New College of Florida expands internships to keep Sarasota-Manatee talent local

New College of Florida’s Career Center is pushing more regional internship partnerships after a spring symposium drew about 45 local organizations. The effort is aimed at helping students land jobs in Sarasota-Manatee after graduation while filling workforce needs in healthcare, education and nonprofits.

Why it matters: - New College of Florida is trying to turn internships into a retention tool for Sarasota-Manatee’s workforce. - The strategy is aimed at helping local employers find talent and giving students a reason to stay in the region after graduation. - The push comes as Sarasota and Manatee counties continue growing and need more workers in key sectors.

What happened: - New College of Florida Career Center said it is expanding regional internship initiatives after a spring Internship Symposium that featured about 45 regional organizations. - The Career Center is asking local businesses, healthcare facilities, schools and nonprofits to join internship partnerships. - Samantha Carmer of the New College Career Center said students want impactful experiences and employers want access to emerging talent.

The details: - New College said internships help students build professional skills, local networks and long-term ties to the community. - The college pointed to research from the National Association of Colleges and Employers and the Cooperative Education and Internship Association as evidence that internships are strong indicators of post-graduation employment. - Student presentations recently covered marine conservation, economic development, healthcare initiatives and classroom education. - New College’s Pathways to Health and Pathways to Education programs connect students with healthcare programs, local schools and community organizations. - The Community-Driven Internship Program places students with nonprofit organizations serving Sarasota and Manatee counties. - Students in those programs gain mentorship, hands-on experience, public service exposure, advocacy experience and civic leadership opportunities. - The Career Center invited local companies and organizations to offer internships or make financial investments to support students in the community. - The college said interested partners can contact Samantha Carmer at scarmer@ncf.edu.

Between the lines: - New College is positioning internships as part of a broader talent-retention strategy, not just a campus career-service function. - The focus on healthcare, education and nonprofits suggests the college is targeting sectors where local workforce shortages can affect daily services. - Carmer said internships are critical pipelines that strengthen local industries and connect students to their communities.

What's next: - New College is looking for more regional employers and community organizations to sign on to internship partnerships. - The Career Center is also seeking financial support to expand student opportunities. - If the effort scales, more students may be able to move from campus to local jobs without leaving Sarasota-Manatee.