Cleveland State Partners with the Small Business Development Center

Cleveland State Partners with the Small Business Development Center

Holly Vincent
Thursday, January 28, 2016 11:15 AM
All, Cooperative Education

CLEVELAND, Tenn. – Cleveland State Community College was recently awarded $36,000 through the Small Business Administration (SBA) for a paid internship program, and the college matched the amount awarded. The purpose of the funding was to expand the college’s cooperative education program through expanding work-based opportunities for students in partnership with the Tennessee Small Business Development Center (SBDC) located on the CSCC campus. The cooperative education program is the integration of classroom theory with practical work experience and requires a student to have specific periods of attendance at the college and specific periods of employment.
The SBDC staff at CSCC collaborated with the college’s cooperative education program to hire 22 student interns who provided a broad-based range of assistance to small businesses in the college’s five-county service area of Bradley, McMinn, Meigs, Monroe and Polk counties. According to Marci Reiter, Cooperative Education Instructor, the students have gained extensive knowledge in a real-world work setting. They have learned crucial career skills which allows them to distinguish themselves from others within their age/career level. Students have learned valuable networking skills and the importance of community connections through working with businesses and their customers in the service area. Additionally, students received career advice and resume assistance as part of the program, better preparing them for life after graduation. The program has allowed students to experience work-life balance.
Small Business Specialist Jennie DeCook, stated, “We were thrilled to have the opportunity to pair SBDC clients with Cleveland State students.”
Reiter said she hopes that employers become aware of the benefits of hiring student interns, and in turn, they will continue as program participants either by paying interns on their own or at least serving as a future volunteer co-op placement. “Our overall goal is to identify, recruit and cultivate co-op placements for future Cleveland State students so that they can gain hands-on experience in their career field. This program will allow us to get our foot in the door with small businesses in order to sell them on the value of the co-op program.”
Reiter continued, “This was really a win/win for everyone involved. The students gained the experience while being paid for it, and the employers received paid interns! This whole program has really exceeded our expectations. Three businesses participating in this program, a local bank, a physician’s group and a school system, have expressed an interest in hiring their interns after the internship is completed. Two additional students have already been assured of permanent employment following the internship program.”
Carolina Roman participated in the paid internship program last semester at Southern Heritage Bank. “My experience at Southern Heritage Bank was very pleasant. I can say that from the very first day I was treated kindly, and they made me feel very welcomed. Michelle Davis, the Vice President and Human Resources Director, treated me very well and was very professional.”
Roman continued, “I would highly recommend this internship. It is an experience and an opportunity that can open doors in the future. During my internship, I learned to work and interact with new people in a different work atmosphere. I feel that with this experience, I am building confidence in myself to be a better professional, and I’d like to thank Marci Reiter and Dr. Brandon (Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences) for believing that I was the right candidate for this internship.”
Cleveland State is currently developing a micro-site within the CSCC website where both students and employers can go to request further information on the co-op/intern program. For more information on the cooperative education program, contact Reiter at (423) 614-8718.
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