Page 196 - Crisis in Higher Education

Building Bridges to Potential Employers • 167

programs and student teaching. It is also used in engineering, pharmacy,
and business. PABs can be the foundation for creating strong and effective
cooperative education and internship experiences, which put students to
work in jobs that are career related.

1. Internship experiences: An internship is career-related employment
that can take place during the Fall, Spring, or Summer semesters.
Students may be compensated, and they earn credit toward their uni-
versity degree, so they are required to pay tuition for the internship.
The work is often part-time, and students may take traditional classes
simultaneously. Internships are usually nearby because students are
taking other classes. Colleges of Education have used student teach-
ing, which is an internship, for decades as a way to prepare students.
They earn credit but are usually not compensated. Many Colleges of
Business allow students to work at career-related jobs, receive a salary,
and earn credit toward graduation. Some internships require full-time
employment and are offered during the summer months with students
assigned to project teams and given responsibility for specific tasks.
2. Cooperative education (COOP): Although this option has similar
intent to internships, that is, providing hands-on learning, its struc-
ture is different. COOPs are full-time work experiences that are
compensated. A COOP session usually lasts for one semester, and
students take more than one. Students do not take courses simulta-
neously, and the job does not have to be close by. Students typically
do not earn university credit, so no tuition is paid.

There are a number of advantages associated with COOPs and internships
for both students and employers. Students (1) gain a measure of profession-
alism as they understand what it takes to arrive on time, be responsible for
doing a job, and work with others to accomplish goals, (2) see the application
of theories and concepts that they are learning in school, and (3) become
motivated to prepare, study, and learn because they see the value of their
education. Without making a substantial commitment, employers can eval-
uate the talents of students and make better decisions about whom to hire.

8.3.2.2 Working Directly with Students

PABs are also useful to create mentorships between employers and stu-
dents. Employers can offer advice about career options, answer questions