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(left to right) Union Board's Jeff Hoffman, program coordinator; Julie
Rowlas, senior program coordinator and Jason Krise, intern, discuss
organizing upcoming events. Photo by Chris Meyer
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In a university setting, the word "program" is sometimes overworked, but there's nothing dull about the Franklin Initiative. It's a great idea from which all concerned benefit.
Jason Krise, a high school senior, is reorganizing the library in the Union Board Office at the Indiana Memorial Union, and high school senior Andy Humes brings a student's point of view to decisions of the marketing department at the IMU.
The program, launched last fall, is one of the partnerships between the campus and Bloomington community that is working just the way it's supposed to do, with everybody getting positive results. According to Joshua Powers, a graduate assistant working in the office of IMU Director Winston Shindell, the federally funded program has another name, the "School-to-Careers" initiative.
Here's how it works. Offices and programs on the campus that can provide opportunities for high school seniors to learn some out-in-the-world working skills draw up descriptions of what those seniors can do during a semester. Meanwhile, at the local schools, students who have read the job descriptions fill out forms expressing their interests.
"Here in the Union Building, we had two students working last fall. There was one student from each of Bloomington's two public high schools, and each worked in a different department," said Sue Artmeier, director of marketing at the IMU.
Working with Humes has made a believer of her. She was so pleased with his work that she invited him to come back for the second semester this year.
"In my department, we discuss so much about trends and likes and dislikes of students. I know Andy is picking up on things -- what students like to do and where they like to be," explained Artmeier. "I keep telling Andy he's my real-life sample when I need a sampling. Would you like this? Would you come here and do this? And what is your gut response to this?"
At IMU Outfitters, Nate Beckman had the opportunity to work on a United Way project and helped to set up a student trip to New Mexico. That's the kind of experience he could not get anywhere else.
While there are many areas in the IMU where future interns can get some hands-on experience in the working world, Powers would like to see interns working in other parts of the campus.
"The Franklin Initiative has more than 60 interested students to place for the fall of 1998 or spring of 1999, and intern sites are needed. In addition, there are other involvement options, including participating in career fairs, workplace tours and job shadowing programs," Powers explained. Two interns have also been working this year at WTIU under the supervision of Eric VonGunton.
"The IU Strategic Directions Charter calls for us to strengthen existing partnerships and to create new partnerships with public schools, businesses, government agencies and other external groups," said Powers. "Here is an opportunity to put our words into action!"
For specific information about the current program needs of the Franklin Initiative, contact Marnie Andrew through the Bloomington Chamber of Commerce at 812-330-2433.
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