The University of Delaware’s Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics has secured a grant with the Delaware Workforce Development Board to give Lerner students a unique opportunity to gain real-world experience while continuing their academic learning.
The Lerner-Delaware Early Career Co-op Program is an exclusive one-year, paid internship/co-op opportunity designed for rising juniors and seniors enrolled in UD’s Lerner College to gain meaningful work experience, develop their professional network, and apply classroom knowledge to real-world challenges. All while earning credits toward their degree and receiving monetary compensation from their employers.
For employers across the state, the program offers the chance to bring motivated and skilled Lerner students into their companies, gaining access to a pipeline of future business leaders eager to apply their knowledge and develop their skills within the workplace.
“The Lerner-Delaware Early Career Co-op Program is a game-changer for both our students and the local business community,” said Oliver Yao, dean of the Lerner College. “This initiative not only equips our students with invaluable hands-on experience but also strengthens the bond between academia and industry, driving innovation and growth within Delaware’s workforce.”
The program is currently in the beginning stages where area companies are signing on and providing job descriptions, and students are submitting resumes. Interviews will be conducted and job offers will be finalized through May, with the program officially starting in June.
For students and their prospective employers, potential time commitments could include standard 40-hour work weeks during the summer and winter terms, and up to 20-hour work weeks during the fall and spring semesters as students will be taking classes at UD. Students will earn 3-6 credits for their internship, while each business will determine the students’ wages.
Scott Malfitano, chair of the Delaware Workforce Development Board, and Lerner Career Services Center Director Jill Panté have worked hand in hand to launch the innovative program. Malfitano is also vice president of CSC, a global company founded in Delaware.
“Our board has reached out to a lot of businesses and found out that they’re all looking for a future ‘farm team’,” Malfitano said. ”We have it at our fingertips; it’s right now here in Newark at the University.”
Malfitano met with Yao and Panté to get the program off the ground and eventually deliver an extended impactful experience for Lerner students.
“A lot of our students tend to intern in the summer for 8-10 weeks, which is great, but we wanted for them to have a much longer experience to build their resume, build their networks and make money,” Panté said.
Both Malfitano and Panté stressed the program’s importance for keeping UD students in the state of Delaware following graduation.
“We’re really trying to create a bridge between the University and businesses in our state,” Malfitano said. “And we want to keep homegrown talent here in Delaware after they graduate. We also want to keep those students who come from out of state to Delaware here when they see the wonderful opportunities that are available. It’s important to have students see Wilmington, Dover, Middletown, and other parts of the state; we want them to see the opportunities that are here, and they’ll find out that businesses are hungry, and they want to keep the talent here.
“Our state competes with D.C., Philadelphia, Washington, New York for talent. We’ve got to find, identify and retain the talent here in our state.”
“We are the University of Delaware, and we have a responsibility to this state to continue to impact its workforce and its economy,” Panté added. “This program really bridges the gap that we currently have.”
The program will offer between 20-25 positions during the first year, with the hope of at least doubling the opportunities in the future. Initial interest has been high among both UD students and state businesses.
“It’s exciting; we’re already starting to hold information sessions, and the students are asking for access,” Panté said. “They are excited because they want to have more experience, and it also means more money for them to support their education.”
Panté added that Lerner wrote a grant to the Delaware Workforce Development Board that allowed her department to hire a program coordinator who will manage and grow the initiative by identifying industry needs, posting positions, scheduling interviews, and assisting with the internship offer process.
“That person will be starting in a couple of weeks; it’s another staff member on our team who can make those connections as well as coach students. So we’re grateful for that grant, because it allows us to expand our team and offer more services and support,” she said.
Malfitano and the board have already been contacting CEOs and leaders of local businesses in a wide range of areas and found significant interest.
“Lerner has very diverse opportunities in different majors within the school itself,” he said. “So it’s wonderful for our businesses, everything from marketing to IT to finance, service companies, non-profits … it’s a lot of what the businesses are looking for.”
“WSFS Bank is incredibly excited for the partnership with the Lerner-Delaware Early Career Co-Op Program,” said Patrick Best, SVP, Director of Talent Acquisition at WSFS. “Equipping students with in-demand skills and hands-on professional experience helps set them up for financial stability and independence. It also provides local businesses with the talent they need to grow and continue investing in our region. That’s all part of our vision of a day when everyone will thrive.”
Along with WSFS Bank, organizations including CSC, The Siegfried Group, REACH Riverside, M. Davis & Sons, and Diamond Technologies have committed to offering more than a dozen co-op opportunities.
UD’s Lerner College provides a wealth of experiential learning opportunities, with the new program being the latest initiative.
“If you’re a Lerner student, there will be an opportunity for you to gain experience,” Panté said. “This co-op program is yet another example of Lerner’s dedication to investing in the community and enhancing the student experience.”
Students interested in participating in the program can complete the student interest form.
Interested employers can learn more about this initiative and begin the hiring process by completing the employer interest form.
For more information about the Lerner-Delaware Early Career Co-op Program, contact Lerner Career Services at lernercareerservices@udel.edu.