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Practical Educational Partnerships (PEP)
O Implementation Team
O Mitzie Forrest-Thompson
O Meagan Karmiller
O _______________
O _______________
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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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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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OToday’s job market challenging.
OMany Baby Boomers staying in.
OMany from Generation X unable
to move up.
OGeneration (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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• 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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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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O40% 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
VS.
Differences between Internship & Practical Educational Partnership (PEP)
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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).
OTwo 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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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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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
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.
~Remember: NO PAY~
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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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?
