Internships

Building your career after you graduate from college depends not only on developing knowledge and skills in the classroom, but on getting real-world experience in your field. At Champlain College we take that very seriously and our 97% job placement rate of graduates attests to it. Besides the hands-on experiences that are built into the professional core courses, our Event Management program includes two levels of internship experiences. During the second year of our program, students complete an Event Management Internship Series applied to one or more special events, which is designed to familiarize them with the entire range of event planning challenges. Then, during the final semester of the bachelor's degree program, students complete an Event Management Apprenticeship, an advanced-level internship where they gain a deeper experience of the day-to-day challenges they will encounter as a planner, coordinator or supervisor.

Students may elect to become involved with any of the following types of events: meetings or conferences, trade shows & exhibits, public relations/publicity events, sporting events, festivals, entertainment performances, guest speakers, social events or educational events. Opportunities present themselves from both on-campus and off-campus sources.

2nd-year field experience: The Event Management Internship Series

As a complement to the academic coursework in the first two years of study, students gain first-hand knowledge and experience of the unique challenges of event management by completing a checklist of activities that illustrate the complete range of functions inherent in the planning, execution and management of special events. Each student is paired with an appropriate mentor for one or more on- or off-campus events, to observe and participate in each of the required tasks. Students also compile an online portfolio of written assignments to document and reflect on their experiences.

The following list illustrates just a few of the Internship Series opportunities that may be available to students right on campus: participate in the planning and execution of institution-wide annual events, such as Fall Orientation, Convocation, Graduation, Alumni reunion or Spring Meltdown; plan, organize, market and execute a School Dance, Talent Show, or Battle of the Bands; coordinate arrangements for The Grind, our weekly "open mike" event; organize a tournament for faculty, staff, and students in the gymnasium; act as an event assistant for our Conference & Event Center.

Senior internship: The Event Management Apprenticeship

The Management Apprenticeship experience serves as an advanced internship and includes an on-site work experience with an event planner or special events venue, working closely with an individual manager/mentor at least 2 full days each week. Students select a specific role or area of the industry that they are interested in pursuing and are paired with an appropriate supervisor to observe and participate in his or her daily duties and challenges, while playing a contributing role to the organization's efforts.

This experience also includes a weekly online group discussion forum, where students in various locations have an opportunity to compare their experiences and relate them to the ideas they have been exploring in their other classes. The course is constructed with an online format to provide the flexibility to complete this experience almost anywhere in the world.

Internship Sites

We are continually developing new internship opportunities for both of these field experiences, many chosen according to the specific interests of individual students. Our Career Services office provides a number of powerful resources, both for identifying attractive opportunities and for preparing a personal resume and completing the application and interview process. Students participate in a placement interview to determine the best fit for their own personal goals and abilities.

Here is a sampling of sites where our Event Management students have worked in the past:

Delaney Meeting & Event Management
Burlington, Vermont

Vermont Symphony Orchestra
Burlington, Vermont

Sheraton-Burlington Hotel & Conference Center
Burlington, Vermont

Champlain Valley Exposition
Essex Junction, Vermont

Vermont City Marathon
Burlington, Vermont

ECHO Lake Aquarium & Science Center
Burlington, Vermont

First Night Burlington
Burlington, Vermont

The Ponds at Bolton Valley
Bolton, Vermont

Higher Ground Music
S. Burlington, Vermont

Fuse Event Marketing
Burlington, Vermont

Swank Productions
New York City

Champlain College Conference & Event Center
Burlington, Vermont


THE SHELBURNE HOUSE at Shelburne Farms
Shelburne, Vermont

Marriott Marquis Hotel
New York City

The Inn at Essex
Essex, Vermont

Vermont Convention Bureau
Burlington, Vermont

Walt Disney World College Program
Orlando, Florida