07/19/16 md/kb
HAYS, Kan. -- Applications are open for businesses to participate in the third year of the internship pairing service of Fort Hays State University's Management Development Center.

The program matches northwestern Kansas businesses and entrepreneurial startups with interns from the university's College of Business and Entrepreneurship for the fall 2016 semester. Funding is provided to cover the bulk of the cost of the paid internships.

"Thanks to funding from the Dane G. Hansen Foundation and from Peter and Pamela Werth, the program is extremely affordable for business owners and allows students to gain valuable experience in their field of study while being paid," said Sabrina William, director of the MDC.

On the application, businesses identify their needs and decide what responsibilities would fall under the interns' duties. Student applicants from tourism and hospitality, marketing, accounting, and management and from other colleges and departments are welcome to apply.

Examples of projects may include, but are not limited to:
• Managing social media marketing efforts.
• Planning and executing a promotion or event.
• Establishing a recruitment and selection process.
• Developing a marketing plan.
• Building a competitive analysis strategy.
• Developing a training program for a specific set of operational procedures.
• Analyzing operation processes to determine efficiency.

Business owners are expected to work with the intern by setting initial expectations, revising expectations if necessary, and providing guidance and insight over the course of the internship. They are also expected to complete an evaluation form at the end of the semester.

Students will gain valuable experience completing the project and will learn about the operations, challenges and rewards of business. Students, in some cases, may also choose to register for course credit for the internship.

Full internships are expected to be approximately 240 hours in length. Students will work an average of 15 hours per week over the course of the 16-week semester. Selected businesses are required to provide $500 towards the internship, which will be matched with $2,000 in grant funding. Students will be paid and have tax withholding and workers' compensation paid by FHSU.

For more information, contact Nicholas Schmidt, MDC graduate assistant, at 785-628-4739. Businesses interested in this opportunity can download the application online at www.fhsu.edu/cob/mdc/Internship-program and then email it to ncschmidt.se@fhsu.edu.

The priority deadline for business applications is Thursday, July 28. With limited funding, businesses and students will be selected through a competitive selection process. All businesses are encouraged to apply, but priority will be given to either northwest Kansas businesses or individuals who are in the startup process or in their first one to three years of business.

Interested students can check JobX after Aug. 1 to view available internships.