CM Wins in International Competition
Mar 9, 2023
Cal Poly Construction Management Students Win First, Third Place in International Competition
Cal Poly’s construction management (CM) students showcased their competitive prowess worldwide, winning first- and third-place awards at the Associated Schools of Competition (ASC) Region 8 International Student Competition, held Nov. 10-11, 2022, at the Czech Technical University in Prague, the Czech Republic.
Five Cal Poly students representing two teams placed in the competition’s two tracks. Both teams were joined by students from the Czech Technical University (CTU). Cal Poly team members Evan Cheung and Nick Fregulia, both seniors, and two Czech students won first place in the CM/QS (Estimating) category. Seniors Sam Wong, Thomas Camargo and Robert Dasch and three CTU students took third place in the International Design/Build category.
Region 8 is the European-based arm of the ASC, the professional association for the development and advancement of construction education. The Region 8 competition connects construction students from all over the world and challenges them to adapt to the differences between European and American construction.
For the 2022 competition, 15 universities competed -- eight from the United States, five from the United Kingdom, one from Ireland and one from the Czech Republic.
Cal Poly has been competing in the international competition since 2015. This is the first time Cal Poly students took home first place in the CM/QS category. Last year, Cal Poly won first place in the Design Build category.
“One of the great joys of the competition was introducing the students to an international forum in Prague,” said CM Professor Lonny Simonian, faculty advisor who accompanied the students.
For the Design-Build competition, the student’s assignment included a design and build scope for a new senior citizen center to be constructed on an existing brownfield site in an urban area. Students were required to develop a fast-track execution strategy for delivering a new apartment building that would entirely replace the existing retirement home.
For the CM/QS competition, the students’ project focused on the planning and preparation from a developer’s perspective.
The most challenging part of the CM/QS category competition, according to Cheung, was that the problem focused on a residential development within Prague. “We had to utilize the metric system as well as the Czech currency for our budgets,” he said.
Cheung has competed in regional ASC competitions, but this was his first time competing in the international contest. “I was excited to compete and represent Cal Poly CM in Prague,” he said. “I had never been to the Czech Republic, and I was looking forward to the opportunity to compete against other prestigious universities from other countries. My favorite part of the competition was presenting our solutions, including projected revenues, redistribution of flat-mixes, and sustainability and technology concepts to a panelist of judges.”
Cheung was “ecstatic” when he learned that the Cal Poly-CTU team had won. “I felt proud of the team and especially our Czech counterparts who did very well in the presentation despite English not being their first language,” he said. “I felt a sense of gratitude toward my Cal Poly teammate Nick Fregulia, as well as our advisor Lonny Simonian and the Construction Management Department for giving us the opportunity to travel abroad and compete in international construction competitions.”
Cal Poly Construction Management students are encouraged to compete in competitions as a means to enhance Learn by Doing. “We students are thrown into high-pressure situations in which we need to submit deliverables to solve construction problems,” Cheung explained. “This allows us to experience real-world situations in whih we need to act quickly and efficiently to develop solutions.”
Simonian was equally proud of the students. “All the students did great, as affirmed by their first and third placement,” Simonian said. “Participation in these international, industry-sponsored competitions offers students a great opportunity for personal and professional development and enables them to showcase their ideas in front of employers, academics and fellow teams.
“In addition, the construction industry is becoming more global, and this venue provides them the opportunity to see the industry from an international perspective.”
Simonian is looking forward to advising and accompanying the students to Dublin, Ireland, November 8-10 for the 2023 international competition.
ASC 6&7 2023 Win
Mar 8, 2023
Contact: Jeong Woo
805-756-5493; jwoo21@calpoly.edu
Cal Poly Interdisciplinary Student Teams Sweep Regional Competition
SAN LUIS OBISPO – Eleven Cal Poly student teams brought home first, second or third place trophies in their respective categories at the 2023 Associated Schools of Construction (ASC) Region 6 and 7 Competition, held Feb. 8-11, in Sparks, Nevada.
The teams, which included students in construction management (CM), civil engineering, architectural engineering and architecture, won four first-place awards, six second-place awards and one third-place award.
“This is the best record since we started competing in this competition in 1988,” said CM Department Head Jeong Woo. “The results of this competition show the power of Learn by Doing together. A special shout out to all coaches who paved the way to our students’ success, and thank you to all sponsors and mentors who provided financial support and professional guidance for all of our students.”
The annual competition attracts teams from the Rocky Mountain region of Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah, as well as teams from the Far West region, including California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington. Only students in regions 6 and 7 can compete in the Heavy Civil, Commercial, Mixed-Use and Design Build categories; however, students in any region are eligible to compete in the open competitions, which include Mechanical, Virtual Design and Construction, Sustainable Building, Preconstruction, Project Management, Electrical and Concrete Solutions.
This year Cal Poly’s teams competed against 1,613 students on 217 teams from more than 57 U.S. universities, including Arizona State University, Colorado State University, Milwaukee School of Engineering, Stanford, Texas A&M, UC Berkeley and UC Davis, and as well as students from the California State University campuses of Chico, Sacramento, and Pomona.
The competition is fast-paced and highly charged. Teams are presented with problem statement materials generated by their team sponsors, some of the industry’s top firms. The materials represent the entire problem statement and scope of work. Each team must adhere to the specific time frames, deadlines, schedules, locations and conditions set forth in the problem.
“None of us students can thank the Cal Poly CM faculty enough for their dedication to their students and the overall success of the program,” said recent Cal Poly CM graduate Brayden Groshart, an incoming project engineer intern at Largo Concrete. “From the practice presentations to the jobsite visits, the department has always provided us with everything that we need to be prepared for the industry. I’m glad we could bring home some hardware this year.”
Garrett Henley, a project manager at Henley & Co., added, “Congratulations! The continued excellence is testament to the program, its students and the faculty. Way to go!”
Below are the categories in which Cal Poly placed first, second or third in the 2023 ASC Region 6 & 7 Student Competition:
Heavy Civil – Cal Poly, first; Cal State Chico, second; Cal State Long Beach, third.
Commercial, Washington State one first; Cal Poly, second; Cal State Chico, third.
Mixed Use – Cal Poly, first; Cal State Sacramento, second; Oregon State University, third.
Design Build – Cal Poly Pomona, first; Cal Poly, second; Cal State, Chico, third.
Integrated Project – Stanford, first; Cal Poly, second; University of Denver, third.
Mechanical – Cal State, Chico; Cal Poly, second; Texas A&M, third.
Virtual Design and Construction – Cal State Sacramento, first; Cal Poly, second; Roger Williams University, third.
Sustainable Building – UC Berkeley, first; UC Davis, second; Cal Poly, third.
Preconstruction – Cal Poly, first; Colorado State University, second; Cal Poly Pomona, third.
Project Management – Cal Poly, first; Boise State, second; UC Berkeley, third.
Electrical – Milwaukee School of Engineering, first; Cal Poly, second; Ferris State University, third.
For the full list of university competitors and winners, go to https://www.asc67.org/.
About Cal Poly’s Construction Management Department
The Construction Management Department at Cal Poly is a tightknit group of faculty and staff working to provide its students the best possible education and the help they need to progress to graduation. Its graduates are ready to tackle the challenges they find in the professional world. Students take a variety of classes, join one or more of our professional student organizations and frequently intern with one of the many companies that visit the campus over the course of each year. Upon graduation, the department has virtually 100% placement in the construction industry.
About Associated Schools of Construction-
The Associated Schools of Construction is the professional association for the development and advancement of construction education, where the sharing of ideas and knowledge inspires, guides and promotes excellence in curricula, teaching, research and service.
Construction Innovator Spring 2022 Edition
Aug 30, 2022
The latest edition of the Construction Innovator has been printed and should have already hit your mailboxes. If you did not receive a hard copy, and would like to, please e-mail Jenay Reynolds-Sibbach at jreyno00@calpoly.edu. Otherwise you can view the digital copy here.
Ed Boucher Selected as Director of the Granite Heavy Civil Minor Program
Aug 31, 2021
Faculty member Ed Boucher, who has taught full time in the Construction Management (CM) Department and part-time in the Civil Engineering (CE) Department since 2017, was selected director of the Granite Heavy Civil minor program, a joint venture between the two departments.
The program is designed to better prepare students for an evolving industry that combines elements of design and construction. The minor was established in 2019 through an endowment created with donations from Granite Construction, Caterpillar, and Beavers Charitable Foundation. The endowment covers, in perpetuity, the costs of a joint CE and CM director with funding to support scholarships for women and underrepresented students in construction.
The program, which admitted 52 students in its first two cohorts, teaches CM students about heavy civil engineering fundamentals, and CE students have access to more construction management classes.
Boucher served on the committee that developed the Granite Heavy Civil minor. As director, he will teach in both the CM and CE departments while also being responsible for the administration and sustainability of the Granite Heavy Civil minor program, including recruiting and advising students, overseeing budget administration, fundraising, implementing program improvements, interfacing with industry, coaching team competitions, and developing two new courses.
The heavy workload does not intimidate Boucher, a self-described “construction guy.”
“I have passion for aiding student development and growth as construction professionals,” he said. “I also have passion and strong knowledge of the heavy civil sector of the construction industry as I spent 44 years in heavy construction before “retiring” in 2018. Additionally, I want to aid the university and promote student interest in the heavy civil field.”
Boucher wants to grow the program.
“Improvements will be iterative and ongoing,” he said. “Growth will be based on input from students, sponsors and the Granite Heavy Civil Minor Industry Advisory Board. My interface with industry is critical. The program needs to understand what industry desires of their new employees and to adequately prepare the students in the program for success.”
Construction Management Students Win First Place at Statewide Competition
Jun 3, 2021
Top Left: Marco De Zordo, Jonathan Lin, Carson Ernst
Middle Left: Brett Jones, Mason Heinse, Brent Underwood
Bottom Left: Coach Joe Cleary, Gus Coluccio, Coach Paul Redden
SAN LUIS OBISPO – A team of eight Cal Poly construction management students won first place and $7,500 at the CPMCA Student Competition, hosted by the California Plumbing and Mechanical Contractors Association (CPMCA).
The contest, held virtually, was CPMCA’s inaugural competition. It was open to university teams across the U.S. that have construction management and construction engineering programs with student MCA chapters.
It tasked students with simulating a mechanical contractor submitting a proposal to win a “tenant improvement build-out project” in West Los Angeles. The student teams were given from Feb. 25 until April 2 to submit their proposals.
“We were asked to provide a variety of prequalification data and project-specific information,” said team captain Carson Ernst, a third-year construction management major. “In essence, we’re to make the documents that a mechanical subcontractor would submit to an owner’s representative or general construction manager to bid on and win the project.”
The proposals were submitted, and the top three – Cal Poly, the University of Southern California and Central Washington University -- were judged by CPMCA member contractor representatives. The top teams then gave a live presentation to a mock client panel, which chose the winners.
The students’ proposals included project management plans for all plumbing, piping, HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning), controls, and any other work required to complete the project as described in the bid documents.
The teams were asked to propose a plan to perform the necessary work, including BIM coordination BIM (building information modeling) coordination to locate and correct clashes with other crafts before fabricating or installing piping or ductwork.
“The most unique thing about this competition was that we were partnered with two mechanical
industry advisors, whom we met with weekly to discuss issues we had encountered in creating our proposal,” Ernst said. “Our advisors were Joe Camacho of Murray Co. and Anthony Gomez from ACCO Engineered Systems. Having industry advisors with a reliable contact avenue made it incredibly easy to get real-world answers to our questions and improve our subject matter knowledge.
Cal Poly’s team, advised by construction management faculty members Joe Cleary and Paul Redden, included six team members and two alternatives.
“The six team members spoke during the final presentation; however, all members assisted in created the proposal, which got us to the final three,” Ernst said.
In addition to Ernst, team members included fourth-year students Jonathan Lin and Brent Underwood; third-year students Marco DeZordo, Mason Heinse and Brett Jones. Second-year student Gus Coluccio and fourth-year student Heilam Wu served as alternates.
Clayco Donates 16 Laptops to Aid Construction Management Students in Need at Cal Poly
Apr 22, 2021
SAN LUIS OBISPO – Clayco, a full-service design-build and construction firm headquartered in Chicago, has donated 16 laptops to aid Cal Poly construction management students in need.
This gift of the Dell 5500 series computers was made possible, thanks to efforts by Clayco Vice President and Chief Technology Officer Tomislav Žigo, who is passionate about promoting construction innovation and investing in future leaders in the construction industry.
Žigo has been implementing and using digital technology as a designer, builder, educator and researcher.
“We were eager to jump in and support Cal Poly construction management students,” Žigo said. “We especially wanted to support students in need during the pandemic so they would not be limited by access to campus computer labs. During these challenging times, it is more important than ever to help the most vulnerable students stay in school, earn their degrees, and build a better future for themselves and our communities.”
Construction Management Department Head Jeong Woo added, “We realize that some of our students don't have laptops that can run basic construction software such as Bluebeam, AutoCAD, Revit and Navisworks. This laptop support will help the students to better focus their attention on their academic success.
“We are indebted to Tomislav, as well as to Clayco’s Todd Finders, chief information officer; Frank May, vice president of recruiting; and Birttany Emmons, recruiting coordinator,” Woo continued.
Clayco is one of the newest members of CMAC (Construction Management Advisory Committee), which now has 170 members dedicated to increasing alumni involvement and strengthening student engagement with the Cal Poly Construction Management Department and industry practitioners.
About Clayco
Clayco, headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, is a full-service, real estate, architecture, engineering, design-build and construction firm known to deliver high-quality solutions to clients across North America. Founded in 1984, Clayco has revolutionized the design-build process, dramatically set new standards for collaborative design, construction quality and craftsmanship, efficient project management, cost containment and jobsite safety. With more than 2,600 employees across the country, it is one of the nation’s largest privately owned real estate, architecture, engineering, design-build and construction firms. It provides fast-track, efficient solutions for commercial, institutional, industrial and residential building projects. Year after year, Engineering News Record ranks Clayco as a top design-builder and contractor.
About Cal Poly’s Construction Management Department
The Construction Management Department at Cal Poly is a tight knit group of faculty and staff working to provide its students the best possible education so that when they leave Cal Poly, they are ready to tackle the challenges they will encounter in the professional world. Students take a variety of classes, join one or more of our professional student organizations, and frequently intern with one of the many companies that visit the campus over the course of each year. Upon graduation, the department has virtually 100% placement in the construction industry.
International Student Competition Team Places Second
Feb 26, 2021
Top Row L-R: Itzell Ruiz, Samuel Wong, Professor Lonny Simonian,
Middle Row L-R: Tadeáš Zahradník, Anna Karbanová, Ing. Martin Čásenský
Bottom Row L-R: Madison Lightfoot, Barbora Macková
Cal Poly Construction Management students joined with students from Czech Technical University to compete in the Associated Schools of Construction International competition this February 19-22, 2021.
Three students from each university formed the Design-Build team whose problem focused on the Deadwood at Main complex in Dallas, TX. The competition took place over the weekend, so students worked on it in their free time and thanks to the time difference between Prague and Oklahoma, which is 7 hours, mostly at night. After the submission of the final report, on Monday, February 22, in the evening, an online presentation and defense before a professional jury took place. At midnight of the 22nd (Prague time), the team found out that their hard work had earned them second place.
"Cal Poly and the Czech Technical University, Prague, only had a short amount of time to assemble a combined team. The students learned to quickly work together, identifying areas of strength, roles, and responsibilities. Their project submittal, and presentation, were warmly received, earning them a second-place finish in the Design-Build competition; a first entry by either university in this ASC region," says Cal Poly Professor Lonny Simonian.
"I believe that an equally significant benefit in addition to the location was that our students had the opportunity to work in international teams, where representatives of various specializations, such as construction management, architects and the like, also had to agree on work. Compared to the past, a new experience has been added, namely working online, where half of the team was in various places in the Czech Republic and the rest in the USA. This allowed them to acquire new work habits, as well as possible important contacts for their future practice. In particular, the style of online cooperation will obviously become more important in the near future, "says Ing. Martin Čásenský, CSc.,faculty of Civil Engineering of the Czech Technical University.
CM Students Capture Historical Win at Regional Competition
Feb 24, 2021
Top Left to Right are: Evan Tookey, Shaina Suanico, Lizette Galvez
Bottom Left to Right are: Sophie Stewart, Skylar Schrank, and Josh De Mattei
Feb 18, 2021
SAN LUIS OBISPO — Cal Poly students brought home 11 trophies from this year’s annual Associated Schools of Construction Region 6 and 7 Student Competition, breaking their historical record set just last year when they won 10 awards, including six first-place trophies.
This year 11 of Cal Poly’s 14 teams finished in the top three spots, including 10 trophies won by architectural engineering (ARCE), architecture (ARCH), and construction management (CM) students, and one trophy by civil engineering students. Four Cal Poly teams placed first, including three Construction Management Department teams — Project Management, Electrical and Mixed-Use teams — and the Virtual Design and Construction Team from the Civil Engineering Department.
Cal Poly teams were made up of nearly an equal number of women and men. The university earned nearly three times the number of trophies than its closest competitor, Idaho’s Boise State.
The annual competition attracted nearly 1,100 students competing on 152 teams from 18 states representing 47 universities, including Brigham Young, UC Los Angeles, UC Berkeley, Stanford, the University of Southern California and the U.S. Air Force Academy.
In addition to the four top-place finishes, Cal Poly’s Commercial, Design Build, Integrated Project, Sustainable Building, Preconstruction and Concrete Solutions teams took second place. A second Cal Poly Virtual Design and Construction team placed third.
Senior Dara Lin, who is majoring in construction management and architecture, participated with the Integrated Project Design team, which earned a second place in the graduate division. The team included all new members. “Our hard work paid off,” said Lin, of Boston. “Although we hadn't participated in the ASC competition before and the format was all virtual, we were able to collaborate effectively, and I’m proud of what the team was able to achieve."
Construction Management Department Head Jeong Woo added, “Our teams’ outstanding results tell a great deal about student quality, faculty dedication and the excellence of Learn by Doing.”
The 2021 event marked the ASC’s 34th annual competition, held virtually Feb. 3-6.
Cal Poly construction management students have been participating in the competition since its inception.
The student teams spend months preparing for the competition, working under the guidance of faculty coaches and team sponsors, many of whom are Cal Poly alumni. Because it was held virtually this year, students had to prepare quite differently. For the first time in the competition’s history, students were not allowed access to labs and rooms for practice runs.
“We prepared, practiced and expected the unexpected,” said Electrical Team member Amanda Schrader of Huntington Beach. “Ultimately what it came down to was our team collaboration, determination and work ethic. It was an incredible opportunity for all of us. Our biggest takeaway is that team moral and dedication will always be a strong suit in the industry.”
Twelve individual team sponsors mentored them and helped pay for team shirts, new computers and other supplies. Cupertino Electric and Nibbi Brothers provided virtual collaboration tools for all dozen teams.
“The sponsorships were instrumental in helping us shift to a virtual work environment. Our students could not do this without the continued financial support and mentoring of our generous sponsors,” Woo said. “Our student teams, their coaches and I really appreciate all their dedicated help.”
The Heavy-Civil and Mechanical teams did not place; they were supported by McGuire & Hester and Dome Construction, respectively.
Cal Poly’s winning teams are:
First Place
- Electrical Team Members: CM students Connor Avrit of Orland; Morgan Gawle of Emerald Hills; Braden Hotra of Huntington Beach; Miriam Robles of Templeton; Amanda Schrader of Huntington Beach; James Ziebell of Marina; and alternates Heather Sailor of Morgan Hill; and Allison Wild of Rohnert Park.
Sponsored by Sprig Electrical.
- Mixed-Use Team Members: CM students Jacob Clark of Placentia; Keagan Coyne of Newport Beach; Sebastian Froman of Santa Rosa; Ashley Isla of Salinas; Ryan Proctor of San Ramon; Chloe Riddlespurger of Solano Beach; and alternates Jake O’Balle of Moraga; and Anna Knutson of Danville.
Sponsored by Holland Construction Inc.
- Project Management Team Members: CM students Makenna Gitchell of Santa Maria; Sophie Harrington of Pleasant Hill; Collin Martin of San Rafael; Reagan Milligan of San Jose; Molly Pryde of Castro Valley; Alex Trujillo of San Marcos; and alternates Christian Blevins of Antioch; and Jonah Kim of Aliso Viejo.
Sponsored by Blach Construction.
- Virtual Design and Construction: Civil engineering students Sergio Beltran of El Centro; Casey Boyle of Roseville; Ingrid Chan of San Bruno; Serina Feng of Elk Grove; Esmeralda Cruz Pacheco of Santa Maria; and Andy Sazima of Granite Bay.
Second Place
- Commercial Team Members: CM students Josh De Mattei of Monte Sereno; Liz Galvez of Somis; Skylar Schrank of Orange; Sophie Stewart of South Lake Tahoe; Shaina Suanico of Chula Vista; Evan Tookey of Torrance; and alternates Dylan Barrett of Walnut Creek; and Joseph Miller of San Luis Obispo.
Sponsored by XL Construction.
- Concrete Solutions Team Members: CM students Grace Brekke of Oakland; Peter Finocchio of Los Gatos; Thomas Rogers of San Jose; Jackson Thomas of Pleasant Hill; Sterling Treloar of Silverado; ARCE student Jack Radovan of Santa Cruz; and CM student alternates Jenny Knickerbocker; and Sierra Williamson, both of San Diego.
Sponsored by BuildGroup.
- Design Build Team Members: CM students Ellis Fryer of Los Osos; Sydney Sitton of Huntington Beach; Greta Stout of San Anselmo; Luke Terrio of Bakersfield; ARCE student John Leone of San Diego; ARCH student Zack Pasma of Niwot, Colorado; and CM student alternates Catie Dines of San Diego; and Michaela Denny of Fallbrook.
Sponsored by XL Construction.
- Integrated Project Team Members: ARCH students Joyce Huang Ooi of Santa Clara; Ashley Pang of Honolulu; Ezra Zuidema of Anaheim; dual ARCH and CM major Dara Lin of Boston; CM students Kiana Dehpanah of Morgan Hill; and Samuel Wong of Santa Rosa; and ARCH student alternate Rafael Gali of San Jose.
Sponsored by Pankow.
- Preconstruction Team Members: CM students Molly Bobrovitch of Morago; Kyra Glaus of Solvang; Connor Morinini of Santa Maria; Ryan Nielsen of El Dorado Hills; Shay O’Laughlin of Cardiff; Jane Runte of Penryn; and alternates Kieran Barker of Fairfield, Connecticut; and Jack Sampson of Santa Ana.
Sponsored by SC Builders.
- Sustainable Building Team Members: CM students Bradley Burfield of Redwood City; Bella Crafton of Costa Mesa; James Foad of Cameron Park; Hailey Lancaster of San Mateo; Danielle Moody of San Diego; Madeleine Zetterquist of San Jose; and alternates Jaqueline Badal of Danville; and Oliver Leograndis of Corte Madera.
Sponsored by Level 10 Construction.
Third Place
Virtual Design and Construction Team Members: CM students Kyle Bresnahan of Long Beach; Sydnee Greer of Granite Bay; Jared Jacobs of Sammamish, Washington; Allen Le of Lakewood; Carter Melick of Mercer Island, Washington; ARCE student Joshua Shockey of Chino Hills; and CM student alternates Nathan Giannini of Granite Bay; and Cooper Strong of Fort Collins, Colorado.
Sponsored by Snyder Langston.
CM Magazine - New Edition Fall 2020
Dec 17, 2020
The latest edition of Construction Innovator is out and headed to your mailbox. If you can't wait to read it, check out the on-line edition. Just click the below picture to download the pdf.
What to Do When an Internship Goes Virtual
Jul 29, 2020
What does it take to ace a summer internship during a pandemic? A journal, good lighting and a whole lot of humanity.
For many Cal Poly students, summer internships usually mean a chance to test their skills in a professional workplace, network with seasoned professionals and maybe even try living in a new city. But in the face of the coronavirus, these internships and co-ops are presenting a new set of challenges for future professionals to tackle.
Lauryn Westgarth interns for EY from home. Courtesy of Lauryn Westgarth.
Lauryn Westgarth, a business administration senior, is one of many Cal Poly students taking on a professional internship remotely this summer due to COVID-19. She navigates an audit internship with accounting firm EY from the comfort of her sunlit bedroom in San Luis Obispo. Each day is a mesh of Zoom calls, new tasks and professional development curriculum.
For a future accountant like her, the third-year internship is an essential step in landing a full time offer in the fall. She’s not alone: roughly 12% of Cal Poly undergraduates use internships to find employment, according to the most recent Graduate Status Report.
Cal Poly Career Services estimates that about 70% of internships are still happening despite the pandemic, outside of hard-hit industries like entertainment and tourism. The majority of internships that continued have gone virtual. And those co-ops often have abbreviated timelines — work that would have lasted two or three months is now taking place across three or four weeks.
Travis Raynaud, career counselor in Career Services, has talked to students about how to make the most of an internship that has taken such a different shape. He says the remote work format can be a plus, empowering some to broaden their network within a company.
“Individuals who you historically wouldn’t have access to because they’re not on site, now you’re part of their network and part of their team, so it’s easier for you to have those coffee chats or virtual chats,” said Raynaud. He encourages students to conduct informational interviews to understand a professional’s career path, their work routine, and how their role has changed since stay-at-home orders were issued.
Raynaud also advises students to thoroughly document their tasks, skills and successes. A written record can help students remember specific accomplishments and better determine if they enjoyed their experience.
“When you’re on site, it’s a lot easier for your internship supervisor to see the work that you’re doing because you’re there together, but it’s a little harder virtually,” says Raynaud. “We’ve talked to students about a digital portfolio, an excel spreadsheet or just a simple journal they’re keeping, just to keep record of all the things that they’re completing.”
Westgarth, who is about half way through her condensed four-week accounting internship, is reveling in the chance to work during auditing’s “busy season” with a client that completed its fiscal year at the end of June. She connects daily with a supervisor and navigates a handful of different tasks before logging off for the evening.
“The tasks are always pretty different and involve learning something entirely new,” she Westgarth. “It's fun to see all the things I've learned about in class in real life.”
While she regrets missing her chance to live in San Francisco for the first time, she stays energized by connecting with fellow interns over lunchtime Zooms and learning directly from her supervisor.
“The individuals who most successfully navigate the transition from in person to virtual, [they] will stand out as the most adaptable and flexible, therefore the strongest candidates for full time positions,” says Raynaud.
Marisa Martineau, an architecture senior, has some advice for her fellow virtual interns. She dove into remote work creating renderings for Fougeron Architects in the spring, just after the COVID-19 pandemic emptied many offices.
Martineau landed the opportunity by reaching out the firm, where she worked last year, because she was concerned about her colleagues.
“When you’re trying to network, reach out to people not just when you need something, but to reach out and kind of check in to [maintain] that relationship,” she said. “You can show concern and show caring.”
She also advises eager students to establish strong, clear communication habits in the transition to working from a distance.
“Work is about communication, especially now that we work virtually,” she says. “Don’t expect someone to read between the lines, and don’t read between the lines [yourself].”
She also suggests that students pay attention to their at-home work space to enhance productivity.
