Story: Phillip Tutor | Photos: Submitted
Internships were a key to work-based learning commendation聽
When Dr.聽Amy Jones, chair of the baby直播鈥檚聽Department of Communications, made a presentation recently for a state-level awards program, she didn鈥檛 go empty-handed.
Along with UWA President Dr. Ken Tucker, she invited Integrated Marketing Communications major Demetrius Battle to introduce his portfolio to judges from the .
The result: Boosted by Jones and Battles鈥� presentation and the work of the department鈥檚 faculty, UWA鈥檚 IMC program received one of the inaugural Governor鈥檚 Seal of Excellence in Work-Based Learning awards.
鈥淔rankly, that’s an intimidating situation for a college student,鈥� Jones said. 鈥淏ut he did such a phenomenal job. That’s what shows (UWA students鈥�) abilities and how ready they are to be successful in their careers. And it was his presentation, I think, that took it to the next level.鈥�
The governor鈥檚 awards program 鈥渟eeks to recognize the outstanding progress made in work-based learning in order to bring to scale the most effective examples,鈥� according to the state鈥檚 apprenticeship office. With its commitment to student internships, UWA鈥檚 IMC program allowed Jones to describe it as 鈥渁 work-based learning model鈥� in her presentation.
The IMC major in Livingston includes three tracks of study: traditional, graphic design and sports communications. The traditional track includes upper-level communications, marketing and behavioral-science courses. The graphic design track not only includes its namesake courses but also instruction in photography and media buying. With courses in sports writing, sports magazines and sports media issues, the sports communication track prepares graduates for careers in one of communications鈥� popular fields.
In her presentation, Jones highlighted vital statistics about UWA鈥檚 IMC program, most notably its 332 student internships (260 undergraduate, 72 graduate) coordinated since 2014. Seventy-three percent of the interns worked for baby直播-based companies; 38 percent of the interns earned salaries; and 35 percent of the intern employers hired students after they graduated from UWA. The opportunities came from employers in advertising, marketing public-relations agencies, non-profit organizations, public service and governmental offices, media, sports leagues, education and real estate.
UWA鈥檚 application for the awards included three letters of support from industry partners and three letters of support from people who had successfully participated in its program, said Jones, who felt it was important to show the judges that UWA鈥檚 faculty is adept at answering questions about job placement and skills after graduation.
鈥淲e have a wonderful team of faculty that all feel strongly about helping our students prepare for their careers. And we have been able to build that into every course that they take.鈥�
— Dr. Amy Jones
IMC majors, she explained, leave UWA with professional resumes that have been edited by faculty members and web-based portfolios that illustrate their potential to employers.
鈥淲e know that 47 percent of (UWA鈥檚) student population identify as first generation,鈥� Jones said. 鈥淭hey feel a tremendous amount of pressure to be successful after they graduate from college, and many of them lack confidence transitioning from college to the workplace. It’s something that we see in our graduating seniors.
鈥淭hey’re not just going to college for the knowledge. They’re going to college to be successful in that next level, and that next level for them is their career.鈥�
But in what field? In what job? It鈥檚 common for visiting students interested in UWA to ask about employment possibilities for IMC majors, Jones said.
鈥淲e have a wonderful team of faculty that all feel strongly about helping our students prepare for their careers,鈥� she said. 鈥淎nd we have been able to build that into every course that they take.鈥�
