UF Receives Larger Great Lakes Grant to Provide Paid Student Internships

The University of Findlay has received another substantial grant to provide a variety of paid internships for students with financial need.
The Great Lakes Higher Education Guaranty Corporation has awarded the University a three-year, $356,312 grant to be used this school year and through 2018. UF is seeking to match it with an additional $41,317 to support student internship wages.
The goal is to place 176 eligible students in internships between the Spring 2016 and Spring 2018 semesters. The Office of Internships and Placement will work with the Financial Aid Office to verify that students have filled out a Federal Application for Student Financial Aid (FAFSA), and that they have a documented level of unmet financial need.
“The University of Findlay is honored to be awarded this funding that supports our students in earning practical, relevant experience that will put them on a strong career path after graduation,” said UF Grants Manager Tricia Valasek.
The competitive grant was open to all nonprofit, four-year higher education institutions in Ohio, Arkansas, Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota and Iowa. Great Lakes awarded $12 million to 33 schools in four states. UF is one of 11 Ohio recipients.
UF was awarded a similar grant from Great Lakes in July 2014 for $149,340. The intent was to hire 60 interns through August; the funding helped establish 68 internships.
“Paid internships benefit students, colleges and employers,” said Richard D. George, Great Lakes president and chief executive officer. “Students gain meaningful workplace skills, and are more likely to earn degrees and use their internship experiences to help secure good jobs upon graduation. Colleges will see increased completion and job placement rates, and employers gain a pipeline to fresh talent.”
The internship offerings align with The University of Findlay’s emphasis on and tradition of experiential learning and community service. Paid internships throughout the community and on campus have been available at places such as the Arts Partnership of Greater Hancock County and the City of Findlay Mayor’s office. These partnerships enable students to learn hands-on skills in their career fields of interest, assist businesses and nonprofit organizations, and set the stage for potential employment at those establishments after students graduate.
When the previous grant was awarded, Phil Gunder, the University’s director of internships and cooperative education, said the funding “opened up other opportunities” for businesses that would have otherwise not been able to accommodate student interns because of budget constraints.
Gunder said he is excited and happy that UF students will continue to gain valuable work experiences thanks to this second, larger grant. “The mix of gaining the experience that internships provide but also that financial assistance, is something that is very beneficial. From a community and UF standpoint, it just offers the opportunity for new employers to learn how awesome our students and community are as a whole,” he commented.
For more information about UF’s grant, contact Alexis Currie, experiential learning and career placement specialist in the Office of Internships and Placement at (419) 434-5873 or email her at curriea@findlay.edu.
About Great Lakes: Dedicated to making college education a reality since 1967. Knowing that education has the power to change lives for the better, Great Lakes Higher Education Corporation and Affiliates was established as a nonprofit group focused on a single objective: helping students nationwide prepare for and succeed in postsecondary education and student loan repayment. As a leading student loan guarantor and servicer, Great Lakes has been selected by the U.S. Department of Education to provide assistance and repayment planning to more than 8 million borrows – as well as assistance to colleges and lenders nationwide. Its earnings support one of the largest and most respected education philanthropy programs in the country. Since 2006, Great Lakes has committed nearly $154 million in grant funding to promote higher education access and completion for students of color, low-income students, and first-generation students. For additional information, visit home.mygreatlakes.org.
About The University of Findlay: The University of Findlay is a flexible, forward-thinking institution that is constantly seeking ways to better serve students and the community. Its mission is to help individuals find the path to a meaningful life and productive career. Established in 1882, the University was founded on the principles of personal faith, civic-mindedness and scholarly achievement. It is committed to providing the personal attention essential to the development of students as whole persons – knowledgeable, creative, ethical and compassionate leaders in a global environment. The University of Findlay offers more than 60 majors in business, education, health, liberal arts, pharmacy and sciences.

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