While internships have been a major contribution to many students’ education, the current struggles with the budget at Baker University may lower the demand for the internship programs.
“I probably wouldn’t be able to intern in the summer because I can’t afford $1,125,” sophomore Laura Snider said. “It isn’t fair for them to raise the price when people need to intern for their major and they won’t be on campus for it or use anything a regular class does.”
Internships could be raised from the summer 2009 price of $150 per credit hour to $375 per credit hour. This means a full summer internship would cost students $1,125 rather than last year’s $450.
“I understand the need to balance in the budget,” Susan Wade, director of career development center, said. “I am concerned about those students that won’t be able to pay an increased rate.”
During the summer semesters between 2004 and 2006 prices were closer to the $375 rate and enrollment averaged around 14 students. The price was dropped in 2007 to encourage more students to participate in internships. Wade said she is concerned that the numbers of students enrolled will decline to the lower participation they saw in 2004 through 2006.
Wade said it is favorable for many students to intern in the summer because there is more open time. Those majors that require internships have semesters that are full with other classes, so this gives students another opportunity to complete this requirement.
“I am definitely trying to fit my internship into my class schedule sometime during the fall or spring semester now instead of the summer because I really can’t afford to pay so much for a summer internship,” junior Brooke Pryor said.
An increase in price of internships is not definite, however.
A meeting will be held at the end of the week or early next week to make a final decision on the price to intern. Prices will be decided in time to be included in the catalog for the summer 2010 and fall 2010 semesters.
“I want as many students to intern as possible,” Wade said. “Anything the university can do to help get students to intern would be great.”