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Internship: Portland State University

The summer during my graduate school, I wanted to gain experience outside of Oregon State and begin to network with potential employers. I was interested in Portland State University because of the city aspect, as well as it being similar to OSU and UO. Despite the fact that it was summer, the office I did my internship in was very lively and busy with summer projects. I worked in the Student Community Engagement Center (SCEC) which as housed in the Student Activities and Leadership Programs department. I enjoyed the work I did and accomplished during this internship. Being able to relate the knowledge I gained from my Research and Assessment course by assessing SCEC's program assessments was something I appreciated since now I have experience evaluating programs. I also was excited to kick-start their service recognition program and thought it was insightful to start something from beginning to the end. I think urban institutions face unique barriers that I was not aware of prior to this internship, thus, it makes me reevaluate the usage of space and transportation. This experience was invaluable.

Connection to Competencies:

  • Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the range, scope, and roles of different functional areas within higher education
  • Understanding the primary challenges and opportunities being presented to student affairs professionals
  • Identify goals, trends, and key issues related to the future of the student affairs profession
  • Communicate and collaborate effectively and appropriately with constituents both internal and external to the institution, considerate of cultural and linguistic diversity 
  • Recognize best practices and challenges in human resources/personnel management
  • Demonstrate flexibility and adaptability in changing circumstances, employing decision-making and problem-solving skills
  • Assess the impact of varied higher educational settings and institutional types on the student experience
  • Utilize research and assessment data to identify needs and establish learning outcomes for the development of programs and services
  • Design and implement assessment tools and interpret data to inform future programs
  • Apply knowledge of diverse audiences in the development, communication, delivery, and assessment of programs, curricula, and services
  • Identify target populations and use appropriate marketing strategies to maximize program effectiveness
  • Define professional development needs and interests for continued growth including opportunities for future contributions to the body of knowledge
  • Identify one’s professional values and ethics
  • ​Establish a commitment to engage in ongoing inquiry throughout one’s career or articulate the value/appreciation of ongoing inquiry and engagement

In Hindsight...

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