SEMO career director touts benefits of internships

Southeast Missouri State University students, employers and the school itself benefit from internships, the school's director of career services said Friday.

Jerry Westbrook, the director, outlined the benefits of student internships to over 100 business leaders at the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce First Friday Coffee at the Show Me Center.

Southeast has integrated internships into its curriculum, Westbrook said. "Every student has to go through an internship to graduate," he said after the morning meeting.

Southeast, he said, is at the forefront of academic internships nationwide and includes internships on student transcripts.

In his presentation, Westbrook said internships benefit students by teaching valuable job-search skills, developing maturity and responsibility, contributing toward career growth, providing business experience and enhancing marketability to employers.

Internships benefit employers by providing a source of qualified employees, a good recruiting tool, a method to cover fluctuating personnel needs and improving access to minority workers.

Internships also help the university, providing strong relationships with the business community, enhancing the enrollment and retention of students, boosting corporate sponsorships and assisting faculty development, Westbrook said.

At Southeast, a student typically receives three hours of academic credit for an internship. A student must work a minimum of 120 hours in a semester to receive the academic credit, Westbrook said.

Dr. Gerald McDougall, dean of the Harrison College of Business; Karen Hendrickson, vice president/chief nursing officer at Southeast Missouri Hospital; Rachel Schlosser, graduate assistant career services; and Dobbie Herrion, interim assistant director of career services also made presentations about internships.