By Brendan Sherwood
Chips, Dips and Internships is an underused but invaluable tool for RVCC students to demystify the internship process. Now in its fifth year, the program brings students and employers together to learn about each other and about the internship process.
Linda Levitt, internship coordinator with RVCC Career Services, says the program is a successful one. Although she is “delighted” with the participation she would like to see even more people attend, she said.
Levitt schedules three sessions in the fall semester and two in the spring. Each session typically features a student speaker and an employer speaker. Other employers are usually on hand to discuss their own internship opportunities. The session lasts about an hour.
Levitt and other faculty members involved try to develop internship prospects available for students in all majors, but business and communications opportunities tend to be the best represented.
Science and biotechnology internships are also consistently available. Levitt says there are good opportunities in the computer science field with employers who “pay very nicely,” but so far participation by these students has been low.
Internships are an incredible asset to students, according to Levitt. “They should walk away with a lot more than just work experience,” she says, including references, guides to other opportunities or even full-time jobs.
There are other ways to find student internships, she said; but Chips, Dips and Internships offers a list of “filtered,” quality opportunities. Some students have referred employers to the program, but all employers have talked to the faculty and offer good programs.
To participate in an internship through RVCC, students must be matriculated (seeking a degree here), have completed 15 credits, and have a 2.0 GPA or higher (3.0 in science & technology).
The next Chips, Dips and Internships events will be held next semester. For more information, contact Linda Levitt at ext. 8437.
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