Adult Experiential Learning Policy Committee

Agenda10:00am – 10:15am Welcome and introductions

10:15am – 10:45am Research on employers motives and barriers to providing internships

10:45am – 11:30am Experiential Learning program presentations

– Alexandria Tech Machinist Apprenticeship Program

– College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences, UMN

11:30am – 11:50am Whole group debrief and discussion

11:50am – 12:00pm Review next steps and close

Findings:•Larger firms, and firms with progressive HR policies are more likely to host interns

•Most important motivation for participating firms: philanthropy

•Most important motivation for non-participating firms: bottom-line

•The field lacks a strong conceptualization of what an internship should provide for a student

Research on employers motives and barriers to providing

internships Implications for policy:•Reducing cost to employers and facilitating participation•Need good data and arguments to support the claim that participation is in the interest of the firm•Create quality measures for internship experiences, for quality control and continuous improvement

Lessons from LaGuardia Community College

• Over 25 years, consistently provided 1800-2200 internships annually

• Does not demand too much of employers– educational role played by the schools courses and seminars.

• Staff at school have bottom-line emphasis when working with employers.

• State policies on financial aid as well as internal policies on credits have been threats to the success of the program

• More attention must be paid to measuring quality

Whole group debrief and discussion

• What are your takeaways/reactions to these presentations?

• What barriers stand in the way to creating and/or expanding excellent programs?

• Given the information gathered through these conversations, what questions do you have?

Next Meeting

September 18th 10am – 12pm

ProAct