
The Ford Institute for Leadership in Public Policy and Service will establish a fund for its students interested in internships and other forms of experiential learning who demonstrate financial need.
With today’s dollar value, the endowed fund is expected to generate between $2,000 and $4,000 a year, helping two to four Ford students.
In late August, alumnus Dwayne Kratt, ‘89, created a committee for the fund and then reached out to other Ford alumni to contribute to it in light of the Ford Institute’s 40th anniversary. Over twenty-five alumni joined in what they hope will become the Albion College Advancement for Professional Career Development Fund.
Patrick McLean, director of Ford, thought that setting up a fund for students interested in internships but without the resources for them would be useful.
“I have been here for five years, and I am always concerned about how some students can easily do things on campus and off campus, and other students, especially for financial reasons, can’t do all of these things,” he said. “I don’t think that’s fair and right, and [I] want to find ways to level that playing field.”
McLean said that it is difficult for students with limited funds to take on summer internships in places such as Washington D.C. — as some students have the opportunity to do — if they were required to pay for transportation, food and tuition all without the time for an extra job.
All students enrolled in the Ford Institute are required to take a unit’s-worth of an internship, equating to 300 hours.
Patrick believes that the quickness in generating the fund is a testament to Ford’s experiences.
“I hear from alumni all the time about the positive experiences they had in Ford, and their interest in giving back to Ford,” he said.
Kratt’s goal is to raise $25,000 for the endowed fund by Oct. 5. The fund is expected to be offered next academic year.
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