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UNI’s interaction with the Des Moines-based company, The Principal Financial Group®, is the very model for future partnerships between education and business. It is a high-quality, functional connection that provides UNI students with internships and scholarships and creates an experienced application pool for The Principal® and other national and international companies. 
In October, more than 50 UNI students, faculty and staff members traveled to Des Moines to learn more about The Principal and its intern and employment opportunities. The event was a collaborative effort between UNI and The Principal Human Resources-Employment Department to create networking opportunities with The Principal employees, strengthen educational programs and discuss future possibilities. “More than 90 percent of UNI students are from Iowa. Seventy percent of UNI graduates stay in Iowa. The Principal is one of the largest employers in Iowa,” said Farzad Moussavi, dean of the College of Business Administration. “It only makes sense for the two of us to talk. We have a commitment to the state and to corporations like The Principal to provide educated students for the workforce.” Valued Intern at The Principal (VIP) scholar Eric Coborn said his experience at The Principal was perfect preparation for life after graduation. “I did things that made me feel like I was part of the team, like I was needed,” he said about his seven-month internship. “Every day was like going to school and learning new things. It was pretty intense.” In 2005, 13 UNI students received cooperative education credits while working at The Principal Financial Group and Principal Global Investors. 
Al Stamberg, director of the UNI Cooperative Education/Internship Program, said an internship with The Principal builds confidence and enhances a student’s abilities in the classroom. It ultimately strengthens a student's résumé regardless of where the student ends up working. “These strategic partnerships are as important for UNI as they are for corporations and nations. What begins as a ‘touch point’ can develop mentoring opportunities for students, research projects for the classroom, and a better understanding by faculty of how businesses apply classroom theories,” he said. In return, The Principal gets talented interns, which allows more effective use of full-time staff. “We have so many UNI alumni working here that it's a nice networking connection when you come to work or do an internship,” said Kevin Krause (’83), assistant finance director for Principal International and UNI Accounting Advisory Board member.”Knowing people from UNI made my transition easier when I started here 10 years ago.”  UNI graduates employed at The Principal believe their education gave them a strong foundation for their careers and they value interns and employees who come from their alma mater. “I would characterize people from UNI as well-rounded with a very good work ethic,” said Gary Scholten (’80), chief information officer at The Principal. “Many UNI grads have another minor or major, which makes them more effective employees. The combination is a good benefit.” Patti Van Thomme (’77), second vice president of administrative services at The Principal, has served on the UNI Management Advisory Board and has seen a steady increase in UNI graduates coming to work at The Principal. She said the mutual benefits are obvious. Van Thomme added, “We, like other employers, are interested in recruiting the best and the brightest. We’re trying to attract and retain top talent. UNI wants to show current and potential students that if they come to UNI they will have top career opportunities.”  
Brianne Schutte, a UNI senior and intern at The Principal since August, said, “I’ve grown a lot from this internship. It's not about putting the interns in a job where the company needs them. It’s about putting them somewhere they'll enjoy and grow personally and professionally.” For intern Katie Gambell the lessons go far beyond the classroom, and any sacrifices to fit the internship into her schedule are worth it. “Students should be open to new experiences,” said Gambell, a senior. “It might delay graduation, but it gives you an edge over every other applicant out there.” |
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