Public Lands Highlights Job Opportunities for SUU Students

Published: January 14, 2013 | Read Time: 2 minutes

Experiential education is SUU’s calling card and has long been one of the University’s most attractive features, along with its location—a hotbed of unparalleled state and national parks. Thanks to a unique educational partnership with the National Park Service, SUU’s prime location and distinct emphasis on experiential education make the University a top choice for many outdoor enthusiasts who hope to build a future doing the things they love best, working (and playing) in the great outdoors.

In support of such endeavors, SUU will host its annual Public Lands Employment Day this Tuesday, bringing students and prospective employers together to discuss available opportunities in the public land management fields. For students on the cusp of the highly competitive job market and junior scholars hoping to build their resumes and skill sets, there is no better offering than internships with the very companies in which these students hope to one day build a profession.

In partnership with the Intergovernmental Internship Cooperative (IIC)—of which SUU is a member—this year’s Public Lands Employment Day at SUU will be held Tuesday, January 15, from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the Student Center Living Room. Students of all majors and disciplines with an interest in public lands are welcome to attend.

A job and internship fair of sorts, this agency-specific employment day gives students a unique opportunity to meet members of the IIC to explore potential opportunities for volunteer service, full or seasonal employment, and hands-on internship study.

The IIC includes the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Utah Department of Natural Resources and various Indian tribes throughout the region, all in partnership with SUU, and this week’s Public Lands Employment Day is scheduled during the peak of these agencies’ hiring periods. In years past, this event has helped numerous SUU students secure exceptional work and work-study opportunities.

SUU students have historically been among the most preferred candidates for internships and employment with these agencies, in large part due to the close associations the University maintains with members of the IIC.

“Our students have achieved great success as a result of this program and that is really exciting, especially in the field of public lands which is so highly competitive,” said Dr. Briget Eastep, director of the Outdoor Engagement Center, which oversees the IIC.

According to Eastep, this shared vision among the IIC’s members of developing the public land leaders of tomorrow, gives students opportunities that tie them professionally to the outdoors. Its charge of “matching the needs of state and federal land and resource management agencies with university students seeking meaningful land management opportunities” yields benefits for participants on all sides.

“The experience they get makes them very competitive,” added Eastep, who is encouraged by the success of past students and optimistic that the trend will continue.

For more information on the Intergovernmental Internship Cooperative or the Outdoor Engagement Center, be sure to attend SUU’s Public Lands Employment Day on January 15 or visit suu.edu/outdoor.

---

Contact Information:

435-586-5400
Contact the Office of Marketing Communication