Some students will not be able to interview for public sector internships and jobs this month due to the ongoing government shutdown.
The Workforce Recruitment Program at Ball State is a federal government program that helps student with disabilities find internships and jobs in both the private and government sector. The federal Department of Labor interviews students each fall and then places them in a database where companies can look at their information before deciding on an employee.
About eight or nine people apply every year, said Camille Mason, assistant director at the Career Center, and last year, half of the candidates for Ball State were given an internship or job. Mason also coordinates the WRP visit to Ball State.
Because of the shutdown, eight interviews that were originally scheduled for this month are postponed until the government reopens. Mason said this will extend the timeline for the interviews and will not impact the well being of the program in general.
Mason is not worried about the future of the program, despite its federal classification of nonessential.
“This program is here to stay,” Mason said. “There might be a positive spin to this. We might be able to incorporate more individuals the longer we wait.”
Regardless of the outcome of the shutdown, Mason said she sees the value in the program and would like the program to grow to 20 students in the future.
Larry Markle, director of Ball State’s Disability Services, agrees the program is positive for students.
“WRP is important because it’s a means for possible internships for college students with disabilities,” he said. “Not being able to have the WRP could impact students that may be good candidates for those internships.”
