Summer Student Campus Corps enjoys second year of success

By Katie Land, news editor

This summer offers an opportunity to build on the success of 2009’s inaugural Summer Student Campus Corps. The innovative program sought to help students find meaningful summer employment in these difficult economic times.

This is junior Megan Lepage's second year in the corps, gathering professional work experience.

The initiative placed undergraduate students in internship-style jobs on campus from April to August, each earning up to $10 an hour or a maximum of $7,200 over 18 weeks.

Created to address a growing need for summer work in the current economic downturn, the corps now provides 73 students with a competitive income and marketable work experience, according to Cindy Hermsen, director of financial aid.

Now in its second year, the innovative program has drawn an overwhelmingly positive response from student participants and staff advisors.

Projects included a variety of longstanding infrastructure projects in areas such as information technology, grounds and landscaping, recreation and administrative offices. The projects were all outside the scope of positions traditionally offered by the hiring department, and all of the positions were temporary.

Junior Megan Lepage is a veteran corps member, returning to the Academic Records office where this summer she has been promoted to Transfer Articulation Assistant.

“I think this will help me feel more comfortable and competent when I enter a career. I won't feel like a fish out of water when I enter a profession if I have already developed the skill set that I need to work effectively.”

Senior Joseph Uzarski is spending the summer contributing research to the MPA program.

Lepage is a double major in Linguistics and French Language and Literature who appreciates the opportunity to work in a professional, career-oriented environment. Calling it a “taste of what life may be like after graduation,” Lepage intends to utilize this experience on her resume.

Political science and international relations major Joseph Uzarski has secured a summer position this year in the Master’s of Public Administration department through the corps.

“This job has been a great summer experience and allowed me to do more meaningful work than other places,” Uzarski said. “It has helped me develop new skills to utilize in a professional environment. The work I do here is important to the program, and will be actually looked at. I’m not just filing papers.”

The senior is currently preparing and conducting research and surveys for the MPA program.

For more information about the Summer Student Campus Corps, contact the Financial Aid Office at (248) 370-2550 or finaid@oakland.edu.