Southern Vermont College Establishes Office of Internships With $36,100 Grant from Vermont Department of Labor
December 17, 2007
(BENNINGTON, Vt.) -- Seeking to expand its outreach to local employers and bolster the local workforce, Southern Vermont College has hired Edith Sawitsky of North Bennington to establish an Office of Internships that is intended to serve more than 30 regional employers annually with a minimum of 260 student interns. The effort is being supported by a $36,100 grant from the Vermont Department of Labor.
The College already incorporates a strong commitment to service-learning and internships into its academic course work as a way of providing its students educational opportunities in real-life situations to complement the theoretical instruction received in the classroom. In their first term, all SVC first-year students are required to take a “Quest for Success” course that combines classroom work and an on-site project in the community. The College estimates that last year SVC students performed 17,000 hours of on-site learning in internships and clinicals.
Sawitsky is co-owner of Fundamental Shift, a management consulting firm in North Bennington. Previously, she had been a vice president of operations and administration with Charles Schwab & Co. in Jersey City, N.J., and had also developed career path programs for Shearson Lehman Brothers in New York City.
“I’m here because I think internships are really important,” Sawitsky said. “If we’re going to try to keep people in the area, and develop a workforce that will attract businesses, internships are the way to go. They help students learn about the marketplace and what the job market is really like. And it’s their first step in a career.”
Employers and organizations interested in learning more about SVC internships can contact Sawitsky at 802-447- 6369 or by e-mail at esawitsky@svc.edu.
Founded in 1926, Southern Vermont College offers a liberal arts education with 19 academic degree programs and NCAA Division III athletics to more than 400 students. The college recognizes the importance of educating students for the workplace of the 21st century and for lives as successful leaders in their communities. SVC provides a personalized approach to learning, including academic support services, in a safe, environmentally respectful and supportive community. The college is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.
