Site aims to keep graduates in Indiana

Many Indiana residents are familiar with the term brain drain -- the idea that thousands come to Indiana to receive degrees at highly-ranked colleges and universities, but then leave the state to find employment elsewhere. \nThe Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce and the University of Indianapolis, along with other higher education institutions, have partnered to create Indiana INTERNnet, a Web site where students can establish a free account, post their resumes, indicate their areas of interest and search for internship opportunities. Employers can also set up a free account, post internship opportunities and search for suitable candidates. \nAccording to its Web site,www.indianaintern.net , the program was designed to retain college graduates within the State of Indiana. Indiana has a low ranking of residents 25 years or older with baccalaureate degrees, and the partnership was formed to promote internship opportunities statewide.\nThe Web site also offers a number of articles and resources for students and employers.\nStacy Seagren from the Indiana INTERNnet called the Web site a "one-stop shop for students and employers." She said it matches students who desire internships with employers who are offering them. \nThe Web site was initiated in 2001 and aimed at expanding the quality and quantity of internship opportunities in Indiana, she said. There are currently more than 1,200 employers registered on the Web site. Employers range from large firms, like Roche Diagnostics and Anthem, to various medium-sized and small firms. \n"Many large businesses use Indiana INTERNnet as one of their recruitment tools," Seagren said.\nThe Web site has received positive comments from students and school administration.\nAdam Licht, an IU junior in the School of Informatics, has been using the Web site for three years. He received five interviews through the Indiana INTERNnet, and landed an internship with Delta Faucet in Indianapolis this past summer. Licht said he also tried to search for internships through other sources, such as the IU Career Center, www.monster.com, www.hotjobs.com and other personal contacts, but Indiana INTERNnet was the one that landed him the job.\nThe IU Career Development Center said it is aware of the Web site and the help it can provide for students who are looking for internships close to home.\n"(Indiana INTERNnet) is a very good program for students looking for internships in Indiana," said Jan Van Dyke, senior assistant director for career resources of the CDC. He also said one of the peer advisers from the CDC has attended "special information interviews and presentations by various employers" organized by the Indiana INTERNnet, and that those events helped her to network with various employers in Indianapolis.\nThe Undergraduate Career Services Office of the Kelley School of Business also encouraged students to make use of this Web site in order to secure a local internship. \nMark J. Brostoff, associate director of the UCSO, said the office's Web site, http://ucso.indiana.edu, offers a link to Indiana INTERNnet from its career resources links section for students.\n— Contact staff writer Joyce Chan at mkchan@indiana.edu.