Frequently Asked Questions for Community Partners

Q: What type of student can the Action Research Center bring to my organization?

Students from many different majors search for internships through the Action Research Center. Interns may be interested in the fields of marketing, social or community work, politics, public relations, law and many others. Students come from all years and backgrounds; no matter who you’re looking for, there is probably an IWU student for you.

Q: What would an Action Research Center IWU intern bring to my organization?

In addition to their personal skills and abilities, your intern will bring access to resources and tools available through ARC or Illinois Wesleyan. This includes software to create, distribute and analyze electronic surveys, access to databases of grant information, SPSS software to analyze statistics and data and campus facilities.

Q: What types of projects can ARC interns work on?

ARC interns’ interests are extremely varied, and their projects can be tailored to your organization’s needs and the interns’ skills. In the past, interns have conducted needs’ assessments and SWOT analyses, created HR and publicity information and strategic plans, conducted large-scale surveys and many other action research projects.

Q: How long will an intern be placed at my organization?

Students typically stay at an internship for a semester, which run September through Decemer and January through April. Students may also try to find a month-long internship during IWU’s May Term. However, there is no set timeline for ARC internships, so your organization and your intern can work out an individual schedule that works best.

Q: How can I get more information about whether my organization is a good fit for an Action Research Center partnership?

If you’re interested in working with the Action Research Center, contact Deborah Halperin for more information about how to get involved.