Small changes have produced big results in the College of Arts and Sciences’ internship program.

New departmental divisions within the college have resulted in an increased number of internships available to students, with increased student response.

“If you’re going to ask students to work hard as undergraduates, we must create opportunities for them to use their education,” said Jack Cooley, assistant executive dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. “We’ve found that internships lead most directly to good jobs.”

Rather than lumping all available internships in the college together, the college decided more internships could be generated through specialized departments, Cooley said. Students will have an easier time finding the internship they wanted, and the college could locate a greater number of internships with what Cooley called “a variety of people working a variety of fronts.”

“This is the first time we’ve taken a real good look at what’s out there,” said Ed Adelson, associate executive dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.

GoodLinks is one of the new programs created to set up students with management positions at non-profit companies. Winter quarter was a success; 30 students placed through the fledgling GoodLinks, said Amy Thaci, director of Arts and Sciences Career Services.

“The opportunities for students are outstanding, and we’ve found that branding the (new) programs seemed to help,” Thaci said.

The college started the Corporate Internship Program this year to get students business experience with medium-and-large-sized corporations, Thaci said.

“Companies are saying liberal arts graduates are the most helpful,” Cooley said.

He said the college places students in many local organizations, including COSI, Staples, the Columbus Museum of Art, the state legislature and other small businesses.

“We’d like every student who wants an internship to have one, and we think most students should want one. Employers are looking for education and experience,” said John Wanzer, assistant dean of Undergraduate Student Academic Services. “We’ve worked very hard to generate internships.”

Thaci said the college’s Reslink Web site is the best place for students to check out available internships and jobs.

After compiling a resume, students should talk to a peer mentor in 05 Brown Hall, she said.

“Peer mentors are trained to look at resumes and cover letters and are also trained on Reslink’s listing (system),” Thaci said. “Pretty much everyone starts with a peer mentor.”