Funding will ensure student internship opportunities
NEW YORK, N.Y. (July 9, 2024) — Guttman Community College has been awarded a grant for $250,000 from the Carroll and Milton Petrie Foundation to support the Early Career Experience program. This program develops and maintains high-quality student internship opportunities that afford National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) competency skill building and access to relevant professional networks in the information technology, business and liberal arts pathways.
Guttman President Larry Johnson said, “We are elated to receive this Petrie grant, as it allows us to fulfill our mission to prepare students for success beyond Guttman. The grant also allows the College to close equity gaps by providing first-generation students and students from minoritized communities access to experiential learning opportunities that increase their competitiveness in a global marketplace.”
The grant proposal discussed the national and local call over the past seven years for students of color, low-income students and first-generation students to participate in internships early and often, particularly in the aftermath of the uneven pandemic economy and labor market. This campaign for early internship investment often belies the importance of internship development at the beginning stages, particularly at community colleges, and misunderstands the extensive resources necessary to facilitate the realization of this vision. The Early Career Experience program secures the appropriate resources to meet the demand.
Internship participants will gain NACE’s eight core competencies that employers look for and that are key indicators of career success. These skills include critical thinking/problem, solving, oral/written communication, teamwork/collaboration, digital technology, leadership, professionalism/work ethic, career management and global/intercultural fluency. Internship opportunities vary based on student interests; prior locations have included CoExist Gaming, Bike New York, Phipps Neighborhood and the Department of Youth and Community Development. Students receive three academic credits and complete 120 hours with their internship site.
Dr. Nicola Blake, interim provost and vice president of Academic Affairs, said, “The continued support of the Petrie Foundation has had a remarkable impact on our ability to provide paid internships in our academic programs.”
“We appreciate Guttman Community College’s commitment to increasing the availability of high-quality internships for its students. These experiences can help students connect their interests and studies with real-world career opportunities. The Foundation is pleased to continue its partnership with the College and proud to support its students’ career aspirations,” said Cass Conrad, executive director of the Carroll and Milton Petrie Foundation.
The Carroll and Milton Petrie Foundation is a private, independent grantmaking foundation that began active operation in 1998. The Foundation’s grants support colleges, universities, and nonprofit organizations as they work to improve education and career outcomes for low-income New Yorkers. The Foundation’s goal is to ensure that all New Yorkers, particularly those from marginalized communities, have the resources and opportunities needed to reach their goals in school, work, and life.
Stella and Charles Guttman Community College was CUNY’s first new community college in more than forty years. Reimagining what community college could be, Guttman opened its doors in Manhattan in August 2012 to create a research-based, innovative model focused on moving students efficiently toward graduation. Offering associate degree programs in a nurturing environment, the College’s three-year graduation rate consistently surpasses the national average, and most graduates transfer to senior colleges. Guttman is federally designated as a Hispanic-serving institution and minority-serving institution with more than 85% of the student population identifying as Latine or Black/African American. The College was named the best community college in America in 2020 and the top community college in New York State for 2020, 2021 and 2022 by Niche.com and other ranking agencies.
