ready and more prepared to secure meaningful work in the current complex and ever-changing world. This program has been implemented for a full academic year with critical survey data, midway and final internship evaluations, and qualitative information collected. The presentation will include context, actionable "how to's", and takeaways. We will: - Review unique barriers facing arts and humanities students and the importance of funding community-driven internship projects. - Present how to develop a community-driven internship program for under-resourced industries and students. - Hear from students and employers about the program impact. - Provide attendees with actionable steps.

Audience:

Career Services

Level:

Intermediate

Track:

Job Market

Type:

Traditional

Main Speaker:

Dwayne Peterson, New College of Florida, The Honors College of Florida

Additional Speakers:

Madeline Tympanick, New College of Florida, The Honors College of Florida