Program Evaluation Intern (Center for Students in Recovery)
The Division of Student Affairs Internship Program
The Division of Student Affairs Internship Program allows students to spend a summer handling a special project for the university designed to prepare them for life after graduation. Interns will work 19 hours per week for 10-weeks. These part-time internship positions offer a competitive compensation package that includes an hourly wage and housing assistance. Undergraduate students are eligible to apply. The internship runs from June 1, 2020 to August 7, 2020. The application is due February 16, 2020.
Although internships range in subject matter and skill set, each position is designed to prepare all students for life after graduation. For this reason, each intern will submit various assessments relating to their development in the areas listed in the “What You’ll Learn” section below. These skills, otherwise referred to as the NACE career competencies, have been identified by higher education and corporate recruiting leaders as critical to a student’s career preparation.
Please contact utlei@austin.utexas.edu with questions.
*Undergraduate students must be enrolled in the Spring 2020 semester to be eligible.
The Office
The Center for Students in Recovery (CSR) provides a safe space and supportive community for students in recovery or seeking recovery from addiction. Students at any stage of recovery and at any point in their academic journeys are welcome. We help students plug into that community, provide sober social and service opportunities, and engage in outreach and education with the broader campus and off-campus community. Our work has four main ingredients that make it a special place: A community of students in recovery from addiction, recovery-supportive programming, a dedicated space, and committed people.
The Project
The intern will work closely with the CSR Director and Program Coordinator to assist in the gathering, organizing, and preliminary analysis of pre- and post-test data gathered as part of the Recovery Ally Training program. CSR has developed this training to describe the science of substance use disorders and recovery, demonstrate how to have a conversation with a person who seems to be struggling with substance use, and demonstrate how to express support for a student in recovery. In addition to the functions explained above, the intern will also help incorporate feedback into training materials for the next academic year, in conjunction with the existing trainers and program supervisors.
Program assessment/evaluation is an essential component of how we tell the story of CSR and the students that make up our community. Being able to communicate who we are, what we do, why we matter, in response to population data, expands our reach and helps us support our campus' students in recovery. By doing a deep evaluation of the CSR Recovery Ally Training, CSR will be able to make adjustments and/or expand our ally program so that we are able to reach campus partners and groups in more meaningful ways, and in doing so better support individuals in recovery from substance use disorder.
The Supervisor
Larkin Cummings, Director of Center for Students in Recovery
Things You’ll Do
- Collect, organize, and compile reports from data available in Qualtrics
- Provide preliminary descriptive statistics using Qualtrics data
- Articulate the relationship between the program goals and evaluation data
- Assess qualitative and quantitative data included in program evaluations and issue recommendations on ways to improve the program or program materials
- Assist in the creation and revision of program materials
- Assist in writing reports or articles related to the program outcomes
- Participate in all required Division of Student Affairs Internship Program cohort activities and assessments
What You’ll Learn
- Critical Thinking/Problem Solving: Exercise sound reasoning to analyze issues, make decisions, and overcome problems. The individual is able to obtain, interpret, and use knowledge, facts, and data in this process, and may demonstrate originality and inventiveness.
- Oral/Written Communications: Articulate thoughts and ideas clearly and effectively in written and oral forms to persons inside and outside of the organization. The individual has public speaking skills; is able to express ideas to others; and can write/edit memos, letters, and complex technical reports clearly and effectively.
- Teamwork/Collaboration: Build collaborative relationships with colleagues and students representing diverse cultures, races, ages, genders, religions, lifestyles, and viewpoints. The individual is able to work within a team structure, and can negotiate and manage conflict.
Who You Are (Preferred Qualifications)
- Interest in program evaluation and health or social programs
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail and accuracy
- Experience and/or ability to work and interact effectively with a diverse audience
- Must be a self-starter with an ability to work independently
- Previous coursework related to addiction or mental health preferred
- Some basic understanding of program evaluation or statistics preferred