Kristen Dethloff, internship and student employment coordinator at theĚý, provided some tips for students seeking opportunities to help them determine the best choice.

1. Credit and Compensation: “Students should receive academic credit or financial compensation for their internships. A student can also receive both, it is not an either-or,” Dethloff said. “According to theĚýU.S. Department of Labor, Fact Sheet #71: Internship Programs Under The Fair Labor Standards Act, employers are required to provide one, if not both of these forms of compensation to their interns.”
2. Explorative Experience: “Students can use internships as an opportunity forĚý. This is a chance for students to test the waters in industries and roles that interest them since it is a short-term experience in a real-world setting. Students should take stock of the pros and cons of an opportunity, their individual likes and dislikes, etc.,” she said.
3. Criteria Alignment: “A student ought to be sure that the internship they are considering meets the criteria for their goals, such as academic department credit, postgraduate admissions, or experience toward full-time employment,” Dethloff said. “For example, many health professions prioritize candidates with hands-on patient care experience, but not all healthcare internships meet the definition of hands-on.”
4. Self Development: “Students should consider whether or not an internship offers professional development and skills enhancement. In other words, students should consider what they will come away from the internship having learned, additionally thinking about what could go on a future resume or how to leverage the internship on an application,” she said.Ěý
5. Strong Communication: “Students should look for continuous and clear communication from the hiring manager throughout the application and interview process as this can be a green flag illustrating how the internship will play out,” Dethloff said.

Summer internships are a great way for students to expand their college experience without overloading their fall or spring semesters. To learn more, visit the ĚýĚýto find career coaches,Ěý, andĚýĚýfor Cardinals looking for an engaged learning stop on their journey towards graduation and their future vocations.Ěý

The CEL was created to help meet the goals of UofL’s 2019-2022 strategic plan, which emphasizes the importance of investing in student success beyond the classroom.

“New facilities, innovative programs as well as exciting and strategic goals for our future all point to a university that is thriving,” said UofL Interim President Lori Stewart Gonzalez. “As a Great Place to Learn, UofL prepares students for success here and beyond. We accomplish this by supporting the whole student through transformative, purpose-driven and engaged learning.”

“Engaged learning is an active process in which students apply their knowledge to real-world experiences using inquiry, critical thinking, active exploration and reflection thereby expanding their employability skills,” said Interim Vice Provost for Engaged Learning Gail DePuy. “We are excited to mark the opening of this wonderful new space on campus which will provide our students with opportunities to expand their learning beyond the traditional classroom.”

DePuy said the goal is that all students will have the opportunity to complete at least one engaged learning activity such as an internship, undergraduate research, community-based learning or study abroad experience before they graduate. To meet that goal, the CEL will both facilitate students’ access to existing opportunities through the university career centers, international center and office of community engagement as well as grow available undergraduate research opportunities and engaged learning activities incorporated in coursework.

The CEL is not just a resource for students. Community and industry partners often ask UofL for guidance on the best types of students (majors, talents, etc.) for their internship positions and what are best practices for a meaningful engaged learning experience for both the student and the business. To capitalize on the CEL’s potential to strengthen UofL’s ties to the community, the CEL will assemble an advisory board composed of local community organizations, economic development representatives, industry partners and nonprofits.

“We need hands-on, real-world experience to be fully ready for life after college, and employers expect us to have this type of experiential learning before they make job offers to new graduates,” said UofL Student Government Association President Dorian Brown. “Thanks to the strategic plan’s Great Place to Learn committees for getting this project off the ground and the university leadership for making the CEL a reality.”

The University of Louisville plans to introduce a dynamic new tool designed to improve students’ educational experience and give them a leg up on the competition when entering the workforce and help prepare them to further their education in graduate or professional school.Ěý

The Center for Engaged Learning (CEL) will be a resource for students, faculty and the community to help them find and create opportunities that complement the classroom experience, enabling students to apply their knowledge toward real-world projects and issues. These opportunities include research projects, internships, apprenticeships, community service and more.Ěý

The CEL will partner with many offices, including undergraduate research and creative activities, study abroad, community engagement, student teaching, Army and Air Force ROTC, competition teams, student government and UofL’s Center for Digital Transformation, established last year.Ěý

The CEL will also administer a co-curricular transcript that will be supplied to students in addition to their traditional transcripts.

“This is an exciting opportunity that will greatly benefit our students and is specifically mentioned in our 2020-2022 strategic plan,” said Interim President Lori Gonzalez. “Students who have had engaged or experiential learning opportunities ask richer questions in class and are prepared after graduation to tackle complex problems in any workplace setting.”Ěý

The center will be headed by Gail DePuy, interim vice provost for engaged learning, along with Paul DeMarco, interim director of undergraduate research and creative activity, and a soon-to-be-named director of experiential learning.

UofL already incorporates dozens of experiential learning opportunities in its programs. For example, students in the J.B. Speed School of Engineering are required to work at three paid cooperative education jobs in addition to classroom instruction. Study abroad programs, community service and undergraduate research are also commonly included in the student experience at UofL.

“The Center for Engaged Learning will expand these types of opportunities so that all students can apply their knowledge to concrete experiences, including those whose majors may not have a direct career path,” DePuy said.

Experiential learning also helps students increase involvement on campus and develop a sense of belonging.Ěý

For local employers, partnering with the CEL can provide early access to UofL students for possible future job opportunities. Faculty members at UofL who do not already incorporate experiential learning in their classes are encouraged to work with trainers in the Delphi Center for Teaching & Learning to find the best approach for their students.

Funded primarily through a grant from the Gheens Foundation, the new center will have offices in the dormitory called Belknap Residence Hall 2022 currently under construction. That facility is expected to open in Fall 2022.

Contact CEL@louisville.edu to learn more. More information about UofL’s Strategic Plan projects supported by the Gheens Foundation can be found here and here.Ěý

NSIN, an undersecretary of defense for research and engineering program, is changing how the DoD solves national security problems by connecting defense, academic and entrepreneurial innovators in artificial intelligence, bioengineering, autonomous systems and cybersecurity. NSIN is building a diverse defense network through three portfolios:

• Ěýaccelerates the adoption of novel concepts and technologies for DoD application
• Ěýincreases the intellectual diversity of the DoD by engaging academia and the venture community on national security issues
• Ěýpromotes opportunities for national security service among populations that might not otherwise consider a career in national security

NSIN programs allow the university to expand its already robust innovation ecosystem and relationships with the Department of Defense. This new partnership gives students and faculty opportunities to work on real-world national security problems at startup speed. Students and faculty will interact with key military decision-makers and have access to federal funding to develop solutions and technologies. In addition, the agreement also provides students access to internships and employment opportunities with the Department of Defense.

“The University of Louisville is honored to have been chosen to participate in the NSIN program,” said UofL President Neeli Bendapudi. “Across the nation, the NSIN is leveraging universities’ abilities to work with industry in providing viable solutions to issues faced by our military worldwide. As one of only 16 institutions in the nation, and one of three in the program’s southeast region, to have a NSIN university program director on our campus, this collaboration is exciting for our faculty and students.”

Fortune is a Navy pilot with over 20 years of active duty and reserve experience. He has deployed to South America, Afghanistan and Europe. Most recently, he served as assistant chief of staff for the U.S. Navy’s Second Fleet. His local civilian experience includes serving as director of business development for the Kentucky Aerospace Industry Consortium and director of program management for the city of Lexington. He earned a master’s degree at The Naval War College and a bachelor’s degree at Davidson College.

“I am excited for this new partnership between NSIN and the University of Louisville. Although I cherish my time as a naval aviator, it is not the only way to serve our country,” Fortune said. “The Department of Defense needs talented individuals to help solve our toughest national security problems and critical technology gaps. The University of Louisville and the state of Kentucky have a deep pool of brilliant innovators, and my goal is to build an extensive innovation ecosystem focused on addressing these national security challenges.”

According to the University Career Center, internships, co-op and experiential learning listings for 2019-2020 increased by 72% over the previous year. The bulk of the listings increased prior to the pandemic, but while COVID-19 stalled the workforce, it didn’t stop Cardinals from seeking and finding outside-the-classroom opportunities – even if they looked a little different.

Stuart Esrock, faculty-in-residence at the University Career Center, and Bill Fletcher, director of the University Career Center, acknowledge the increase in experiential learning opportunities during a global pandemic is surprising, but they say it makes sense from an economic perspective.

Listings of internships and co-op opportunities initially took a dive in March and April, when stay-at-home orders were issued, but the center began to see a slight increase in June. “Some of that increase in June was really because we began to see an increase in the economy overall,” Esrock said.

The increase is good news for students. UofL strongly encourages adding a real-world component to the undergraduate experience. Participating in internships and co-ops helps students build a skill set that extends past a classroom setting, network with future colleagues and business contacts, discover what they are passionate about and what they dislike, and earn work experience while still completing an undergraduate degree

Fletcher and Esrock said experiential learning offers a well-rounded educational experience, but most importantly, sets UofL students apart in the competitive job market. That’s even more crucial as the pandemic continues to affect the workforce. As Fletcher believes it will take longer than expected to recover economically from the pandemic, he stressed the importance of gaining work experience where available.

He added that the University Career Center has adapted its services to make sure students are prepared for a new sense of workplace normalcy, when everything from interviews to hiring is being done virtually.

The center has a plethora of resources to prepare students for the virtual workplace. It has virtual interview etiquette tips, mock interviews, appointments with a career coach, resume review, and other resources to help students figure out what career path they are interested in pursuing.

“We want to give students a realistic view of what’s going on in the world right now, about the job market, but we don’t want them to give up hope,” Esrock said.Ěý

At the beginning of the Fall 2017 semester, UofL switched its career management system from Cards Career Link to Cards Career Connection powered by Handshake, an all-encompassing interactive web platform that connects students and alumni with jobs, employers, and staff members.

Unlike the previous system, Cards Career Connection not only features postings for internships and part-time and full-time positions, it allows students to login using their ULink information and post resumes and schedule appointments with career counselors. Students are also able to see upcoming events from the Career Development Center and register for workshops.

Overall, this system will be easier for students to use and will give students access to a nationwide listing of job and internship opportunities. Cards Career Connection is also able to show students positions that they may be interested in based on the skills they put on their profile.

“It works almost like a LinkedIn page,” said Caroline Houchins, acting director of the Career Development Center. “Our entire office believes that Cards Career Connection will help the campus as a whole because it is a one-stop shop. It’s very easy to use.”

All students have access to this new system although the College of Business, Speed School and Law School will continue to use their career management systems.

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