SU Awarded $50,000 Grant To Expand Internship Placement

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July 18, 2022

Funding Will Also Support a Vocational Exploration Program

Susquehanna University has been awarded a $50,000 grant from the Network for Vocation in Undergraduate Education to expand the number of summer internship placements with local employers and develop a weekly vocational exploration program for all summer research and internship students in the natural and social sciences.

The grant will fund an expansion of a 2021 pilot program also supported by NetVUE that placed students in environmental internships with regional partners including Trout Unlimited and the Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association. The program’s expansion will:

  • Support five summer internship positions per year with local community organizations.
  • Institute weekly vocational exploration and professional development programming for these interns and all other natural and social sciences summer research and intern participants.
  • Assess vocational exploration and professional development programming by participants.
  • Disseminate student experiences through class or peer-to-peer presentations and overall program findings through conference presentations.

“We are grateful to NetVUE for recognizing the value in the work we are doing at Susquehanna in the sciences to offer students real-world experience while also supporting our research partners and regional employers,” said Kathy Straub, dean of Susquehanna’s School of Natural and Social Sciences. “This funding will enable us to expand these opportunities, and also to develop additional programming to help students explore career possibilities that align with their strengths and goals.”

​​The Network for Vocation in Undergraduate Education is a nationwide network of colleges and universities formed to enrich the intellectual and theological exploration of vocation among undergraduate students. This initiative is administered by the Council of Independent Colleges with generous support from Lilly Endowment Inc. and members’ dues.