What is the WorkLink at Penn State University all about?
Penn State University has a program called WorkLink. It is an on-campus, non-residential 2-year certificate program. WorkLink is fully integrated. It provides the opportunity for individuals with ID to participate in postsecondary experiences and education opportunities with their peers. This program was founded in 2018. Special education students receive the opportunity to participate in Penn State classes. Participants connect with Penn State volunteers to build both social and independent living skills. WorkLink was made possible by a grant from the D.R.E.A.M. foundation, support from the College of Education, and other project partners.
What is the goal?
The goal of WorkLink is to support students with ID to develop work and other life skills. Within the first year students orient to Penn State, focus on personal health and wellness, hone independent living skills, receive education in financial literacy, and engage in person-centered growth. All of this can lead to community-integrated, customized and/or competitive employment. Penn State is a potential employer for students who complete the program. However, heads of the program work with community partners and other employers as well to identify training sites and opportunities for students. The program aims to help students gain employment upon completion.
Penn State’s website states: “The best way to understand WorkLink is to meet our students, allies, and interns.” Individuals see improvement in enhanced socialization as a result of increased peer interactions and extracurricular opportunities. The website is a powerful testament to the success of WorkLink. Check out the videos and testimonial statements at Meet the WorkLink Students & Allies (psu.edu).
Outcomes for WorkLink students include:
- Integrated work experiences
- Career skills (competitive employment)
- Academic enrichment
- Access to postsecondary education (PSE) programs
- Socialization
- Independent living skills
- Financial literacy
- Self-advocacy skills
- Supervised internships
What are the standards?
WorkLink is based on the THINK College Standards. Quality indicators and benchmarks for inclusive higher education include the following:
Standard 1: Academic Access
Standard 2: Career Development
Standard 3: Campus Membership
Standard 4: Self-Determination
Standard 5: Alignment with College Systems and Practices
Standard 6: Coordination and Collaboration
Standard 7: Sustainability
Standard 8: Ongoing Evaluation
Not only is WorkLink a valuable program for people with ID, but there are also other ways to get involved. Below are both volunteer as well as intern possibilities with contact information.
Who are the volunteer allies?
Social Allies: are people who help students get to know Penn State, make friends, and find fun things to do. This includes things such as one-on-one times with students, or group meetings (ex: game nights, movie nights, lunch meetings, etc.), and walking students to their classes at the beginning of the semester until they are comfortable enough to do this on their own.
Academic Allies: Students take Penn State classes for audit and are paired with academic mentors for help with homework and studying. Mentors can also help in class if needed. Academic mentors will meet once a week with the student at a certain time and day that will remain the same throughout the whole semester.
Interested in volunteering? Contact Rosemary Schwoerer at rcs291@psu.edu.
What is the internship opportunity?
- Interns work 40 hours per week and are paid $10/hour. Interns may also receive academic credit for this experience.
- The WorkLink Intern has a variety of responsibilities that they manage throughout the semester, working closely with WorkLink faculty. These include:
- Coordinate the schedule for one-on-one and group meetings with the mentors and students.Keep a log for volunteer mentor hours.Manage the Teams page and store/upload important WorkLink information to it.Identify and advertise campus events for the students to attend.Host one-on-one meetings with each student to either work on homework or to socialize and do something fun.Prepare class activities to do with the students during class time each week and help teach each week’s lesson.Help students pick classes for next semester that align with their future job goals and things that they are interested in.
- Help students prep for jobs by working on resumes and practicing mock interviews. Provide assistance finding jobs the students would be interested in and are nearby. Help students look for internship opportunities that align with their future career goals.
Interested in an internship? Contact Rosemary Schwoerer at rcs291@psu.edu.
For more information and/or to contact WorkLink, here are the contact names and details. GET INVOLVED!
Allison Fleming
330 Cedar Building
University Park, PA 16802
apf5208@psu.edu
(814) 863-2285
Rosemary Schwoerer
113 Chambers Building
University Park, PA 16802
rcs291@psu.edu
Images used in this article were created in Canva non-profit.
