The Game Plan – Establishing a Partnership between your Athletic Association and Internship Program

1. The Game Plan – Establishing a Partnership between your Athletic Association and Internship Program 37th Annual NSEE Conference Sept 24-26, 2008 Mary Fisher & Ann Blasick Georgia Institute of Technology

2. Agenda • Background on Georgia Tech Division of Professional Practice • History of Georgia Tech Athletic Association • Why this partnership is important • Goals of partnership • Process • Results • Challenges

3. Background on Georgia Tech Division of Professional Practice • Co-op Program established in 1912 • Full-time paid work for 3 alternating semesters • Internship Program established in 2002 • Part-time or full-time paid or unpaid work for one or more semesters • Grad Co-op Program established in 2005 • Part-time or full-time paid work for one or more semesters • Work Abroad Program • Full-time paid or unpaid work for one or more semesters

4. GT Internship Program • Career Counseling & Resume Reviews • Access to Job Database, P2D2 • Enrollment in Audit Credit Class • Maintain Full-time Student Status • Insurance, Housing & Activities • Documented on Transcript • No Fees • Goals Assessment & Performance Evaluation

5. History of Georgia Tech Athletic Association • Currently 17 sports • Atlantic Coast Conference • 1892 – First Georgia Tech football team • Former Athletics Director John Heisman, for whom football's Heisman Trophy is named • Winner of 4 National Football Championships • Football team has the nation's best record in bowl games at 22-11. • Pair of College World Series berths in baseball • Grand Slam Champion Bobby Jones, former Masters champion Larry Mize, British Open champion David Duval • 4 Olympic track gold medalists • Current Major League baseball stars Mark Teixeira, Nomar Garciaparra and Jason Varitek

6. Why this Partnership is Important • Student-Athlete population tends to be underserved in area of career development • Athletes less focused on ‘after college’ • Reality check • Student-Athletes need assistance balancing eligibility requirements, academics, and interning part-time or full-time • Student-Athletes are a natural fit for companies with health or sports focus

7. Goals • Establish a relationship with the staff of the Athletic Association to increase awareness and participation in the GT Internship program • Offer outreach, education and programming to the student athletes • Increase student athlete participation in the GT Internship Program

8. Process • Establishing a relationship with AA • Identifying the correct staff • Athletic Academic Advisors • NCAA Eligibility • Reaching out with calls and emails • Several planning meetings attended • Discuss requirements of both programs • Establish a procedure for student athletes to be eligible to participate

9. Process • Outreaching to students • Hosting an information session specifically designed for student athletes • Making GT Internship resources available to student athletes • Marketing within the AA • Table toppers • Targeted emails

10. Challenges • GT Internship Program needed a reality check • Student athletes not understanding the advantages of participating in an internship • NCAA rules • Scheduling conflicts • Bridging the divide with the AA • AA staff unsure of who should be involved in this effort • Changing staff duties at the AA • Contract with outside headhunting agency owned by former GT athlete/major league player

11. Results • 6 Student Athletes found summer 2008 internships and registered for INTN course • 2 of these completed 2 consecutive semesters • Established a precedent and broke the ice with the AA • More events planned collaboratively with the AA for the 2008-2009 school year

12. Levi Walls • International Affairs & Modern Languages Major • Long Snapper on Football team • Currently working 2nd internship with Citi Smith Barney • Excerpt from Work Report • After working with Citi Smith Barney, it made me realize that this could be the perfect fit for me. As a financial adviser/broker, you get to work hand in hand with you clients building relationships and gaining trust of individuals. It is a lot more personable than I first thought. It helped me realize what I want to do for a career and the steps it takes to get there.

13. Andrew Gause • Management Major • Baseball player • Interned twice with US General Services Administration • Excerpt from Work Report • I was a realty service student trainee who worked directly with a Realty Specialist. I worked on leases in the North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, and Tennessee territories. This internship has given me insight on dealing with leases. I want to go into property management, and this is giving me a head start.

14. Ryan Tinkoff • Management Major • Baseball player • Interned with GT Baseball Team • Excerpt from Work Report • I am interested in entering a sports field and this is definitely the right path to that. Being able to see the operations that go on behind the scenes for sports camps and for a golf outing were very helpful.

15. Next Steps • Help us turn a frown upside down • Ideas to increase athlete excitement, understanding and participation