Communication Arts and Sciences at Michigan State University

MSU Department Enlists 40 Volunteer Summer Interns to Support Child Abuse Prevention and Other Non-Profit Causes

By: Dr. Richard Cole

May 27, 2009

Forty (40) undergraduate students in Michigan State University's Department of Advertising, Public Relations, and Retailing programs (APRR) have accepted volunteer internships working in non-profit agencies as a result of efforts stimulated by the department's relationship with Michigan's Children's Trust Fund (CTF). The students, mostly undergraduates, will have "a unique opportunity to build their resumes with on-the-job communications projects designed to prevent child abuse and support other important community efforts," said Richard Cole, professor and chairperson of APRR. 

The project to place student interns in non-profit agencies is an outgrowth of the unique relationship between MSU and CTF, the foundation that serves as the state's child abuse-prevention agency.  In February 2009, APRR and Children's Trust Fund announced a comprehensive partnership designed to "conduct research on the effects of media on children, with an eye toward turning this information into new ways of protecting the state's children" said Cole.  "Our multi-year agreement combines the research skills and interests of university faculty and students with unique opportunities for student education and child abuse prevention outreach efforts."

Three MSU communication-related classes developed student-directed projects aimed at the prevention of child abuse during the most recent MSU semester.  Classes in social marketing, promotions and sponsorships, and integrated campaigning rely on clients, normally small to mid-sized businesses, to provide real-world marketing communication experiences.  At the conclusion of the spring semester classes, Nicole Marble, an APRR project manager and graduate student, inventoried students in these and other classes about their interest in spending part of their summer vacation helping the Children's Trust Fund and its local affiliates around the state get the word out on child abuse. "More than 100 students stepped up," said Marble who described the reaction as "too many students to fill the opportunities in child abuse prevention agencies."

Rather than disappoint these student volunteers, the MSU department and CTF jointly approached Michigan Non-Profit Association (MNA), a statewide coalition of more than 1,100 Michigan-based non-profit organizations.  Cole, a former volunteer board chair of MNA describes non-profit agencies as a perfect place for students to gain real-world marketing communication experience, and in some cases, "these volunteer assignments turn into full time jobs for young graduates," he said.

Five MSU students have accepted assignments as volunteers in CTF's Lansing offices housed within the state Department of Human Services.  Thirteen other students will help fight child abuse by working in local CTF affiliates around the state including Allegan, Grand Traverse, Ingham, Eaton, Clinton, Jackson, Lapeer, Midland, Monroe, Oakland, Washtenaw, and Wayne counties. 

The remaining students will be placed in MNA-affiliated agencies across Michigan. Placements include the Detroit Historical Society, Michigan Federation for Children and Families (Lansing), Grand Rapids Symphony, Brighton National Addiction Foundation, American Diabetes Association (Detroit), JARC (Farmington Hills), Gateway Counseling Center (Madison Heights), The Baldwin Center (Pontiac), Lansing's Lewton Elementary School, and American Red Cross (Lansing).  Lansing's Capitol Fundraising Associates also selected a student volunteer to help this private company support its fundraising efforts for nonprofit organizations.