Stay here, inIndiana, after graduation? A lot of students arent thinking in that direction.
Its LoriAnn Edinboroughs job to interest them in the possibilities.
There might very well be a national or international company here inIndianathat they couldwork for,she says.There are Fortune 500 companies in the state and there are others that may not be a name you recognize, but it may be one that does give you that kind of exposure and experience that the nationally known companies can.
As program director for Indiana Careers at Notre Dame (INC@ND), Edinboroughs challenge is to help students find quality jobs inIndianathat have promising career paths.The program, which is part of The Career Center, is beginning the second year of a four-year, $1 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to combat statewidebrain drain.The program would turn the tide of college students who get their education here, then take jobs out of state after graduation.
Indianaranks 14th in producing college graduates but a dismal 44th in the nation for numbers of college graduates living in-state, says Edinborough, quoting well-circulated figures. Undergraduates fromIndianacomprise about 11 percent of Notre Dames student body. But only about 4 percent remain here after graduation, according to senior exit surveys.
INC@ND educates students aboutIndianas corporate richness, including multinational businesses. It also offers incentives, such as a monthly stipend to graduates who commit to work here for two years. The money is awarded much like a scholarship, with an application process that includes an essay, faculty reference and interview. For graduates who are weighing an Indiana-based job offer against a more lucrative one in an attractive out-of-state setting, the stipend equalizes the competition.
Edinborough and INC@ND program coordinator Jackki Bolstetter also work with companies to provide internships for college juniors. INC@ND can provide funding for what otherwise would be an unpaid internship, and helps employers create or improve internships to attract Notre Dame juniors in specific fields. Students who find internships on their own also can turn to Edinborough to see if funding can enhance the opportunity.
Edinborough also is looking to Indiana Notre Dame alumni to support students as mentors and to serve as a source for jobs or internships.
INC@ND grew from a grant application by Lee Svete, director of The Career Center, and Charles R. Crowell, associate professor of psychology and director of the University’s Computer Applications Program.
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