Contact: Bob Spieldenner
bobspieldenner@schev.edu
(804) 225-2628

For Immediate Release

August 29, 2023

RICHMOND – The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) awarded $250,000 to the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) in Danville to increase the number of high-quality paid internships and other work-based learning opportunities for students in southside Virginia.

IALR received the grant as part of the Virginia Talent + Opportunity Partnership (V-TOP), whose purpose is to expand paid and credit-bearing student internships and other work-based learning opportunities in collaboration with Virginia employers.

Grant funds will help employers improve their work-based learning initiatives and connect with students. Also, funds will help students develop their career-ready competencies.

IALR is the ninth and final regional collaborative grant. This grant is part of a larger effort by SCHEV to expand work-based learning opportunities across the Commonwealth. Similar efforts are being led by Northern Virginia Community College, JMU, UVA-Wise, the University of Mary Washington, Virginia Tech, Virginia Commonwealth University (in partnership with ChamberRVA), Old Dominion University and the University of Virginia (in collaboration with Virginia Career Works – Piedmont).

Previous grant awardees have brought together partners to engage hundreds of employers with workshops, round table discussions and informal “coffee hours” focused on work-based learning. Other events have allowed students to meet company representatives.

V-TOP is administered by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia in partnership with the Virginia Chamber of Commerce Foundation and the Virginia Business Higher Education Council. It is funded by the General Assembly’s Commonwealth Innovative Internship Fund and Program.