The University is collaborating on this important study with Dr. Phil Gardner, who is Director of Research for the Collegiate Employment Research Institute at Michigan State University. Dr. Gardner has been with MSU for 25 years with a Ph.D. in Economics/Public Policy. His major areas of research include the transition from college to work, early socialization and career progression in the workplace, workforce readiness, and other areas related to college student studies.

We have asked College Dean’s to support this study by requesting faculty instructing internship courses to embed a pre/post survey into the syllabi of all internship related courses beginning summer of 2020.  A simple pre/post student survey will be the basis of our plan for continuous follow-up steps listed below, and provide faculty and professional staff useable results to inform course development, advising and student engagement.

Post-experience Steps:

• Survey 6 and 18 months post-experience – capture lag effects and self-report next steps taken
• Survey the job search process – anxiety and length of time to obtain job
• Survey 3 to 5 years post-graduation on success of socializing into the workplace
• Build a cohort of non-internship participants for comparison

As you are aware, internships, as a component of a student’s education, is becoming increasingly central to the successful post-graduation job search.  Data that is collected from this study will help Inform and implement best practices to assist students during and after their experience as they move toward post-graduate aspirations.  Thank you for willingness to collaborate!

Please reach out  with any questions or concerns to:

Carmen Gold- Johnson
Assistant Director, Employer Engagement & Internship Development, CPDC

OR

Stan Inman
Director, CPDC