Creating Pathways to Professions
The Valley Internship Experience Workgroup (VIEW) is made possible by a grant from the State Council for Higher Education (SCHEV) and is part of a state-wide Virginia Talent and Opportunities Pathways (V-TOP) initiative to expand paid and credit-bearing student internships and other work-based learning opportunities in collaboration with Virginia employers. V-TOP facilitates the readiness of students, employers and institutions of higher education to participate in internship and work-based learning.
The VIEW is developing strategies to significantly increase the number of internship and work-based learning programs currently available in the Shenandoah Valley (GO Virginia Region 8).
Why this Initiative?
Simply put, the data shows that we are not doing enough to encourage students to live and work in Virginia after they graduate. This is where the V-TOP initiative helps by giving students deep roots in Virginia’s business community prior to graduation.
Less than 50% of Virginia graduates completed undergraduate internships.
- SCHEV, October 2021
The top concern of Virginia businesses surveyed is access to necessary talent.
- Blueprint Virginia 2025,
Virginia Chamber of Commerce
More than 50% of Virginia graduates who completed an internship said it helped them receive a better job offer.
- SCHEV, October 2021
VIEW Serves...
VIEW serves employers, students and instituions of higher education across the Region 8 footprint. Expand each area below to learn more about the ways we can help and resources we provide:
Grow and retain talent for your business or organization by providing internships and other work-based learning opportunities. VIEW can connect you with high schools, colleges, universities, and students. Free resources include an “employer readiness toolkit” and an on-line course, “developing an internship program”. Your business may qualify for staffing agency services to handle the HR functions related to hosting interns. You may also qualify for matching funds to off-set intern wages and other expenses.
Did you know that you are more likely to receive a job offer after graduation if you have completed an internship or similar work-based learning experience while in school? Prepare to find and succeed in that experience by taking 2 free on-line courses: “developing career readiness skills” and “student internship toolkit”. You will learn important skills in communication, professionalism, interview skills and more!
VIEW provides career readiness resources to improve your students’ internship and work-based learning experiences, connections with companies and organizations to host your students, professional development scholarships, and more.
About V-TOP
The Virginia Talent + Opportunity Partnership (V-TOP) connects Virginia businesses that have work-based learning opportunities to Virginia students looking for them, with Virginia’s higher ed institutions serving as the main catalyst.
Contact Information
VIEW:
Mary Sullivan
VIEW Project Coordinator
540-568-5568
sullivmx@jmu.edu
James Madison University Ice House
127 W Bruce St.
MSC 3617
Harrisonburg, VA 22807
V-TOP:
info@virginiatop.org
www.virginiatop.org
Upcoming V-TOP Events: https://virginiatop.org/events/
VIEW Member Organizations
- Greater Augusta Chamber of Commerce
- Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce
- Lexington Chamber of Commerce
- Top of Virginia Regional Chamber
- City of Harrisonburg Economic Development
- City of Winchester Economic Development
- Frederick County Economic Development
- Shenandoah County Tourism and Economic Development
- Genedge
- GO Virginia Region 8 Board
- Northern Shenandoah Valley Regional Commission (NSVRC)
- Shenandoah Community Capital Fund (SCCF)
- Shenandoah Valley Workforce Development Board
- Shenandoah Valley Partnership (SVP)
- Blue Ridge Community College
- Bridgewater College
- Christendom College
- Eastern Mennonite University
- Harrisonburg City Public Schools
- James Madison University
- Laurel Ridge Community College
- Mary Baldwin University
- Mountain Gateway Community College
- Rockingham County Public Schools
- Shenandoah University
- Southern Virginia University
- Valley Career & Technical Center
- Virginia Department of Education
- Virginia Military Institute
- Winchester City Public Schools