Opportunities for Employers to Work with UH Graphic Communications Technology Students and Graduates
Internships
Students completing a degree plan specializing in Graphic Communications Technology are required to serve an internship. The internship must relate to graphic communications technology.
Students first propose an internship theme to their advisor. Then, a match is made between the student and a suitable mentor. For example, if a student were interested in increasing his or her knowledge of customer service in printing and publishing, a match would be made between the student and a mentor willing to share his or her knowledge about customer service.
Internships require a minimum of 135 hours of documented experience. These hours may be completed by averaging nine hours per week during the spring semester or may be condensed into a summer semester by averaging more hours per week.
Benefits to Employers
By cooperating with the University of Houston Graphic Communications Technology Internship Program, mentors and sponsoring employers have the opportunity to work with enthusiastic and dedicated young people who have demonstrated an interest in the printing and publishing industry. Mentors can “mold” young people to their business cultures and processes during a semester-long internship. However, soon-to-be graduates may have different perspectives—and solve problems differently—than more seasoned industry veterans. These new perspectives are often beneficial to employers.
In addition, during a semester-long internship mentors can gain in-depth knowledge of an individual’s interests, skills, talents, and goals. This knowledge can then be the basis of a well-considered hire, should the mentor so choose, at the end of the semester. Generally, most employers traditionally hire their interns for full time jobs at the end of the semester.
Internships may be either paid or unpaid depending upon the needs of the student and mentor.
Benefits to Students
In addition to gaining real-world experience that is so important for a recent graduate’s resume, students gain a professional network and friendships that are essential for success in the 21st century printing and publishing industry.
Mentor’s Responsibilities
Mentors and sponsoring companies are responsible for providing opportunities for interns to meet the goals of the internship theme they originally discussed with their academic advisor. Tasks that are related to the student’s theme and add value to his or her career ambitions should be provided and supervised by the mentor. Mentors should meet frequently with interns and provide insight and guidance so that assigned tasks can be completed well and on time.
Mentors are also responsible for completing an evaluation form for the intern at the end of the semester. Blank copies of the form are available here: InternEvalByEmployer.pdf. Completed hard-copy forms must be mailed (no e-mailed or faxed forms accepted) in sealed envelopes to:
Dr. Jerry Waite
Information and Logistics Technology Department
312 Technology Building
Houston, TX 77204-4023
Intern’s Responsibilities
The intern’s responsibilities are listed at www.graphics.tech.uh.edu/courses/4396/
To Offer Your Services as an Internship Mentor or Sponsoring Employer
Please e-mail Dr. Jerry Waite at jwaite@uh.edu. Inform Dr. Waite about your company (a link to your company’s website is recommended) and suggest possible areas of endeavor in which you could support interns (prepress, design, job planning, customer service, sales, estimating, production management, and so forth).
Availability of Interns
Internships are generally completed during the Spring (January through May) and Summer (June through August) Semesters. Interested mentors or sponsoring employers should request interns for the Spring Semester in January or February. Summer interns should be requested in March or April.
Historically, there are usually more internship opportunities available each semester than students who need to complete internships. Therefore, interested mentors and sponsoring employers should contact Dr. Waite as soon as possible.
Hiring a Graphic Communications Technology Graduate
Employers who wish to develop a full-time and long-term relationship with an enthusiastic young person who has demonstrated an interested in printing and publishing should consider hiring a University of Houston Graphic Communications Technology (GRTC) Graduate.
What UH Graphic Communications Technology Graduates Bring to the Table
GRTC students graduate with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Technology Leadership and Supervision (TELS). In addition to learning about Printing and Publishing, GRTC students complete a science- and math-intensive B.S. academic core as well as numerous business-management related courses. A sample degree plan, which lists courses that GRTC students will have completed, is available.
The TELS/GRTC program is a rigorous and intellectually-demanding degree that requires talent, intelligence, dedication, and commitment. In addition, graduates have demonstrated long-term interest in printing and publishing.
Most GRTC graduates will have completed an internship. This real-world experience adds to their employability.
GRTC students are taught in state-of-the-art labs using an all-digital workflow. Course content is reviewed on a regular basis by experts in the Printing and Publishing Industry who serve on the program’s advisory board
GRTC students will have completed at least two full years in printing and publishing-related courses. They know how to “walk the walk” as well as “talk the talk.”
Gaining Access to GRTC Students and Alumni
The GRTC program maintains a listserv of all current and many former students. Employers can announce job opportunities to members of this listerv by completing the form found at (link here!!!!) Note that jobs that are unrelated to printing and publishing will NOT be forwarded to the listserv.
Reputable printing companies (i.e., members of any Printing Industries of America affiliate or those who have shown strong support for the GRTC program) are welcome to visit campus and recruit senior-level students in small-group settings. This can be much more effective than participating in university career days because students in attendance are all students of printing and publishing and will all be near graduation. For information, please contact Dr. Jerry Waite at jwaite@uh.edu.
Timing of Job Interviews
Students graduate from the GRTC program in May, August, and December of each year.
There are almost always more employment opportunities than graduating seniors each semester. For this reason, it is suggested that employers use the job post form (link) in March, June, and October.
On-campus visits should be scheduled in February or September of each year by contacting Dr. Jerry Waite at jwaite@uh.edu.