NORWICH – For years, Morrisville State College and the Norwich Extension have been offering students a quality education in a small town setting. Now the educational opportunities are becoming even broader as the college is adding programs to serve a wider range of students.
This year, the Norwich campus has unveiled a new Human Services program, and with 25 students currently enrolled in the program’s courses and internships, the program is off to a strong start.
“The courses aim to teach respect for all individuals regardless of diversity or social situation. Such acceptance is reached through self-reflection, observation at agencies with class discussion and academic study,” said program coordinator Fred Weaver, PhD. The students in the program work toward an associate’s degree by attending regular classes and completing three internships with various community agencies.
“The first internship is 45 hours throughout the semester; the second is 90 hours and the third is 120 hours. All internships are in different agencies to provide a wider overview of employment possibilities for students,” Weaver explained. While the goal of the first two internships is to provide more of an observational experience, the work becomes more involved as the students progress through the program. In addition to the internships, students take theory and practice classes as well, which teach actual human service skills.
One of the 25 students currently enrolled in the program, Amanda Smith has spent the last semester as an intern at the Chenango United Way, and so far she has enjoyed the experience. “It’s been amazing,” Smith said of her first internship. “I’ve had a lot of fun and it’s opened me up to a lot of different experiences.” In the course of Smith’s first internship opportunity, she’s had the responsibility of participating in the campaign training sessions, putting together prize bags for the campaign captains, helping to put together the training manual, making solicitation lists and helping to organize the United Way’s annual campaign kick-off event, the Day of Caring.
“We tried to do a lot of different things with Amanda, so that she could get a full understanding of what we do as a non-profit organization,” said CUW Executive Director Elizabeth Monaco.
“Students become acquainted with agency interventions not only with individuals in need but with groups, families and the community. Teaching stresses that individuals not only change on an individual approach but by solving societal needs within a macro larger community, national and global context,” Weaver explained.
Although Smith already had a base knowledge of the CUW as one of the students who worked on the first campaign video, Smith explained that her internship opportunity at the CUW has allowed her to see everything the organization does for the community, as well as how they are involved with other community agencies. She said her favorite event so far was the Day or Caring. “I never would have expected to see that many people who wanted to volunteer for the community,” she said.
Although the CUW is one of the agencies involved in the program, they are not the only one. Other interns are currently working with the Chenango County Court House, Catholic Charities, the Sheriff’s Department, Hospice, WIC, drug and alcohol counseling and literacy programs, among others. Weaver explained agencies were approached prior to the establishment of the entire human service sequence. “They expressed the need for additional qualified and locally trained employees. Agencies involved in the planning of the program were the first to be approached regarding internships. Then, when I arrived and listened to the interests of the students, I added to the list by approaching agencies who do the work that students envision themselves in the future. Since then agencies have been calling and expressing an interest in being an internship possibility,” Weaver said. “New agencies just need to contact me for further discussion.”
While the employment opportunities for the students completing the program are varied, Smith is fairly certain that she would like to go into some type of counseling once she finishes the program.
“The agencies have been wonderful. They have been enthusiastic, open, willing. The staff of these agencies remain optimistic, excited. They are wonderfully attuned to the strengths of each student,” Weaver said. “We should be proud of this community spirit here….current human service workers have been more than glad to take our fledglings under their wing.”
As one of the community agencies in the program, Monaco explained that the CUW’s experience with the interns in the program has been very rewarding. “We are proud to partner with Morrisville on this program, and we hope to be a site in the future as well,” Monaco said.
For more information about the program or internship possibilities, visit the web at www.morrisville.edu/norwich.