Local Eastern Student Michael Calvo Interns at on-campus "Work Hub"

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Michael Calvo (left) interns at Eastern's Work Hub

WILLIMANTIC, CT (01/06/2012)(readMedia)-- Michael Calvo '12 of Mansfield has joined six other Eastern Connecticut State University students as paid interns in a new on-campus "work hub" that opened this past fall in Winthrop Hall. Calvo is majoring in mathematics and computer science.

The seven students are learning valuable skills in an internship setting, which features separate offices, computer terminals and technology, mentors, and other professional workplace resources as the students literally "go to work" for private and public sector organizations. Bloomfield-based insurance company Cigna is their first client.

With the help of Eastern's Information Technology Division, Cigna installed a separate, secure Internet circuit off Eastern's network with access limited to Cigna employees and the interns. After training at Cigna's corporate headquarters in Bloomfield, interns work within the corporate structure on campus under the guidance of a Cigna mentor on coding and technical requirements for the firm. Some of the interns have already been offered jobs seven months before graduation.

Students say the work is challenging, but is providing them with important practical skills they will be able to use in their careers. "It's a very valuable experience," said Calvo. "Writing production level code is a resume boost that is hard to find a comparison for. It's exciting to be using my degree and being counted on for my knowledge of my field. I contribute to something that tens, hundreds, thousands of people may use." Calvo has already been offered a position at Cigna after graduation.

CIGNA officials are thrilled with its first crop of Eastern students. "The internship has been a success," said Thomas Boisjolie, CIGNA recruitment manager. "We're both pleased and impressed with the talent and passion of these wonderful young people. CIGNA is looking for additional students to join the internship at the start of the Spring semester." Boisjolie said Eastern students lend solid hands in the company's day-to-day business, which gives CIGNA a chance to see just how hard Eastern students really work.

"The Work Hub brings the off-campus opportunity to the student," said Rhona Free, Eastern's vice president for academic affairs. "It provides valuable experience for our students, and creates connections with national and local organizations that can benefit the companies, the students and the university." Free says The Work Hub, will cover a wide range of academic disciplines and service offices. Students will do work in there for community organizations, small business, local non-profits, and corporations. The work can be as an intern or part of a class project or as part of a project through the Center for Community Engagement.

"With this initiative, we are creating a new paradigm, said Eastern president Elsa Nunez." "In our mission, we are committed to being an 'economic catalyst' for the local business community and the region, and our strategic plan calls for providing experiential learning opportunities to all students. This initiative meets both of those objectives."

"For students, The Work Hub opens up a greater variety of meaningful internships/co-ops projects that would not otherwise be possible," said Alex Citurs professor of business information systems and who has recruited four students for The Work Hub. "Some of the students do not have cars or simply cannot afford to commute to facilities. Also, many students are heavily involved on campus as resident hall assistants, student club officers, athletics, music groups, etc., and simply don't have the time to spend two hours a day commuting to a corporation's headquarter location on top of being a full-time student and/or working one or two part-time jobs."