Initiative designed to attract and retain Ohio's best talent
COLUMBUS, OHIO Ohio Board of Regents Chancellor Eric D. Fingerhut today requested proposals for the Ohio Cooperative Education and Internship Program. The proposals solicit colleges and universities, in collaboration with community and business partners, to establish and expand cooperative education (co-op) and internship programs throughout the state. The $250 million commitment over the next five years - $50 million for each fiscal year, beginning in 2010 - will create the largest statewide co-op and internship program in the U.S.
As part of Governor Strickland's Ohio Bipartisan Job Stimulus plan, a $1.57 billion package designed to create new jobs while laying the foundation for future economic prosperity in the state, the Ohio Cooperative Education and Internship Program will provide world-class experiential learning for Ohio students across all disciplines and attract outstanding students from all over the world. The program will also assist in more than doubling the number of students participating in co-ops and internships in Ohio in an effort to retain the best talent upon graduation from college.
As outlined in the 10-year Strategic Plan for Higher Education, co-ops and internships are extremely beneficial for students, businesses and Ohio's public colleges and universities. The direct benefits for students include making college more affordable, providing real world experience and skills needed for employment and an opportunity for a job after graduation. Businesses seeking skilled employees can greatly increase the available talent pool by offering co-op and internship arrangements with colleges and universities, whose goal is to attract the best talent and train the employees of tomorrow for Ohio's businesses.
"Co-ops and internship programs have a definite and tangible educational value to our students when they participate," said Chancellor Fingerhut. "Many, if not most, lead to permanent jobs after graduation. This program links them to targeted industries. They will help reverse the brain drain of talent leaving Ohio, and will benefit Ohio employers in worker recruitment."
Programs funded through the Ohio Cooperative Education and Internship Program must be designed to meet the following goals: 1) create meaningful linkages to Ohio businesses, 2) attract non-Ohioans and former Ohio residents to the state, 3) retain more graduates in Ohio, 4) provide Ohio businesses with highly skilled workers, and 5) increase business utilization of students as interns or co-operative learning participants.
Two types of grants are available through the RFP:
Experiential Learning Impact Grants
Experiential Learning Impact Grants will be awarded to high quality proposals that develop and expand the availability of co-op/internship opportunities that serve the program goals in local, regional or industry-specific contexts. Some examples of the type of programs funded under this grant would be degree programs with a built-in cooperative learning feature, research laboratory partnerships apprenticeships, internships for credit and employer training.
High-Impact Grants
High-Impact Grants will be made to applicants whose proposals have a significant statewide or regional impact. Proposals for these grants will be judged based on their innovation and success at integrating co-op/internship funding into other priority state investments to create a density of related and integrated activity in support of Ohio's higher education and economic development goals. Such proposals should seek to specifically advance the program's goals - for instance, attracting Ohioans back to Ohio - and will focus on growing and emerging industry areas as identified in the Department of Development Strategic Plan.
Timeline
The Ohio Cooperative Education and Internship Program RFP requires that all interested parties submit a Letter of Intent via email to skaplanov@regents.state.oh.us by 2 p.m., Thursday, April 16, 2009. The RFP then requires that all proposals be submitted by 2 p.m., Thursday, April 30, 2009, in order to be considered for funding.
The Chancellor will convene an external review panel comprised of experts in co-ops and internships and who are not affiliated with potential applicant institutions. The panel will review each proposal and submit recommendations to the Chancellor, who will make the final determination of awardees in consultation with the Ohio Co-op and Internship Advisory Committee.
The RFP will be discussed during an upcoming Bidders Videoconference. The Bidders Videoconference provides an opportunity to review and discuss the intent and purpose of the RFP, the requirements of the RFP, the evaluation process that will be used to help determine awardees, and affords proposing schools and businesses the chance to ask questions about the RFP and process.
A copy of the RFP, as well as information on how to register for the Bidders Videoconference can be found at http://www.uso.edu/opportunities/partnership/internships/
Posted 03/19/09 to www.NASFAA.org. Posting of press releases is done as a service to Members and does not imply endorsement or support by NASFAA. NASFAA does not review this information for content or accuracy.
