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Education Committee

Purpose
To assist with and act as a liaison between the education and business communities to develop a stronger partnership between the two. The committee will create on-going programs to bring business & education together to develop young leaders and develop a workforce that will keep mid-Missouri competitive when attracting and retaining business.

PROJECT INTERN
Looking for a qualified intern? Let the Chamber help!

Project Intern is a new initiative of the Education Committee that positions the Chamber to be aclearinghouse for partnering Chamber member businesses with college interns. Based on members' input and indication of interest, the Chamber Board has approved a pilot program we are calling "Project Intern: Teach. Train. Retain."

Project Intern will begin this fall to help connect employers and students for the spring 2012 semester. As part of our pilot program, we will run Project Intern through the summer and fall 2012 semesters, with a current plan to review and evaluate in January of 2013 with the possibility of extension.

Here's how it will work:
1. Chamber member businesses interested in finding an intern must fill out the internship description form. Please click here to download PDF intern request form and return it to Jessica Crews at the Chamber.
2. All internship descriptions are due by October 15, 2011 for spring semester placement and by February 15, 2012 for the summer or fall. After the internship descriptions are compiled and approved, the Chamber will send the internship descriptions to the appropriate academic departments.
3. Upon receiving the internship descriptions, the academic departments will distribute them to students accordingly. Students will then be encouraged to contact the businesses offering internships no later than November 15, 2011 and March 15, 2012 to ensure they will be considered for a position.
4. Once student applications are received, businesses will then set up interviews with the best suited student(s).

Initially, we are working with a select group of departments, schools and colleges at the University of Missouri, Columbia College and Stephens College. It is our hope to have all locally based higher education institutions involved as we progress. Moving forward, we also look to involve other Chamber groups, such as EPIC, to potentially mentor and to add to the student intern's experience.

Of course, if you have questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact one of us or contact Jessica Crews, director of government affairs and liaison to the Chamber Education Committee, at 573-817-9114.

Goals
Develop, organize and promote programs and activities which achieve the strategic goals for the Chamber.

Workforce Development
Promote workforce development by assisting students & teachers to identify work skills needed in today's work environment; promote adult skill development.

• Continue the Career Exploration Fair for seventh graders as a sustained program for all three Columbia Middle Schools
  
• Investigate options for adult workforce development in coordination with REDI

Higher Education
Strengthen the bonds between higher education and the business community with the intent of identifying and developing young leaders. To educate college students on ways to contribute and develop in a community.

• Continue to develop a college/business mentorship program through the Leadership Symposium
• Support Collegiate Leadership Columbia program
• Utilize the talents of past Junior Leadership Columbia and Leadership Columbia classes

Partnerships
Enhance and promote the partnership of business and elementary and secondary schools.

• Reinforce the Chamber's role in supporting the CPS Partners in Education program
• Promote opportunities for student mentoring through the Columbia Public Schools/Big Brothers-Big Sisters mentoring program

Early Childhood Development
Promote the need for business involvement in issues related to early childhood development (ECD) and elementary school readiness.

• Continue annual sponsorship of the "Reading! It Begins With Me." program by providing quality books for distribution by experienced early childhood professionals to low-income families
• Provide opportunities for continued collaboration and communication between early childhood entities, Chamber members and the business community about ECD
• Provide support for early childhood initiatives as adopted by the United Ways of Missouri recommendations on legislative issues involving ECD

Projects
Scholarship
Promote, administer, and audit the Chamber of Commerce Russell V. Thompson Scholarship.

Committee Development
Actively recruit Chamber members to become part of the Education Committee.

Benefit
Acts as the conduit between the business and education communities; creates opportunities to improve our workforce, both current and future. Promotes the importance of education for economic well being.