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| Vol. 18, No. 35 | June 24, 1999 |
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| Vol. 18, No. 35 | June 24, 1999 |
Looking for an opportunity to learn new skills? Need to add variety to your job? Want to try out a career in a different college or department?
The answer could be try an internship, externship or job swap through the Office of Employee Training and Career Development.
Katharine Kerrane, University Honors Program, who participated in the internship program for professional staff during the spring semester, spent about 10 hours a week in the dean's office of the College of Human Resources, Education and Public Policy (CHEP).
"I helped out at CHEP with Honors Day, Convocation, senior checkout and any other special projects that needed my assistance," Kerrane said. "I wanted to learn more about the academic side of administration and acquire new skills and knowledge that would help me to grow professionally at the University.
"During my internship, I maintained my full workload as assistant director of honors," Kerrane said. "I oversee the living-learning activities of the honor students. I am involved in planning cultural and educational activities, such as trips to Washington and Baltimore, faculty study breaks, on-campus events and sport tournaments.
"I also am the liaison for residence life and housing, and I help the students with the transition to college and other counseling and advising activities.
"I was brainstorming ideas with a fellow colleague about how to become knowledgeable about academic administration and the idea of an internship at CHEP came up," Kerrane continued. "I put together a proposal with the help of Richie Holland, employee training."
Kerrane then presented it to her department for approval.
"Everyone was very supportive of my interest in pursuing this opportunity," she recalled. "My director gave me release time to spend at CHEP, and I am really grateful for the support I received from both departments. CHEP was not obligated to me for any career opportunities that arose after the internship was over. However, I did find that the knowledge I gained at CHEP has opened up new opportunities for me within honors," she added.
According to Holland, "Employee Training is committed to offering opportunities for the career growth and development of all University staff members. I am available to help coordinate internships, externships and job swaps. These programs are a great way for employees to broaden their University experiences, gain new knowledge, break their routine and accept new challenges."
Employee training also offers a new training program for professional staff on Understanding the University of Delaware, which includes classes on organizational structure, budget, University culture and the classification system in addition to career planning and goal setting.
"This program," he said, "is a good way for employees to find out more about the University as a whole and to learn about some of the other opportunities that are available."
-Gail E. Walford
