Faculty

          Experience Counts!  (Cooperative Education)

Two national surveys report that employers are actively recruiting students who have participated in internships or other types of work integrated learning experiences (WIL).

According to the annual survey of employers by Michigan State University, 85% of employers responded that students who have relevant experience through Work Integrated Learning (WIL) programs such as cooperative education, internships or other credit bearing types of work experience, are sought after and more likely to  be hired before students who do not have these types of experiences.  The responses were from employers in both the public and private; non-profit and for-profit sectors.  The National Association for Colleges and Employers, NACE,  also reports that employers responding to NACE’s 2007 Recruiting Benchmarks Survey  report that they offered full-time jobs to nearly two out of three of their interns.  More than 70% of those offers were accepted.  Employers reported that nearly 31% of all their new college hires came from their own internship program.  Experience counts.

Definition Work Integrated Learning:   A WIL is a work experience that 1) carries academic credit and 2) is related to the career choice and/or major of the student.  It is an experience that, ideally, takes place sometime after a student has taken at least 40 credits.  A WIL is a guided work/academic experience having both a faculty and a work supervisor directing and guiding the experience.  It is this combination of supervision and partnership that makes students with WIL experiences more valuable to employers. . . even more so than just a job.

Student Benefits

• Learn how their classroom knowledge and skills are applied in a work setting
• Develop relevant skills and knowledge for the work world and bring those skills back to the class room
• Are better students as they become self-motivated and excited about how their education contributes to their future goals
• Develop professional contacts and earn recommendations for future career building
• Gain clarity about career choices
• Gain confidence in their abilities, knowledge and skills
• Learn how to manage their time better
• Become more focused with their goals
• Less time in obtaining a job upon graduation

College/Faculty Benefits

• Gain students who are more engaged in their education
• Develop stronger ties and relationships with the employment community
• Gain insights into the relevance of class topics and ways to integrate skills into assignments
• Link liberal arts skills and qualities to real world applications
• Stronger capability for recruiting students
• More satisfied alumni

How do you get your students involved?

The first most important step begins in advising sessions with first year students.  See section on Career Planning this issue for details on planning.  Alert students early in their academic careers that they can plan for relevant experiences.  Have them visit the Career Services Office website: http://cso.fortlewis.edu to learn more about Work Integrated Learning experiences including links to opportunities world wide.  You can also suggest that the student schedule an appointment with a Career Advisor to explore the options more extensively.