University Business Magazine Honors Endicott College: Internship Program a "Model of Excellence"
Endicott College is one of seventeen colleges and universities nationwide being honored by University Business magazine in its Winter 2015 Models of Excellence program, which recognizes innovative approaches to encouraging and nurturing student success on campus. The program specifically cited the strong internship and experiential learning model employed by Endicott to help students prepare for professional growth.
“Internships, now seen as a necessity by employers for potential candidates, are an excellent opportunity for schools to help accelerate their students’ futures,” says University Business senior editor Tim Goral. “Endicott College designed a series of internship initiatives that encourage success after graduation.”
Internships have been a hallmark of the Endicott College experience since the school was founded in 1939 by leaders who believed in a philosophy of “learning by doing.” Today, students are required to complete three internships: two 120-hour experiences during the January or summer semester of their freshman and sophomore years, plus a full-semester internship during the fall of their senior year. The college supports the students before, during, and after their internships with a number of initiatives designed to make the experience productive and rewarding for both the student and employer.
According to President Richard E. Wylie, “Our students graduate with a robust resume in addition to their degree. They know how to research a business, how to interview and navigate office environments, and how to successfully transition from student to employee. This experience is possibly the most important collateral they'll gather while in college because it translates to great job opportunities directly out of school.”
The preparation process starts when each student is assigned an internship coordinator based in an academic department. The coordinator provides a number of services, including assisting in the search process and approving internship proposals. In addition, freshmen and sophomore students are enrolled in internship preparation courses in the fall semester. Assignments include developing a LinkedIn profile and a list of potential internship sites. An internship strategies course during the junior year better prepares them for the 12-credit senior internship by refining resumes, learning networking skills, and practicing job interviews. Senior internships, overseen by faculty members, require students to work full-time for four days each week and participate in weekly on-campus internship seminars.
The multi-disciplinary collaboration between coordinators, students, faculty, and employers leads to outstanding post-graduation employment success. In 2014, the overall career outcome rate for Endicott’s May graduates was 99 percent, while the national average is 80 percent. In addition, three-quarters of those responding to the Career Center’s annual graduating class survey said their internship experience had a direct impact on obtaining their current job.
“The fact that so many find employment through their internship experiences speaks to the connections they’re making and the quality of their work,” says Eric Hall, dean, internship and the Career Center. “It validates the program preparation and the three-internship experience.”
In addition to Endicott College, Winter 2015 Models of Excellence honorees include: Florida State University (Tallahassee, Fla.); State Fair Community College (Sedalia, Mo.); Miami Dade College (Miami, Fla.); University of San Diego (San Diego, Calif.); Southeast Technical Institute (Sioux Falls, S.D.); Governors State University (University Park, Ill.); University of North Carolina Charlotte (Charlotte, N.C.); Kent State University (Kent, Ohio); Georgian Court University (Lakewood, N.J.); Northern Arizona University (Flagstaff, Ariz.); NorthWest Arkansas Community College (Bentonville, Ark.); St. Petersburg College (St. Petersburg, Fla.); Syracuse University (Syracuse, N.Y.); University of Massachusetts Lowell (Lowell, Mass.); University of Minnesota Twin Cities (Minneapolis, Minn.); and Excelsior College (Albany N.Y.).
“The Winter 2015 Models of Excellence honorees demonstrate insight into their student populations, as well as the ability to innovate in creative ways,” says Andrew Crawford, senior vice president of campus services & operations at Higher One. “We are pleased to recognize their efforts alongsideUniversity Business.”
Launched in 2015, Models of Excellence is a national recognition program that honors colleges and universities that have implemented innovative, effective and inter-departmental initiatives that are bolstering student success. The program is sponsored by Higher One, which offers a wide array of technological services on campus, ranging from streamlining the institution’s performance analytics and financial aid refund processes to offering students innovative banking services, tuition payment plans and the basics of financial management. Higher One works closely with colleges and universities by allocating resources more efficiently to provide a higher quality of service and using data to impact success with a focus on empowering students.
About University Business
University Business is the leading publication for senior managers at colleges and universities throughout the United States, reaching 75,000 leaders who manage enrollment, technology, business, finance, facilities and academic affairs.
About Higher One
Higher One (NYSE: ONE) partners with colleges and universities to lower their administrative costs and to improve graduation rates. We provide a broad array of payment, refund disbursement and data analytics and management tools to institutions that help them save money and enhance institutional effectiveness. And for students, we offer financial literacy programs and convenient, flexible and affordable transaction options to help them manage their finances. Higher One’s products and services support more than 1,900 schools and 13 million enrolled students.
About Endicott College
Located in Beverly, Massachusetts on 235 acres of oceanfront property, Endicott College offers doctorate, master’s and bachelor degree programs in the professional and liberal arts. Founded in 1939, Endicott provides an education built upon a combination of theory and practice, which is tested through internships and work experience. Studying at the Beverly campus, regionally, and internationally are approximately 2,650 undergraduate and more than 2,350 adult and graduate students.