exposure experience

education

ENGAGEMENT:

Ways to Connect with The Shriver Center

UMBC students connect theory to practice by actively engaging in internship, co-op, and service-learning opportunities through The Shriver Center.

Office of Professional Practice

Professional Practice staff secured, coordinated, and monitored 979 internship and cooperative education placements during the 2005-2006 academic year.

This number represents a 50% increase over the past 3 years, which represents 328 additional student placements.

0100200300400500

600700800900

1000

2002/03 2003/04 2004/05 2005/06

# ofPlacements

2002/03- 651 2003/04- 6832004/05- 7992005/06- 979

1. Educating Students on Available Resources

• What is an internship, co-op and service learning experience?

• Where can they go to facilitate these opportunities?

• How can they connect these experiences to their major(s)/ department(s)?

Undergraduate Program Directors can facilitate students’ exploration of applied learning by:

2. Explaining the Benefits of Applied Learning

STUDENT IMPACT

UMBC students:

Gain professional skills and major-related work experience Connect theory to practice and apply classroom knowledge in a realistic work environment Solidify their career goals Establish a network of contacts in their chosen career fields for future opportunities and references Earn academic credit Build a strong resume Earn compensation

(80% Compensated/ average pay rate $10 to $12 per hour) Secure full-time employment before graduation

Practicum

Accompanies ALL placements

Transcript notation

Links your work to upper-level credits

Receive guidance and support

The Shriver Center works with Departments

to Coordinate Academic Credit

Learning Objectives

Timekeeping Record

Mid-Placement Review

Seminars

Evaluations

Reflective Journal

Practicum

IMPACT ON RETENTION & GRADUATION RATES

Data from UMBC’s Office of Institutional Research shows that students who participate in a Shriver Center experience are more often retained and graduate at nearly DOUBLE the rate than students who do not.

70.00%

75.00%

80.00%

85.00%

90.00%

95.00%

FA03-FA04

Non ShriverCenterStudents

Shriver CenterStudents

IMPACT ON RETENTION RATES

Regardless of the type of SC affiliation and student level, students affiliated with the Center are more likely to be retained in the short and long term.

78.5%

93.5%

Impact on Graduation Rates (1994-1998 Data)

The six year graduation rates for Shriver Center students range from 83.7% to 88.4%. The six year graduation rates for those who do not participate in a Shriver Center experience range from 39.6% to 45.7%.

0102030405060708090

Non Shriver CenterStudents

Shriver CenterStudents

39.6% - 45.7%

83.7% - 88.4%

Efficiency and Effectiveness

When controlling for all demographics, senior-level students who completed an internship or multiple applied learning experiences were significantly more likely to graduate in a shorter period of time than those who did not. National Survey of Student Engagement, 2004

3. Encouraging students to seek applied learning experiences as soon as possible in their academic career

Shriver Requirements Include

Completion of at least one semester at UMBC or 30 transfer credits

(For service-learning, students are eligible in the first year on campus)

2.50 minimum GPA

4. Being an advocate among your colleagues/peers to disseminate information to students and each other.

Connecting directly w/Shriver Center staff to:

- Post an intern/co-op position sent directly to the department

- Develop a service-learning site for a course/faculty member who is interested in integrating service-learning pedagogy into their syllabus

- Coordinate an awareness presentation on applied learning opportunities available to students in a specific major

Shriver Center Contacts 410-455-2493

Michele Wolff, Director wolff@umbc.edu

Service-Learning Staff:Laura Wilmarth, Assistant Director of Service-Learning

wilmarth@umbc.edu

Internship and Co-op Staff:Christine Routzahn, Associate Director routzahn@umbc.edu

(Liaison to students majoring in Social Sciences)Miryn Alcantara, Assistant Director alcantar@umbc.edu

(Liaison to students majoring in Life Sciences and Engineering)Mike Oettel, Assistant Director moettel@umbc.edu

(Liaison to students majoring in the Humanities and Visual and Performing Arts)

Casey Miller, Coordinator cmille1@umbc.edu (Liaison to students majoring in IS and Computer Science)