As a student, you’ve probably heard how important engaging in internships, research, or service- learning is during your time at UMBC. If you’re a first-gen college student or adult learner who may be navigating employment and/or family responsibilities, you might be wondering “how can I do it?” or “is it even possible for someone like me?” 

Internships, research, and service-learning are referred to as High-Impact Practices, which means that they often lead to success for students while in school and after graduation. Though these experiences can require significant time and effort on the part of the student, this doesn’t mean they have to be off-limits to busy students who are navigating multiple other roles in their lives. Explore the resources below to discover ways you can get creative and get involved to gain experience as a UMBC student. 

Internships

The UMBC Career Center works with students on a number of topics, including preparing to gain work experience. Internships are the opportunity to gain real world experience within a given industry or field as a student. Many times, these positions lead to full-time job opportunities, whether it be at the same company or by building onto your resume and opening the door for employment with another company. Additionally, these experiences help you explore the career possibilities that exist for your major and help you determine the best job fit for you. Below you’ll find a few suggestions for adult learners and first gen students to explore. Learn more about internships more generally here. Questions? Contact internships@umbc.edu. 

Opportunities Include:

• Virtual Internships offer the opportunity to work remotely from your own home. Check out Vault, InsideSherpa, and Chegg to get started on the search.  

• Micro Internships are short term positions that give exposure to a specific field, typically through project work.

• Earning academic credit and/or a transcript notation through the Intern Success Practicum course for a current internship or industry relevant work experience is a great way to tie your experience directly to your academic program.

• Already employed? Try approaching your manager at your current job about doing a special project that relates to your major or career goals!

Community Engagement 

Community engagement is the collaboration between higher education institutions and their larger communities for the mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and resources in a context of partnership and reciprocity. Community engagement is the partnership of college and university knowledge and resources with those of the public and private sectors to enrich scholarship, research, and creative activity; enhance curriculum, teaching and learning; prepare educated, engaged citizens; strengthen democratic values and civic responsibility; address critical societal issues; and contribute to the public good. You can become involved in Community Engagement with The Shriver Center in numerous ways. Questions? Contact Kasey Venn at kasven1@umbc.edu. 

Opportunities Include:

• Service-Learning (096 Community Service & Learning Practicum)

• Summer Scholars Programs

• PeaceCorps Prep

• Ability to attend and present at conferences

Research

Undergraduate research can help you clarify your choice of degree program, career interests, and post-graduation plans. Learn about how to get started in research and UMBC resources for funding, presenting, and publishing your research or creative work here! Questions? Contact April Householder at aprilh@umbc.edu.

Opportunities Include:

• Undergraduate Research Awards (up to $1500)

• Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievement Day (URCAD)

• UMBC Review: Journal of Undergraduate Research

• Off-campus research opportunities (REUs)

• Presentation Grants (formerly Travel Awards)

• Prestigious Scholarships

Name:Dakota Pereira

Internship, Co-op or Research Site:National Gallery of Art

Position Title:Librarian Technician (Student Assistant)

Major(s)/Minor(s):Ancient Studies & History

Current Class Level:Sophomore

Work Term:Spring 2021

Tell us about your internship, co-op, or research opportunity, including your day-to-day responsibilities.

As a librarian technician intern at the National Gallery of Art's Vertical Files, I am tasked with  working with the collection's ephemera–which are materials that were produced with the intent of being disposed of or only had short-term usefulness. These artist materials, such as exhibition notices, pamphlets, among other written works, are valuable to researchers, scholars and the curious public alike.

I largely do telework linking Library of Congress name headers to the artists in the Vertical Files, but I also do work for other departments of the library such as book items for the Circulation Dept. Recently, I had the chance to identify artists' digitized materials for a collection based on David Driskell's 1976 exhibition “Two Centuries of Black American Art”! The projects you're assigned always changes, but it is at a steady pace.

Describe the process of obtaining your position. When did you hear of the position and submit your application?

I heard of this position through an email I received from UMBC's History Humanities email listing, I believe during Fall 2020. I made use of a Resume Review to refine my resume before submission and an Interview Practice site recommended.

What have you enjoyed the most about your position or organization? 

This position has been very exciting because not only does it allow me to exercise my thinking during my work, it lets me see how closely tied museum and library settings are linked together. 

How do you believe you have made an impact through your work?

I believe I've made impact through my work by making these difficult-to-view materials more accessible for researchers–be it new or experienced ones. Having this access allows for new insights from written culture that would otherwise be obscured. This would not only bring about new potential research and ideas for people to engage, but for everyone to take a close look to appreciate the attention given to these artists' work.

What advice would you give to another student who is seeking an internship or similar experience? 

Be confident in what expertise you have, even if it was an unpaid opportunity. Having worked in a highschool library before, the experience I had with that position still exists even if it wasn't a paid position–don't be afraid of including valid experience that applies to an internship you're applying for. Adding references for such experiences helps verify that you do have such a background too!

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