The extern experience helps students gain insight by matching them with alumni sponsors from various career fields. Externships enable students to spend time on the job with alumni who have similar career paths. Past extern students have been matched with sponsors in the fields of management, sales, law, education, journalism, data processing, accounting and insurance in locations nationwide.

The Extern Experience is an opportunity for students to be exposed to specific career challenges before the shock of that first full-time job. Coordinated by the Student Alumni Association, the program aims to match sponsors with motivated BGSU students whose education and career goals parallel the sponsor's profession. Students and alumni from all fields are encouraged to become involved.

The Extern Process

Alumni are contacted each year and solicited for sponsorships of externships. The Extern program encourages former sponsors to continue offering externships annually.

Throughout the fall semester, applications are distributed to BGSU undergraduate students. The Extern Committee evaluates the completed applications and interviews eligible students. These students are then matched with compatible sponsors.

The Extern Program Committee places strong emphasis on personal contact, by correspondence or telephone, between the student and the alumni prior to the externship. This is vital to the formation of goals and objectives of the externships and strengthens the understanding between sponsors and students.

Externships are offered during the University's winter and spring recesses. Evaluations are sent to both the student and the sponsor following the experience. Your input is vital to the future success of this program.

The Role of the Student

The Extern Experience Program enriches every aspect of a student's college career because it helps a student clarify his/her goals. It allows students to explore job opportunities and career objectives. The student's desire is to extract knowledge from the externship, thus gaining valuable experience. Jointly, the student and sponsor will determine the goals for the externship. Whether the extern is a participant, observer, or both, will depend on the particular career environment. A predetermined role for the student will enhance his/her experience. The goals will also help the sponsor and the extern determine the amount of time needed for the program.

Along with the chance for personal growth, the Extern program gives students a unique opportunity to represent Bowling Green State University. An extern's work, enthusiasm, and cooperation will be considered representative of the entire Extern program.

The Role of the Alumni

This program gives alumni the chance to work with, guide, and advise students, as well as provide a service to the university. The program also promotes alumni contact with campus activities and student life. Sponsors are responsible for providing worthwhile experiences for their externs. It is suggested that sponsors develop guidelines for students to follow during their externships. Sponsors and students should jointly determine the extern's role in his/her experience as well as the length of the externship.

Arrangements

Externs are responsible for arranging housing, transportation, and financial commitments. The Extern Program is unable to provide financial assistance to the externs, and sponsors are not obligated to pay externs for work they complete during their externships.

In past programs, some sponsors have agreed to have their externs stay with them. However, since student applications require students to list geographic preferences for their externships, students may be placed in areas close to home, relatives, or friends.

The Extern Experience Program Committee will help organize these arrangements as much as possible. Assistance from sponsors is not required, but it is always greatly appreciated.

Students and sponsors interested in this year's Extern Program should direct questions to:

SAA Extern Experience
Mileti Alumni Center
Bowling Green State University
Bowling Green, OH 43403
(419) 372 - 6849