Training the future leaders of non-profit
Amanda Boddy
Issue date: 11/21/08 Section: Campus News
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American Humanics, an on campus certification program, is helping students get ahead in the world of nonprofit management.
The Nonprofit Executives in Training (NET) program allows students to gain real experience as well as a certification in working with a nonprofit while they are still in college. Students who participate in AH will gain their certification as well as a better chance of getting a job in a field they are passionate about.
"There's no question that these students have a leg up on people who aren't certified," said Sara Faircloth, the faculty adviser of AH.
Faircloth has spent 30 years working with different nonprofit agencies. She described the NET program.
"(The NET program) is not for volunteers. This program is designed for people who want to be professionals in the nonprofit field," Faircloth said.
In order to prepare them for nonprofit management, and to receive their certificate, students must complete an internship, a specific curriculum of classes, and have a membership with the American Humanics Student Association (AHSA). Completion of the internship requires 300 hours of real experience with a nonprofit organization.
The curriculum is compiled of classes in political science, rhetoric, accounting, management, and public administration.
Jeanette Bowman, president of AH and psychology major said that the 15 hour curriculum for AH matched many of the classes she had to take for her major.
"You have to find your niche and work towards that since psychology is a pretty broad major." Bowman said.
The membership that each member of AH must acquire with AHSA includes attendance to an American Humanics Management Institute. According to AH, the AHMI is an "education symposium." Some members of American Humanics at GCSU will be attending the event in Indianapolis Jan. 4-7. There, they will meet with nonprofit professionals, leaders and members of AH from other universities as well as present a project of their own at the symposium.
"This year we are presenting a project on internships: how to be a good intern and how to make your internship worthwhile." Bowman said.
Bowman is expecting to use her certification and experience to eventually be an executive of a nonprofit organization.
"I do want to work with the mentally ill in general, specifically schizophrenia, bipolar, depression," Bowman said. "I'm really passionate about bringing awareness to those disorders."
The program is helping students become leaders in their own communities. Bobby Jones, senior liberal studies major and member of AH, worked with South Rome Redevelopment Corporation this summer in neighborhood revitalization in completion of his internship. Jones originally joined AH to gain training in working in a church. Since then, he has recognized his passion for working with a community based program.
"I want to work in the elimination of poverty and working with communities." Jones said.
American Humanics was introduced to the university at the request of a former GCSU president as a professional path program. AH is not a program unique to GCSU, though. 89 other universities also offer the training and certification program.
What is it
The American Humanics program is an innovative course of study that equips college and university students to become skilled professionals and leaders in America's nonprofit
organizations.
Headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, American Humanics is the only national nonprofit organization meeting this need. To ensure students' success, American Humanics provides leadership opportunities, internships, and scholarships as well as education curriculum.
The Nonprofit Executives in Training (NET) program allows students to gain real experience as well as a certification in working with a nonprofit while they are still in college. Students who participate in AH will gain their certification as well as a better chance of getting a job in a field they are passionate about.
"There's no question that these students have a leg up on people who aren't certified," said Sara Faircloth, the faculty adviser of AH.
Faircloth has spent 30 years working with different nonprofit agencies. She described the NET program.
"(The NET program) is not for volunteers. This program is designed for people who want to be professionals in the nonprofit field," Faircloth said.
In order to prepare them for nonprofit management, and to receive their certificate, students must complete an internship, a specific curriculum of classes, and have a membership with the American Humanics Student Association (AHSA). Completion of the internship requires 300 hours of real experience with a nonprofit organization.
The curriculum is compiled of classes in political science, rhetoric, accounting, management, and public administration.
Jeanette Bowman, president of AH and psychology major said that the 15 hour curriculum for AH matched many of the classes she had to take for her major.
"You have to find your niche and work towards that since psychology is a pretty broad major." Bowman said.
The membership that each member of AH must acquire with AHSA includes attendance to an American Humanics Management Institute. According to AH, the AHMI is an "education symposium." Some members of American Humanics at GCSU will be attending the event in Indianapolis Jan. 4-7. There, they will meet with nonprofit professionals, leaders and members of AH from other universities as well as present a project of their own at the symposium.
"This year we are presenting a project on internships: how to be a good intern and how to make your internship worthwhile." Bowman said.
Bowman is expecting to use her certification and experience to eventually be an executive of a nonprofit organization.
"I do want to work with the mentally ill in general, specifically schizophrenia, bipolar, depression," Bowman said. "I'm really passionate about bringing awareness to those disorders."
The program is helping students become leaders in their own communities. Bobby Jones, senior liberal studies major and member of AH, worked with South Rome Redevelopment Corporation this summer in neighborhood revitalization in completion of his internship. Jones originally joined AH to gain training in working in a church. Since then, he has recognized his passion for working with a community based program.
"I want to work in the elimination of poverty and working with communities." Jones said.
American Humanics was introduced to the university at the request of a former GCSU president as a professional path program. AH is not a program unique to GCSU, though. 89 other universities also offer the training and certification program.
What is it
The American Humanics program is an innovative course of study that equips college and university students to become skilled professionals and leaders in America's nonprofit
organizations.
Headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, American Humanics is the only national nonprofit organization meeting this need. To ensure students' success, American Humanics provides leadership opportunities, internships, and scholarships as well as education curriculum.
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