The Intergovernmental Internship Cooperative (IIC) was initiated in 2007 between Southern Utah University and four local public land agencies to simplify and support internships and career development programs. The IIC connects SUU students with supervised work experiences at partner agencies, benefiting both by providing qualified student workers while preparing students for careers in public land management. The IIC has since expanded to involve multiple colleges and departments at SUU as well as additional state and federal agencies. It offers internships across various fields from accounting to zoology and aims to develop future public land leaders through these opportunities.

1. QUESTIONS
Seth Ohms
IIC Internship Coordinator
Utah Society for Range Management
Nov 6, 2014

2. WHAT IS IIC?
• Intergovernmental Internship Cooperative (IIC)
‘in-tərn-ship noun
• Short-term, supervised work experience, usually related
to a student’s major, for which the student earns credit.
 The centralized resource connecting SUU and
the public land agencies of southwestern Utah.
 Simplify & support internships, projects, and
programs.
 “Developing Tomorrow’s Public Land Leaders
Today” through career oriented opportunities.

3. IIC DEVELOPMENT
• Initiated in 2007 with SUU’s new Outdoor Recreation
Parks and Tourism Program (ORPT) in collaboration with
4 local Agency offices.
• Expanded University-wide in 2009 and has since
broadened Agency partnerships.

4. IIC DEVELOPMENT
Needs & Benefits – The Agencies
4. 2. 3. 1. Partnership Simplified Funding
Better qualified and with flexible and Community.
more process motivated to access part-qualified
time
a. workers.
workers
Reduced Interacting cost with to local hire workers
community
b. a. 1) Less Partnership Still training
able to pay with same a University
Agency rate
b. Less supervision
c. Less added motivation
d. More work completed
e. Higher quality of work completed
Bottom line is a more dedicated worker.
Human Resources effort greatly reduced in time and cost
Volunteers
b. Increased ability to access Agency funds that require a
1) Help meet Program objectives
community partnership.
c. b. Supporting Ability to choose youth the development
best/right applicants
c. Ability to develop interdisciplinary & interagency positions
d. Ability to develop long-term mentorship with students
c. Multi-year agreements encumber monies over fiscal years
1) Employment
2) Education
3) Stewardship
d. Collaboration with other area Agencies and Tribes

5. IIC DEVELOPMENT
Needs & Benefits – The University
1. 4. 3. Increased Partnership Funding
opportunities with Federal for Agencies.
Academic-relevant
2. Direct connection to Agency personnel.
career-development opportunities (Internships)
a. Provide real-world application of classroom instruction
a. Increase Provide Service awarded to Regional grants and Governmental contracts
Entities
b. Support Increase “in Alliances Facilities for and Education”
Administrative funds
c. SUU-housed uniformed Agency position
a. Developing Undergraduate research opportunities
b. Classroom instruction opportunities
c. (EDGE).
Lab/Field opportunities
b. Better prepare SUU students for entering the workforce.
1) Direct: Understanding of the career-field nuances.
2) Indirect: Application, Resume, Interview, Employee skill development
c. Increase in career-placement success upon degree
completion.

6. PARTNERS
• National Park Service (6)
• Cedar Breaks NM Bryce Canyon NP Grand Canyon-Parashant NM
• Pipe Springs NM Zion NP Great Basin NP
• SUU (6)
• All Colleges & their Departments
• USFS (3)
• Dixie National Forest
• Kaibab National Forest
• Fishlake National Forest
• BLM (3)
• Color Country District
• Arizona Strip District
• Grand Staircase-Escalante NM
• BIA (1)
• Southern Paiute Agency
• Paiute Tribes (2)
• Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah
• Kaibab Paiute Tribe
• Utah Department of Natural Resources (3)
• Utah State Parks and Recreation
• Forestry Fire and State Lands
• Wildlife Resources
• Utah Department of Workforce Services (1)
• Iron, Kane, Washington Counties
• NRCS (1)
• Cedar City Office
• DSU (1)
• School of Science & Technology

7. FUNDING

8. INTERNSHIPS

9. IIC ORGANIZATION
• MOU
Mission:
Provide unique organizational
structure to:
- network and communicate,
- access and share resources,
- and efficiently create and
administer shared programs.

10. IIC ORGANIZATION

11. IIC ORGANIZATION

12. IIC ORGANIZATION

13. IIC CAREER DEVELOPMENT

14. IIC CAREER DEVELOPMENT

15. YOUTH PROGRAMS
“Nature Deficit Disorder”
• Cedar Mtn. Science Camp
• More Kids in the Woods
• Youth Conservation Corps

16. IIC CAREER DEVELOPMENT

17. IIC CAREER DEVELOPMENT

18. TYPES OF POSITIONS…TO NAME A FEW
From Accounting to Zoology
• Range Management
• Botany
• Forest Planning
• Wildlife Management
• Graphic Arts
• Interpretation
• Law Enforcement
• Real Estate Tech
• Invasive Species
• Multi Media
• Youth Education
• Maintenance
• Recreation
 Emergency Services
 GIS/GPS Technician
 Surveying
 Road Engineer Tech
 Archeologist Tech
 Fuels and Forestry Crew
 Public Relations
 Geology
 Researcher
 Natural Resources
 Historic Preservation
 and MORE

19. TIER II

20. IIC CAREER DEVELOPMENT

21. TIER III INTERNS
Layne Papenfus

22. TIER III INTERNS
Braden Yardley

23. IIC CAREER DEVELOPMENT

24. WIN-WIN-WIN
“Developing Tomorrow’s Public Land Leaders Today”
• Internship
• Mentorship
• Partnership

25. QUESTIONS
• IIC Internship Coordinator
Seth Ohms
Tel: (435)586-1981
sethohms@suu.edu