Graduate Retention's Work Keeps on Going... and Going...

We’re excited to report that our Graduate Retention Program (GRP) has received $10,000 in funding from IndianaINTERNnet (IIN) – for the third year in a row! If you don’t know, IIN is an initiative of the Indiana Chamber. This Web portal is an internship-matching program linking employers, students, high schools, colleges and universities through a Web-based search, matching and reporting system.

So what does that have to do with the Chamber? Our Graduate Retention Program’s mission is to seek and retain graduates of regional colleges and universities (as well as students obtaining degrees outside the region). We want to develop a highly qualified pool of graduates with the skills to support existing companies and attract new employers to Northeast Indiana. One of the ways we do that is by connecting students with employers for valuable internships... which ultimately may lead to full-time employment!

I’m sure you can see how this fits in with some key goals of the Chamber. (Key phrases: Support existing business. Attract new business!)

We’re grateful that the IIN has the faith in us to grant this award. The money will be used to help GRP continue its one-on-one work with employers (we help them create, advertise, and fill internships, as well as help them set up IIN profiles and create an internship program for their business!). GRP will also continue its work of helping students find internships in Northeast Indiana by using the IndianaINTERNnet.

I can personally testify to the good work of the Graduate Retention Program – they helped me find the year-long internship I had in college! Read more about this news here.

So, back to the title. Graduate Retention’s work keeps on going… and going. I say that with confidence because I know the work that Graduate Retention does continues benefiting students, employers, and ultimately the community, even after our part of the process is done!