Adult Experiential Learning Policy Committee

1. Adult Experiential Learning Policy Committee

2. Agenda 10:00am – 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

3. Research on employers motives and barriers to providing internships 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 • 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

4. 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

5. 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?

6. Next Meeting September 18th 10am – 12pm ProAct