Proposal to Require an Internship for Business Majors

1. Proposal to Require an Internship for Business Majors Stephanie Sack and Josh Steinegger

2. Outline • Purpose of Wisconsin Lutheran College • Benefits of Internships • Requirements of Other Colleges • Current Internship Program • Proposed Changes to Program • Question and Answer

3. Purpose of Wisconsin Lutheran College • Mission Statement • The college is committed to providing quality teaching, scholarship, . . . and preparing students for lives of Christian leadership • Vision Statement • . . . rigorous pursuit of academic excellence, and dedication to preparing Christian leaders for the Church and the world. (College Identity Information, 2014)

4. Purpose of Wisconsin Lutheran College • Business Administration • “Develop skills that you will draw from throughout your career” (Introduction to Business Administration, 2014) • Popular Majors of 2012 • Business Administration = 19% (US News, 2013) • Jeremiah 29:11 • “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

5. Benefits of Internships – for Students • Gain work experience • Earn course credits • Possibly earn money • Network with professionals • Apply classroom knowledge • Develop skills • Gain confidence in your abilities • Higher Salary out of college • Paid internships – 68% higher (CNBC, 2014)

6. Benefits of Internships – for WLC • Better Reputation • Higher visibility • Strengthens ties to community • Better education for your students

7. Benefits of Internships – for Companies • Positive Energy • Offloading • New/unique Skills • Pay or not pay • New Positions • Creative thinking & fresh ideas

8. Statistics • Of those graduated from college in the last two years, 41% are unemployed. • 63% say they need more training to get the job they want. • Employers made full-time offers to 56.5% of their interns in 2012. • In 2012, 37.7% of students interned at some point in their college careers. Statistics from U.S. News, The Short List: College 2013

9. Statistics Cont.

10. Internship Requirements of Area colleges similar to WLC

11. Current Internship Program • Business Internship Coordinator • Professor Heather Stelzer • Internship Application • Agreement and Approval Forms • Business Internship (BUS 490) • Junior or Senior standing • 45 hours per credit

12. Current Internship Program • Business Internship Group • Internship Interest Form • “More effective communication” (Stelzer, 2014) • Affiliated Companies • Thrivent Financial, Direct Supply, Target, YMCA, WELS Kingdom Workers, Wisconsin State Fair, and the Milwaukee Brewers

13. Current Internship Program • Positives • Good that WLC has a specific coordinator • 100% of students viewed as good experience • Negatives • 74% do not know how to receive credit • 69% do not know who to contact

14. Proposed Changes to the Program • Hire additional Business Internship Coordinator • Search for additional internships • Contact local businesses • Talk with Business professors

15. Proposed Changes to the Program • Implement a Pre-Internship Course • Strictly Business majors • Taught by either coordinator • Intended for Junior year

16. Proposed Changes to Program • Pre-Internship Course • Importance of internship • Application process • Receive course credit • Open discussions • Etiquette • Special opportunities

17. Proposed Changes to the Program • Financial • Adding second staff member • Minimal charge for class • Needed change • “On the short list for changes. . . internships increase the sense of urgency in students and better prepares them for the business world.” (Stelzer, 2014)

18. Any Questions? • Proposed Changes • Additional Business Internship Coordinator • More affiliated internships • Pre-Internship Course

19. Required Business Internship • Keep on pace • Benefits WLC • Benefits the students • “Preparing students for lives of Christian leadership”