State Farm Community Partnership Program

State Farm is proud to offer an innovative opportunity to IWU and the local community.  Ten students and ten community not-for-profit agencies will be selected to participate in the Community Partnership program.  Students will work full-time in a split work week with three days at State Farm and two days in the community with a local not-for-profit completing major project assignments at both partners.  This extraordinary program demonstrates for emerging student leaders how for-profit and not-for-profit organizations can align to serve the shared community.  To act as a bridge, the IWU Action Research Center conducts a series of workshops to teach students useful tools and to assist with understanding the dynamics of community development.

The program launched in the summer of 2007 and was a great success:
    Every intern indicated that they would recommend the program to a friend
    Every intern said they would participate again if given the opportunity
    All students said the experience affected their long term academic/career goals
    State Farm managers were highly satisfied with their intern
    All interns were recommended for future employment consideration at State Farm
    All not-for-profits said they would be interested in having another IWU intern

We are currently inviting applications from students, not-for-profit organizations and State Farm departments to participate in the 2008 summer program.  Ten students will be selected to participate and will be placed with a State Farm Department and with a not-for-profit organization upon acceptance to the program.  All applications are reviewed by representatives from State Farm, IWU and a community representative.  We are seeking to piece together a puzzle that is the best fit for all partners.  We plan on finalizing placements by the end of the year.

This program overview is designed for both students and not-for-profit agencies.  It reviews the basic information about the program.  Please call with any questions you might have.  We hope you will consider participating in this very unique and rewarding endeavor.  We look forward to working with you as we launch another summer of the Community Partnership program.