In light of two initiatives created through the partnership of UB and the Town of Clarence, local students will be given the opportunity to learn about and contribute to local government.
Through this partnership, formed by the Office of Economic Engagement (OEE) and School of Management, students will have the opportunity to intern in a community that is close to school.
This partnership is the first step in what is hoped to be a long and beneficial relationship between the town and university.
"[The] community looks for support from UB," said Carrie Gardner, administrative director of credit-bearing internships and projects in the School of Management. "[There are] a lot of relationships. The [relationship with] the Town of Clarence is just one."
Currently, the program consists of one internship. Janelle Camesano, a professional MBA student, is leading the student end of the partnership.
Camesano is serving as a bridge between the Town of Clarence and UB. She has the task of interviewing various department heads to find out what their needs are in terms of interns. In response, Camesano will write out job descriptions for these intern positions, which will create more opportunities for future students. Because of her work, the town will be better equipped to create a new set of connections to solicit its own interns.
Camesano, and students following in her footsteps, will be able to have the experience of running a "business" in the form of a town government.
"In the short time I've been involved, I have learned a lot about how the governance of a town is similar to that of a business," Camesano said. "You worry about your costs, and of course your customers, which in this case are the townspeople."
Both the Town of Clarence and UB are benefitting from this partnership.
The students have "fresher eyes" that are able to see the direct line between new thoughts and ideas to improve standards and practices already in place, according to Gardner. The town government identifies what is lacking, and students respond and meet its needs. The students, in turn, gain hands-on experience that teaches more than a classroom could.
"Students [get] involved in the local area. [In turn], a local town is more involved in the university," said Scott Bylewski, supervisor of the Town of Clarence. "Students gain more experience [and] more students [get] involved in the town. It's a win-win situation."
Bylewski got involved with UB after adopting Lean Six Sigma practices in 2009, which are a set of practices that aim to raise performance by increasing efficiency, decreasing costs, and improving customer service. The town trained employees through The Center for Industrial Effectiveness (TCIE) and joined forces with Al Hammonds, assistant director for TCIE and the Office of Economic Engagement.
Bylewski and Hammonds discussed the opportunities available through partnerships between UB and local communities. The Town of Clarence is now working with OEE, UB Career Services, School of Management, and other units within the university.
While Camesano's work will mainly create opportunities for students in the School of Management and Law School, Bylewski also hopes to see internship opportunities form across the board of academic concentrations. Bylewski hopes to see engineering, architecture, and urban planning students get involved in the community, as well.
Both UB and the Town of Clarence hope for this partnership to last far into the future, creating as many opportunities as possible and getting more students involved in the local community.
For more information on student internship positions, visit Career Services, located at 259 Capen Hall, or the Credit-Bearing Internship Program, located in the School of Management at 308 Alfiero Center.
E-mail: news@ubspectrum.com
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
