The Lee University Department of Business, in conjunction with local branches of fortune 500 companies, and an international consulting group, created the Immersion program, providing an opportunity for students to work with national and international businesses in pivotal roles.
Dr. Guy DeLoach, professor of business at Lee, and Richard Appeldoorn, general manager of Merck’s consumer products division and part-time faculty at Lee, started the Immersion program in 2006 with one goal - to properly equip students for “real-world” situations through embedding them in problems faced by organizational leaders. According to Dr. DeLoach, the Immersion program is different from most internships due to its unique alliance with consultants and professors. Students work alongside these professionals, addressing key issues and problems of middle to upper management, whereas many internships work in elementary or beginning positions.
“Partnering with nonprofit and corporate businesses enables students to gain work experience in a real-life scenario,” said Dr. DeLoach. “Students are trained to perform in a corporate setting, acquiring unique skill sets in leadership, critical thinking and business principles. These acquired skill sets and experience are invaluable for students seeking employment upon graduation.”
The Immersion program participants begin the process with four to six weeks of specialized training in their selected project area and then continue onsite at the selected organization for the duration of the semester. In many cases, upon completion of the course, students are offered employment opportunities at the host company.
According to conservative estimates from corporate partners, the Immersion program has saved partners $3.7 million since its inception. Three hundred and forty-three Lee students have completed the program.
Corporate partners for Lee’s Immersion program include Olin, Whirlpool, Merck, Bayer, M&M Mars, Volkswagen, and Mayfield Dairy, Lonza and many others.
For more information about the Immersion program, or Lee University’s Department of Business, please call 614-8160.