Job exploration is a vital component of career development. Many students at UVa-Wise have a desire to learn about different jobs and are looking to gain some “real world” experience. Internships offer a win-win option for students and employers.
      There are many things that you as alumni can do to help our students make informed career choices. Not only will you be helping our students gain necessary skills in the workplace, but you and your organization will have “employees” who are earning a top-rated education.
      Some ways that you can help are to contact the Office of Career Development if you have any internship positions, whether they are paid positions or volunteer hours students can work to earn academic credit. Internships are an excellent way for students to delve into a field of work and really learn the inside story of the job while being mentored and guided by professionals. The internship needs to be something that is meaningful and a learning experience for the student.
      Lora Wharton completed an internship last summer in the office of Attorney General Jerry Kilgore ‘83. Wharton says she gained the insight to know she wanted to pursue forensic science in her graduate studies. “I learned so much professionally and personally,” Wharton says. “My internship has opened many other doors for me for the future. Without my internship, I don’t think my career goals would be so focused right now. I know I am ahead of the pack as a result.”
      Erin Worley ‘03 also knows the importance of an internship experience. An administration of justice major, Worley worked as an intern in the Wise County Victim Witness Protection Program. “Books don’t tell you what you learn working in the field,” Worley says. “I discovered the career path I really want to pursue during my internship. I have recommended this particular internship to other students.”
      Employers often use internships as a screening mechanism for potential employees. According to a 2004 survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, more than one-third of employers find their new hires in their own intern pool. Hiring from the intern pool allows companies to mold the new leaders for their organization. Internships are a win-win situation. There are no surprises when a student has already worked for a company. They have learned the policies, dress code, office hours, and other necessities for getting started in a job. The student gains invaluable experiences in the workplace in their chosen field of study and employers have access to some of the top candidates graduating from the institution. This makes the search for new employees easier and less costly for employers.
      Another way to help is by participating in informational interview sessions with students. Students need working professionals with a desire to share knowledge about their field. This is a vital step in the job exploration process as it allows the student to ask questions of professionals without the pressure of an actual job interview. In this process, the student sets up the interview and comes prepared with a copy of his or her resumé and a list of questions for the professional. The student has an opportunity to get feedback about his or her resumé, learn about job opportunities in the field, obtain salary information, and learn about other avenues they can pursue to make themselves more marketable. Contact Kathy Elkins, assistant director of Career Development at (276) 328-0126 if you have an internship or other mentoring opportunity for UVa-Wise students.

Recent internships completed by UVa-Wise students
Jessica Barnette - Lonesome Pine Raceway, The Coalfield Progress
Suzy Hall - MerchantPoint
Jodie Kern -UVa-Wise Office of College Relations, Norton Community Hospital
Richard Minter - DTI Associates
Renaldo Randall - General Electric, The Netherlands
Ryan Taliaferro - White House Correspondence Office, Office of Senator Chuck Hagel
Stephanie VanDyke - Office of the Wise County Commonwealth's Attorney
Lora Wharton and Rasean Partridge - Office of the Attorney General of Virginia

Erin Worley - Wise County Victim Witness Protection Program
John Yost - Wise County Sheriff's Office

      Beginning July 1, residents of four Tennessee counties will be eligible for significantly reduced tuition at UVa- Wise. “The reason more students from Northeast Tennessee do not attend UVa-Wise boils down to simple mathematics,” said Russell Necessary, vice chancellor for enrollment management. “Out-of-state tuition rates can make the price of a UVa-Wise education seem out-of-reach for many students.”
      But that’s all about to change. Thanks to the Tennessee Tuition Assistance Grant (TTAG) residents of the counties of Hancock, Hawkins, Sullivan and Washington will pay a significantly reduced tuition rate. The legislation creating TTAG, House Bill 82 and Senate Bill 283, was recently signed into law by Virginia Governor Mark Warner. Tennessee students in these counties – all within a 50-mile radius of the College – will pay $8,715 per year in tuition compared to the regular out-of-state rate of $14,252 per year as a freshman.
      Under the TTAG program, the tuition rate continues to decline as students progress in their studies. For students transferring to UVa-Wise at the junior level, tuition will be $7,117 compared to the regular out-of-state rate of $14,252 per year.
      UVa-Wise instituted a similar program for nine Kentucky counties in 1996. As a result of that program, the number of Kentucky residents attending UVa-Wise more than doubled during its first year. For more information about TTAG, contact the Office of Admissions
at 276-328-0102.