The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV), in collaboration with the Virginia Talent + Opportunity Partnership (V-TOP), has allocated a grant of up to $150,000 to the University of Mary Washington. The funding will allow for the expansion of paid internships and work-based learning opportunities for students, enhancing their career readiness and academic growth.
The UMW award is part of over $3.9 million in Impact Grants allocated to 20 Virginia institutions to strengthen ties between higher education institutions and state employers, encouraging innovative approaches to workforce development. The grants are made possible through the Commonwealth Innovative Internship Fund and offered in three categories: vision, capacity-building and scaling.
“This grant allows us to focus even more on preparing and connecting students to work-based learning opportunities that can support their career exploration and development,” said Kimbery Young, Associate Provost for Career and Workforce at UMW. “The partnership with V-TOP has provided not only the financial support, but the collaboration needed to augment our efforts to help students identify and articulate the connection between the classroom and their future lives.”
UMW was one of 14 schools awarded a grant in the area of capacity-building. This category aims to enhance program infrastructure, improve institutional tracking mechanisms, strengthen employer partnerships that align with regional and state workforce programs, and hire key personnel or develop a centralized hub focused on internship and work-based learning activities. Other institutions receiving capacity-building grants include Virginia Tech, William & Mary, James Madison University, and Old Dominion University, with complete details in the Nov. 21 SCHEV news release
“Internships and work-based learning provide students with the confidence and practical skills to thrive in a competitive workforce,” said Scott Fleming, SCHEV director. “The Impact Grants reinforce our commitment to supporting Virginia’s higher education institutions by integrating internships into their strategic priorities and fostering meaningful partnerships with employers across the Commonwealth.”
Since its inception, V-TOP has aimed to provide resources that connect higher education institutions with industries to offer high-impact work-based learning opportunities, preparing students for the workforce. V-TOP is administered by SCHEV in partnership with the Virginia Chamber of Commerce Foundation and the Virginia Business Higher Education Council. It is funded by the General Assembly’s Commonwealth Innovative Internship Fund and Program.
“Every student should have support in navigating the transition from school to the workforce,” said UMW’s Antoinette Jenkins, director of Rappahannock Work and Learn Collaborative. “The Work-Based Opportunity and Resource Champions (WORC) team will collaborate with campus partners and businesses to provide this support to all of our students by facilitating access to internships and other work-based learning opportunities. Through these opportunities, our students will build the skills and competencies they need to confidently embark on Life After Mary Washington.”
The new funding complements an initial $250,000 V-TOP grant to UMW in summer 2022, $200,000 in V-TOP grants this past spring, and a $24,994 V-TOP grant this fall. In addition, V-TOP has named UMW a “Top Employer for Interns.”
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