The HACU National Internship Program (HNIP) 15 Years of Changing Lives Summary: HNIP 15 th Anniversary Survey

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1 The HACU National Internship Program (HNIP) 15 Years of Changing Lives Summary: HNIP 15 th Anniversary Survey The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) represents those colleges and universities serving the largest concentrations of the nation s youngest and fastest-growing minority population. Over the past 15 years, the HACU National Internship Program (HNIP) has worked with public and private sector partners to provide successful internships to over 6,500 higher education students. This program has been identified by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) as a best practice tool for the recruitment of Hispanics into the federal government. Former HNIP participants credit the program with significant improvements in their job proficiency, leadership skills, confidence in work, writing and speaking skills, and other characteristics and abilities. Recent data identified the current employment venues of former interns as follows: 37.6% work for the federal government 14.6% work for state/local government 4.7% work for non-profit or international organizations 41.4% work in private industry 1.7% are unemployed As a result of the HNIP experience: 91% of interns now consider employment with the federal government 59% of graduating interns were offered employment Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities is a national non-profit higher education association that represents over 400 accredited colleges and universities throughout the United States and Puerto Rico, which collectively enroll more than 4.6 million students. The HACU National Internship Program (HNIP) The HACU National Internship Program (HNIP) began in 1992 with 24 students working in federal agencies in Washington, D.C. The success of that initial endeavor led to the rapid expansion of the program to other federal agencies. Originally a summer program only, in the spring of 1997, HNIP expanded to offer two 15 week sessions (fall and spring) and one 10 week session (summer). The program places approximately 600 students annually in quality internship assignments with federal agencies and corporations in Washington, D.C., and throughout the country. Over the past fifteen

2 years, the program has provided professional developmental opportunities to over 6,500 students with superior academic credentials. During 2006, HNIP welcomed 616 student participants at twenty-two federal agencies and nine private corporations. These individuals came from 31 states and Puerto Rico, with 406 interns working in the Washington, D.C., area and 189 working in over 90 locations throughout the United States. Of these interns, 208 were sophomores or juniors, 243 were seniors and 165 were graduate level students. The age range was from 18 to 56, with the average age being 24. Overall, the average grade point average (GPA) was The academic background of these students was also diverse in that they represented over 100 different academic majors, including fields such as engineering, human resources, communications, business/finance, electronics, computer science, law/law enforcement, among many others. The HNIP program is well recognized. In the fourth annual report on Hispanic Employment in the Federal Government published by OPM, the Director again encouraged agencies to look at all the tools available to recruit well qualified Hispanics into the federal government and specifically mentioned OPM s nine-point Hispanic employment plan as a starting point. The HACU National Internship Program is point four of that plan. HNIP Collaborative Partners In 2006, HNIP collaborative partners had grown to include over 30 agencies. Table 1 lists the agencies and indicates the number of interns placed with each. 2

3 Table 1: HNIP Collaborative Partners in 2006 with Intern Placements 2006 Internships U. S. Coast Guard 7 HNIP Objectives 2006 Internships HNIP Collaborators HNIP Collaborators Department of Health and Human Services 125 Department of Education 6 Department of Agriculture 99 Department of Interior 5 Department of Veterans Affairs 82 Office of Personnel Management 5 Department of Treasury 79 Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. 5 Department of Commerce 48 Sallie Mae 5 Department of Transportation 35 Sodexho 3 Department of Defense 18 Central Intelligence Agency 2 Department of Justice 14 Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. 2 Department of Labor 13 Federal Reserve Board 2 Library of Congress 12 International Broadcasting Bureau 2 Department of State 10 Wachovia 2 National Science Foundation 9 Gap, Inc. 1 Lockheed Martin 8 National Archives and Records 1 Environmental Protection Agency 7 Proctor and Gamble 1 NASA 7 UBS 1 The HACU National Internship Program is designed to enhance awareness of opportunities in the public and private sectors. Through the 10-week summer and 15-week fall and spring sessions, HNIP engages academically qualified students from colleges and universities in challenging professional and educational experiences in the public and private sectors. The objectives of the program are to: Provide professional experience for students from HACU member institutions and other colleges and universities, experience that will enable the students to make more educated career choices; Serve as a human resource pipeline of prospective employees for both the public and private sectors; Expose students to research, development, technology, and career opportunities in the public and private sectors; Present or make available to interns information that will assist, train, and prepare them for potential career opportunities; 3

4 Supplement academic study with practical applications in their major fields and related disciplines; Extend and strengthen the relationship among government agencies, corporations and colleges and universities. These ties will continue to offer an expanded recruitment resource to participating federal departments and corporations. HACU National Internship Program Outcomes The HNIP 15 th Anniversary Survey HACU offered an internet survey to everyone who participated in the first 15 years of HNIP. Four hundred fifty seven (457) former HNIP interns answered questions in three general areas: Opportunities and Influences of their internship Personal Value of participation in HNIP Personal Improvements resulting from participation Results of the survey are reported on the following pages. Considering Federal Government Employment Respondents were asked: Had you considered a career with the federal government? Prior to the internship, percent had considered a federal government career; as a result of the HNIP internship, 90.97% of respondents considered it. See Figure 1. Figure 1 Had You Considered A Career With The Federal Government? % 90.97% Yes No Percent of Total Responses 80.00% 60.00% 40.00% 20.00% 46.04% 53.96% 9.03% 0.00% Prior to your Internship As a Result of your Internship 4

5 Expectations Respondents were asked whether they had a positive outlook for my future career or employment possibility. Fully a third more interns had a positive outlook for their future career after their internship. See other details in Figure 2, below. Figure 2 I had a positive outlook for my future career or employment possibility. 10 Strongly Agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree % % 43.1% % 12.7% 4.0% 3.3% 0.9% 0.2% Prior to my participation in HNIP After my participation in HNIP Opportunities offered to HNIP interns finishing school A full 57 percent of HNIP interns who were finishing school were offered a permanent position. Other opportunities are shown in Figure 3. Figure 3 Opportunities offered to HNIP interns finishing school Interns who were Graduating or Graduated Offered a permanent position (any agency). 57.0% Offered and accepted a permanent position at the same agency 30.9% Offered and declined a permanent position at the same agency 15.4% Offered a permanent position with another agency 15.3% Offered a future internship. 23.0%

6 Opportunities offered to HNIP interns returning to school Interns who were returning to school were also offered opportunities they would not have been offered without the HNIP experience. See Figure 4. Figure 4 Opportunities offered to HNIP interns returning to school Offered a future internship. 34.1% Offered a permanent position (any agency). 25.5% HNIP interns can participate in more than one internship. Those who participate in multiple internships have even more opportunities available to them. Where are they now? As mentioned on page one of this report, nearly 38 percent of former interns now hold positions with the federal government. Other placements are shown in Figure 5. Figure % Where are they now? Current employment positions of HNIP interns who have finished school. 41.4% % 1 4.7% 1.7% Federal Government State or Local Government Non-Profit/ International Organizations Private Industry Unemployed 6

7 The Value of an HNIP Experience for College Students Former interns indicated that the HNIP experience gives interns an advantage over other college students. They recommend the internship experience to college students. Figure 6 10 The Value of an HNIP Experience for College Students 91.2% Strongly Agree Agree % Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree % 2 8.1% 8.3% 0.7% 0.2% 0.2% 0.2% Students with HNIP internships have an advantage over students without a similar experience I would recommend HNIP to students enrolled in college today Value of an HNIP Experience in the Working World As shown in Figure 7, former interns indicate that their employers value their internship experiences. They also indicate that they would like to work with others who have had similar HNIP experience. Figure 7 10 Value of an HNIP Experience in the Working World Strongly Agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree % % % 26.8% 24.8% 2 At the place where I work, the employers value the type of experience that HNIP provided 8.6% 1.5% 1.3% 0.7% 0.2% I would enjoy (or have enjoyed) working with other former HNIP interns to date 7

8 Long-term Value of an HNIP Internship Experience Former interns indicate that their HNIP experiences will be of value to them in the future. Figure 8 10 Long-term Value of an HNIP Internship Experience Strongly Agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree % 60.9% % 25.3% 2 5.9% My HNIP internship experience will be useful to me in my future career or job 9.9% 1.5% 0.4% 2.6% 1.3% My HNIP experience will still be useful to me 10 years from now Former HNIP interns rated how their experience helped them with professional skills of value in the workplace. Whether regarding public speaking, finding a desirable job, or leadership skills, the responses indicate that the HNIP internship contributed to professional growth. See Figures 9a, 9b, and 9c. Figure 9a 6 Did/Will your HNIP experience assist you in Definitely yes Yes Maybe No Definitely no % 34.6% 39.2% 42.1% 40.5% % 20.4% 16.4% 12.3% 13.9% 4.6% 3.3% 3.1% 0.7% 0.4% Finding a desired job Finding your current job Job proficiency 8

9 Figure 9b 6 5 Did/Will your HNIP experience assist you in 53.8% 54.1% Definitely yes Yes Maybe No Definitely no 44.1% % 35.8% 35.5% % 10.5% 7.7% 1.5% 2.2% 4.2% 0.4% 0.2% 0.2% Networking and peer relations Interpersonal skills Leadership skills Figure 9c % Did/Will your HNIP experience assist you in 30.7% 21.9% 10.1% 0.2% Definitely yes Yes Maybe No Definitely no 51.1% 31.3% 28.9% 24.9% 13.9% 1.1% 35.3% 9.9% 3.5% 0.2% Speaking and presenting Writing/publications Confidence in your work 9

10 MULTIPLE INTERNSHIPS Employment opportunities, based on number of internships Some interns participate in more than one internship. As participation increases, so do opportunities. See Figure 10. Figure 10 Employment opportunities, based on number of internships After my H-NIP internship(s), I was offered a permanent position 31.1% 36.3% 45.5% Three or More Internships Two Internships I was offered and accepted a permanent position where I served my internship 13.4% 16.3% 29.0% One Internship The opportunities increase with each HNIP internship. Public Service Increased participation in internships results in increased interest in careers in Public Service. See Figure 11. Figure 11 8 I am Considering, Pursuing, or Working in Public Service Strongly agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree % 44.1% % 24.9% 24.2% 13.8% 23.5% 14.7% 13.7% 21.2% 16.7% 4.5% 4.5% 3.9% 1.5% One Internship Two Internships Three or More Internships 10

11 Value to Employers Increased HNIP participation goes hand in hand with increased employer appreciation. See Figure 12. Figure 12 My Employer Values the Experience that I Acquired with my HNIP Internship(s) 8 Strongly agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree 63.6% % % 31.3% 26.4% 25.5% 22.5% 16.7% 15.2% 3.0% 1.7% 1.4% 1.0% 1.5% One Internship Two Internships Three or More Internships HNIP experience helps interns find jobs Multiple internship experiences show greater assistance with finding jobs. See Figure 13. Figure 13 8 Did your HNIP experience assist you in finding your current job? Definitely yes Yes Maybe No Definitely no % % 42.6% % 22.1% 22.8% 17.5% 17.8% % 9.2% 9.2% 4.2% 1.0% 3.1% One Internship Two Internships Three or More Internships 11

12 Multiple internships and improved skills HNIP experience assisted interns with speaking and presenting skills and work confidence. See Figures 14a and 14b. Figure 14a 8 Did your HNIP experience assist you with speaking and presenting skills? Definitely yes Yes Maybe No Definitely no % % 31.1% 23.2% 41.6% 26.7% 23.8% 21.2% % 7.9% 13.6% 9.1% 0.3% One Internship Two Internships Three or More Internships Figure 14b Did your HNIP experience assist you in having confidence in your work? 8 Definitely yes Yes Maybe No Definitely no 63.6% % % 37.8% 36.3% 22.7% % 7.8% 7.6% 3.8% 6.1% 1.0% 0.3% One Internship Two Internships Three or More Internships 12

13 Employers Value HNIP experience over time. Figure At Work, My Employer Values the HNIP Type of Experience The value of an HNIP internship at work may be most valued by younger workers, but it still maintains its value over time. 48.8% Strongly agree Agree Neutral Disagree/Strongly Disagree 42.7% % 22.0% 29.3% 26.0% 25.0% 34.4% 31.3% % 2.0% % Conclusion HNIP has changed many lives for the better. It has fostered learning and development of career abilities. It has provided the federal government and other agencies with an educated, experienced pool of potential employees. 13