UMass Lowell English Department Experiential Learning Opportunities

1. UMass Lowell English Department Experiential Learning Opportunities Professor Diana Archibald Internship Coordinator

2. Our program… • We help writing and literature students gain valuable “real world” experience. • We offer several pre-arranged and pre-screened internships: • with course credit = practicum internship • without course credit = volunteer internship • We also assist students in securing placements at suitable sites not on our pre-approved list. • We offer service-learning courses & assignments that provide “real world” experience. • We encourage students to volunteer.

3. Our program, cont.… • Professionalization: • We help students construct resumes and prepare for interviews (with help from Career Services). • We coach students on professional behavior and work practices. • We assist students in exploring potential careers and offer some career counseling as a part of the process.

4. 1. Volunteering • We are always happy to assist students in finding a suitable volunteer opportunity that will match their interests and abilities. • Volunteer work can be enormously rewarding and also a good skill builder. • We encourage students to volunteer throughout their career here at UML and beyond.

5. 2. Service-Learning Courses • We regularly offer four courses in which students meet academic learning objectives through service in the “real world”: • Community Writing 1 (42.321) • Community Writing 2 (42.406) • Undergraduate Seminar on the Teaching of Writing (42.388) • Undergraduate Seminar in High School Teaching (42.389) • Service-learning assignments are incorporated into other courses periodically.

6. Community Writing 2 (fall) • Community Writing 1 is NOT a pre-req.! • Community Writing 2 format: • Each student works with a different non-profit organization (instructor arranges placement) • Students learn about different kinds of professional writing in the course: • e.g., press packets, p.r. materials, web content, volunteer handbooks, grant writing, fundraising materials, etc. • Each student completes a unique project based on the organization’s need and receives classroom support for that work. • Only responsible students should take this course.

7. 3. Internships • Two ways to categorize internships: • pre-arranged vs. student-initiated • for credit vs. not for credit

8. 3A. Who Finds Internships? • Each semester several internships are pre-arranged through the English Dept. and advertised to students. • Placements are pre-screened to ensure suitable educational content and safety. • A wide variety of placement sites are offered, mostly at area non-profits and schools. • Some students prefer to find their own placements or ask for help in finding something not on our list.

9. 3B. Credit or No Credit? • Students may complete an internship (either pre-arranged or self-initiated) and not seek any course credit, if… • they have no English credits left, • the internship is paid and not eligible for credit, • or they plan on doing several internships. • Students may want to earn academic course credit (3 or 1) for their internship, so they would take the Practicum (42.496)…

10. 3B. Practicum requirements • Site/position must be approved by dept. • Departmentally-sponsored placements automatically qualify for Practicum credit. • Other placements must be approved on a case-by-case basis (Internship Coordinator conducts site visit) • Application must be completed and approved • Includes a job description and supervisor contact info. • Students then receive permission number to add. • Students complete 120 hours of work (3 cr.) and two short reflection papers • mid-term letter & final narrative essay • On-site supervisor completes evaluation.

11. Important! • Our sponsored internships are all unpaid; students who wish to pursue paid work should visit Career Services. • There is no guarantee that students will be placed. Not all students would necessarily be good ambassadors to the community on our behalf, and community partners can’t always be found to match a student’s interests.

12. Our Process • Student completes “Request for Placement” form and attends English Dept. Internship and Resume workshop to initiate process. • Completed form is processed and three listed faculty references are checked. • Eligible students meet with Internship Coordinator for a pre-screening interview to discuss placement options.

13. Process, cont. • Names and resumes of internship nominees are forwarded to placement supervisors, who conduct formal interviews. • Students are notified whether they are being offered the internship. • Students complete final paperwork and register for the Practicum (if earning course credit). • Students attend an “in-take” meeting at the start of semester to cover safety issues.

14. For more information contact… Dr. Diana Archibald Associate Professor of English Internship Coordinator diana_archibald@uml.edu 978-934-4199