An initial look at an alternative to internships that seeks to provide experience producing reports, networking opportunities, and exposure to the professions studied. This initiative was launched in response to new information regarding DHS employee education preparation, an increased interest in teaching to increase critical and creative thinking, and a limit on available internships. Students engage in individually-graded group assignments, submit and resubmit reviewed work, and selected reports and summaries are identified as able to be submitted to official agencies and organizations.

1. 9/27/2012
Practical Educational Partnerships
(PEP)
O Implementation Team
O Mitzie Forrest-Thompson
O Meagan Karmiller
O _______________
O _______________
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2. 9/27/2012
Forget Internships - Bring
Employers and Their Work into
the Classroom!
• Objective: Explore alternatives to
traditional internships, while
providing experience producing
reports, networking opportunities,
and exposure to professions.
• Why is this initiative being
launched? Research regarding
DHS employee education
preparation, increased need in
critical and creative thinking,
internship opportunities
becoming increasingly limited.
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3. 9/27/2012
Most important courses
O Terrorism
O Fundamentals of Homeland Security
O Critical Thinking/Analytical Skills
O Ethics
O Technical Writing
O English Composition
O Informational and Oral Communication
O Immigration Law
O Investigation Procedures
O Constitutional Law.
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4. 9/27/2012
So you want to be a police officer?
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5. 9/27/2012
O Today’s job market challenging.
O Many Baby Boomers staying in.
O Many from Generation X unable
to move up.
O Generation (Y, Millennial, Next)
limited by opportunity and size.
• How will this be accomplished?
Students engage in individually
graded group assignments,
submit and re-submit reviewed
work, selected reports and
summaries submitted to official
agencies and organizations.
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6. 9/27/2012
• What’s in it for the student?
• Experience
• Portfolio material
• Chances to evaluate field
• Networking opportunities
• While having life outside
University
WANTED:
• College students willing to
accept unique “intern-ship
like” opportunity!
*Definition of “intern-ship like” = PEP
(Practical Educational Partnership)
Remember this:
1. No pay/compensation.
2. Some travel (to location) may be
required in some situations.
3. No jobs offered/expected.
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7. 9/27/2012
Why is there need for a Practical Educational
Partnership (PEP)?
• Most “I-would-hire” students have lives outside of
the realm of higher education.
• When they graduate, they will need relevant
experience.
• Increase in private sector of “unpaid intern
exploitation.”
• Public sector starting to notice.
• Combined with economy, foundation for decreasing
internship opportunities.
• Soon-to-be-graduated students still need
relevant experience.
• We need a solution.
Test For Unpaid Interns
(in “for-profit” private sector internships:
• Similar to training given in educational environment
• For benefit of intern
• Intern not displace regular employees
• under close supervision of existing staff
• Employer doing training derives no immediate benefit
• on occasion operations may actually be impeded
• Intern not necessarily entitled to job at conclusion of internship
• Employer and intern understand intern receives no wages.
• If all factors met, employment relationship does not exist under
FLSA, Act’s minimum wage and overtime provisions do not apply
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8. 9/27/2012
O 40% of our students above 25
OThat’s now . . .
OIn 8-10 years, 56% of all jobs
will require some college
(2 + years)
OSkills gap 25%
OThat means more students
Differences between Internship &
Practical Educational Partnership (PEP)
VS.
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9. 9/27/2012
Examples
O Prepared report for state Emergency Management
Agency on upcoming public gatherings
O Designed and collaborated on creation of mobile
computer application provided to local police to assist
with intelligence collection
O Provided executive summary of recently-released
report by DHS/FBI to state Safety & Homeland
Security Commissioner
O Compiled listing of state and federal laws regarding
Sovereign Citizen suits (paper terrorism).
O Two types of work from
participating organizations:
O those with take-home, do-
anywhere work
O those where you have to
come-to-the-office to do the
work.
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10. 9/27/2012
O Take-home work is less-sensitive and on
even-more flexible, project-based schedule.
O Entails getting a challenge or assignment
and then finding folks to do it.
O I review the work product and send it to the
requester
O In most instances, resume entry will satisfy
documentation and I will be available in the
future to verify its accuracy.
O Many opportunities are expected with this
method, so agency documentation should
not be expected.
O Maybe letter or certificate, depending on time
commitment
O Come-to-the-office variation requires physical
presence to avoid the possibility of duplication or
dissemination.
O Work hours may be traditional or flexible, with
minimum per-session of 4 and a maximum of 6
hours for a total weekly maximum of 20.
O In most instances, documentation will be made to
verify the volunteer participation for these.
O Fewer opportunities expected for this, expecting
some verification ability available with agency,
verified with a letter or certificate of some kind.
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11. 9/27/2012
To Be Clear:
NO compensation is provided.
This includes, but is not limited to:
• No pay for hours contributed/donated to
educational partnership
• No meal reimbursements
• No mileage reimbursements
• No clothing allowances
~Remember: NO PAY~
What you do get in return : hands-on experience in field of study, chance to learn new
things, opportunity to network with professionals in discipline, opportunities to put
skill sets to work in both practical and educational way.
Requirements
O Resume, reviewed by career services
O 1-2 page essay on desired profession,
segment of industry, employing
organization, and plan
O 2nd semester Sophomore-level or
work experience (exceptions
considered)
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12. 9/27/2012
Implementation
O Approach agencies/organizations
O Local, State, Federal
O Police, Emergency Management,
Homeland Security, Businesses
O Compile list of projects
O Agency generated
O Participant generated
O Approach/Inform students
O Matchmaking
Thoughts/Ideas?
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