Summer internship programs like NODA and ACUHO-I are designed to match graduate students interested in pursuing Student Affairs and Higher Education with internships at institutions across the country. Most higher education professionals can agree that these internships provide invaluable experiences and unmatched professional development opportunities. These programs allow bright-eyed, optimistic graduate students to spend their summer working alongside seasoned professionals. In addition to developing leadership skills and gaining experience in the field, summer internship programs allow students to discover their path in higher education. In a field with so much nuance, the summer internship can be a great way to explore departments in the field and learn more about where interests and passions lie.
This past summer, CIVSA launched its own internship program, with the goal of exposing graduate students to the world of campus visits, visitor centers, and tour guide programs. When CIVSA’s Member Relations Committee put the call out for host institutions to enroll last winter, my department jumped at the opportunity to mentor a graduate student interested in the field. Fast forward a few months later and the Marketing and Special Events team in NYU’s Enrollment Management Division welcomed our intern, Jazmene, a first year graduate student at The State University College at Buffalo.
One of the great benefits of the program was how much flexibility it allowed for us to craft the intern position to best meet the needs of our department. Like many institutions, summer is our busiest time. And what better way for Jazmene to learn about the visitor experience than to be immersed in it during our peak season? Her main responsibilities were conducting research on peer and aspirant institutions, greeting guests at our Admissions Center, and assisting with the administration of our Admissions Ambassador program, made up of about 200 students. It was quite an undertaking but Jazmene rose to the occasion with ease and quickly became a valued member of our team.
In addition, we wanted to be thoughtful about Jazmene’s experience and create as many learning opportunities for her as possible. To that end, we had Jazmene identify her own goals for the summer. On her first day, we talked in depth about what she was hoping to accomplish and skills she was hoping to strengthen.This allowed Jazmene to take ownership of the position and steer her own professional development, making the internship a true collaboration between Jazmene and our team.
As a graduate student preparing for her second and final year of graduate school, Jazmene wanted to spend time honing her interview skills and learning more about assessment. So, in addition to the responsibilities that were outlined in the job description, I was able to build in additional opportunities for her professional growth. We spent time doing mock interviews and discussing strategies for the higher ed job search. Jazmene also met with staff from our marketing team to discuss the importance of assessment in education and how they utilized it in their daily work.
In addition to more exposure to the world of visitor relations and becoming a part of the NYU family, through the internship, Jazmene was able to grow her professional network. During her short time with us, she met admissions counselors, AVPs, marketing and special event professionals, as well as a host of other professionals from across our division and beyond.
Working with Jazmene was such a pleasure and by the end of our time together, it was clear that the experience was impactful – both for Jazmene and our team. Having an extra set of hands during peak season was so helpful and our students really enjoyed having an additional layer of support. But more importantly, Jazmene’s eagerness to learn and her passion for the field were so refreshing to see! Sometimes as professionals, we get so caught up in the hustle and bustle of the work day that we lose sight of why we started in the field in the first place. Seeing Jazmene light up as she interacted with our guests and our students was a nice reminder of the reason I chose to be in this field and I’m so grateful for her insight and perspective.
When our institution agreed to host an intern for the summer, I was excited about the opportunity to take a student under my wing and provide them with a new set of professional tools. I knew that the experience would have a lasting impact on their career path. But what I didn’t expect was the lasting impact that our intern would leave on me and my team. Working with Jazmene was one of the most fulfilling experiences in my career thus far. And I hope your institution will consider hosting an intern this summer through CIVSA’s Internship Program as a way to create more opportunities for mentorship and training to the next generation of leaders in our field.
