Collaborative HBCU-USFWS Internship Program.

An internship program has been established between Bethune-Cookman University, a primarily undergraduate HBCU, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to enhance HBCU student success through four support areas: (1) application of Kolb's Model of Experiential learning. (2) development of transferable competencies and skills, (3) professional development, and (4) modifying internship experiences based on student constraints. The program was designed to enhance research collaborations between B-CU and USFWS to analyze at-risk species data, provide guidance and information, and contribute to the development of tools that inform decision-making for regional and national conservation priorities. This project will be an important opportunity for student engagement and a recruitment tool to attract and retain underrepresented students into USFWS-related careers. The internship framework, logistics and materials constructed between the two organizations, and data on student success will be presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]