Graduate Retention Program

Greater Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce

Workforce Development Division

Graduate Retention Program

Purpose

To create or formalize internship programs for area businesses through employer contacts

To assist with student registration for internships

To inform local high school and university partners of internship opportunities

Graduate Retention Program

About

The Graduate Retention staff of four field representatives and a program manager contact employers in ten + counties in Northeast IndianaWe assist employers in identifying and advertising project-based, real life internships to students

Graduate Retention Program

What We Do

High school and college partners receive “intern alerts” from the Graduate Retention staff when local businesses post internship opportunities on the statewide internship site: http://www.indianaintern.net/home.asp

We work to inform students of internship opportunities through career service departments, internship coordinators, job fairs and career expos

Graduate Retention Program

Partners

• Greater Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce• IPFW, Indiana Tech, Ivy Tech, Taylor University (FW &

Upland), and the University of St. Francis• IndianaINTERN.net• Lincoln Financial Group Foundation• Northeast Indiana Chamber Coalition• Olive B. Cole Foundation• English Bonter Mitchell Foundation• Olin B. and Odesta Schwab Foundation• Waterfield Foundation

Graduate Retention Program

Why Offer Internships?

Reduce recruiting costs:• Surveys of employers show one-third to

one-half of internships lead to full-time employment.

• Employers can save 100 percent in recruiting costs (estimated at 20% of starting salary).

Graduate Retention Program

Why Offer Internships?

Increase in tax base:• More internships equal more full-time

employment opportunities which has an impact on the tax base.

• Newly created full-time positions represent new income to the area, and thus new taxes for local and state governments.

Graduate Retention Program

Internship Benefits

• Unfinished projects can be completed.• Employers observe how a student fits into a company’s culture.• Employer can evaluate work ethic, personality, and education before deciding on a direct hire.• Company mentors can train students for future full-time positions.

Graduate Retention Program

Long Term Benefits

By hiring interns, the employer can: Get a jump on getting students up to speed—you

already know them, and they know how you work Have confidence in demonstrated skills Develop continuity of experience and contact Reduced recruiting and training costs Retain talent in Northeast Indiana.

Graduate Retention Program

“Brain Drain” Study

According to Indiana’s Strategic Economic Development Plan, Accelerating Growth, 2006

• 45% of Indiana public post-secondary graduates leave the state after graduation

• Indiana exports 1/3 more graduates than it imports or retains

• Hoosiers age 22 – 28 are six times more likely to emigrate than Hoosiers 29 - 36

Also: by 2012 for every two workers retiring, only one NEW worker will be added to the workforce

Graduate Retention Program

Indiana

• Migration– 30,369 freshman enrolled at an Indiana college– Out of those freshman, 4,243 left the state after

freshman year– In other words 43% of Indiana’s freshman left Indiana

to go to college elsewhere!– Indiana ranks 4th in the US for net freshman migration

STATS Indiana. States IN Profile. 2004. http://www.stats.indiana.edu/sip/edu/edu_all_18.html 1/21/08

Graduate Retention Program

Indiana

• Ranks 11th for producing graduates with bachelor’s degrees.

• Ranks 46th per capita in the number of adults over age 25 with a bachelor’s degree or more (44th in the percentage).

Census Bureau, 2002

Graduate Retention Program

Indiana

• Indiana had a net loss of 17,105 college educated 25-34 year olds who left the state between 1995 and 2000.

• The largest net loss in nation• Where they go:

– Florida, Illinois, California, Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky, Texas, Tennessee, Arizona, Georgia.

• Census Bureau

Graduate Retention Program

Graduate Retention ProgramGoals

• To increase the quality and quantity of internships in an effort to attract, retain, and gain college students

• Connect interns to employers and retain talent

Graduate Retention Program

Long Term Strategies

• Provide internships for every interested student• Educate faculty on area business community• Encourage student loan forgiveness• Support legislation for college tuition tax credits• Develop strategies to encourage alumni to

return to Northeast Indiana

Graduate Retention Program

Graduate Retention Program

Plugging the brain drain startswith your organization!

Call 260-424-1435Kay Anthony, Program Manager

Thank You!