FloridaACE 2026

In Fall 2025, Florida Gulf Coast University launched its first-ever Internship Week—an innovative, campus-wide initiative designed to strengthen internship culture and connect students with meaningful experiential learning. Led by the Office of Internships & Cooperative Programs, the week brought together students, faculty, staff, and employers through targeted events that highlighted pathways to career readiness. The initiative significantly increased student awareness of internship support and became a signature engagement effort on campus. Notably, this work also positioned FGCU ahead of the curve as the university later selected internships as its SUS Metric 10 priority, reinforcing the long-term value of intentional experiential learning programming. This session will share the strategies, partnerships, and lessons learned from building Internship Week from the ground up.