New applied learning programs at SUNY Oneonta are giving students real-world experience in board rooms and beyond, illustrating the university’s emphasis on hands-on learning and commitment to community partnerships.
This year, five Oneonta students within the School of Liberal Arts and Business worked with local nonprofit organizations as the third cohort of participants in the INTD 3997: Internship in Non-Profit Leadership Development program, guided by Associate Professor of Communication Studies Jacqueline Bishop. Meanwhile, others took part in experiential learning partnerships with the City of Oneonta and Otsego County government.
Students said they gained skills in teamwork, communication, presentation, leadership, time management and more. Some even came away with portfolios to show to potential employers.
“The value of internships and experiential learning cannot be overstated,” said Eileen Morgan- Zayachek, Associate Provost for Academic Programs. “The American public has prioritized experiential learning, and SUNY Oneonta has really embraced this. Since opening our Experiential Learning Center in 2021, we’ve worked harder than ever to provide students with opportunities to test knowledge and skills and get their foot in the door. This is also part of our commitment to equity – we’re creating opportunities for students who don’t have built-in resources or contacts in their network.”
A “Life-Changing” Opportunity
English major Owen Romancik interned with the Community Foundation of Otsego County, where he conducted research, attended board and committee meetings, and worked closely with Executive Director Jeff Katz. Other Leadership Development interns worked at Hanford Mills Museum, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Springbrook, and the Family Services Association, and The Arc Otsego is set to begin hosting an intern next fall. Each of the interns received a one-time $200 stipend from the Dewar Foundation.
Romancik said he always thought he wanted to go into politics, but this experience helped him realize that he wants to be in community impact and development.
“It was life-changing and far surpassed my expectations,” Romancik said. “I was expecting board meetings to be stuffy, suit and tie – and that’s not what it was. They treated me like an equal board member and involved me in the development of their strategic plan. I learned so much about how a group of people can come together to solve problems, and I saw so much growth in myself and in my goals for the future.”
Community Connections
The Leadership Development program inspired the creation of two new experiential learning efforts this year – a Community Planning and Development Fellowship in partnership with the City of Oneonta, and a Municipal Finance Internship with the Otsego County government in Cooperstown.
“We thought a lot about how we could get our students more engaged with the city so that they see themselves as residents and part of the community, while also giving them an important applied learning opportunity,” said Associate Professor of Political Science Brett Heindl. “This not only strengthens our connection with the community but also gets our students real-life experience related to their interests and possible career fields.”
“The Benefit is Two-Fold”
Lara Alayon, a Statistics major, was one of several SUNY Oneonta students who worked alongside Otsego County Administrator Steve Wilson to collect, organize and analyze data. The students then created charts depicting county economic and financial statistics.
“The benefit for us is really two-fold,” Wilson explained. “It was helpful to have them develop charts and get all of this data, which I will use to produce documents this month and next to help guide the county’s budget process. The other part – the why for these trends they’re observing – that analysis was really helpful to me and eye-opening. We kicked around a lot of good ideas.”
Romancik’s site supervisor, Katz, agreed, saying hosting an intern was “an extremely rewarding experience.”
“It was clear to me that Owen came away with many important life lessons about personal dynamics, people issues, what to expect and what not to expect, which is invaluable,” Katz said. “But it was also wonderful for us to have a fresh perspective from a young person, to hear from someone who came to the community from outside of the area – Owen’s from Syracuse – and could reflect on it and see what’s missing and what can be improved.”