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BIDDEFORD, Maine

Cynthia Simon presents at National Society for Experiential Education conference on benefits of first and second-year internships at colleges and universities

Cynthia Simon, director of the College of Arts and Sciences Internship Office, gave a presentation at the National Society for Experiential Education (NSEE) 2015 National Conference, which was held in St. Pete Beach, Florida, on October 7, 2015.

Simon and co-presenter Mary Black, Ph.D., program coordinator of the Executive Internship Program for Pinellas County Schools in Florida, delivered a talk titled “Internship 200: A Case for First and Second Year Students,” in which they highlighted the credentials of the high school internship, challenged the rationale for making college students wait until junior year to take internships, and made the case for post-secondary schools, colleges and universities to create fully supported, academically backed internship programs accessible to their first and second-year students.

The presentation concluded with ideas to help conference participants trouble shoot, design, pitch and implement their own 200-level internship program at their respective home institutions.

According to Simon, who is the regional co-chair of the NSEE, the University of New England is one of only a few schools in the nation that offers a 200-level academic internship program for first and second-year students.

 

About the University of New England

The University of New England is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of flexible, accredited online degrees. In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.