Austin Community College’s internship program is expanding. Over the past year, about 345 ACC students from more than 30 departments were placed in internships through their college programs — combining their classroom education with practical work experience.
“Helping our students gain real-world experience while they’re in college not only gives them a better understanding of the career they’re working toward, it enriches the learning experience overall. In the end, both our students and the employer benefit,” says Dr. Sam Greer, director of Employer Outreach and Experiential Learning Programs. “We’re now working with more than 1,300 vetted internship employers in the region and supporting city, state, and county agencies, companies, and nonprofits to develop internships programs and connect them to ACC departments with students who are ready to work and learn.”
In recognition of its top internship program supporters, the college’s Office of Experiential Learning partnered with the Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation Campus Center and ACC’s Community Engagement Office to host the inaugural ACC Internship Champion Awards on April 6.
Greer and Dr. Khayree Williams, director of the TRHT Center, presented awards to Capital IDEA and members of the following chambers:
- Greater Austin Asian Chamber
- Greater Austin Black Chamber
- Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber
- Austin LGBT Chamber
- Austin Young Chamber of Commerce
Additionally, Loretta Edelen, director of Community Engagement, moderated a panel discussion about internships with students and employers, and Drs. Molly Beth Malcolm, executive vice chancellor of Operations & Public Affairs, and Shasta Buchanan, vice chancellor of Student Affairs, both gave remarks.
The college expects to host the event annually in an effort to strengthen ACC’s relationships with our local chambers of commerce and further expand our departmental internship programs.
Any faculty or staff interested in establishing internship programs should contact Greer at [email protected].