College of

Engineering, Architecture and Technology

 

The College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology at Oklahoma State University has many ways for academia to cross paths with the professional world.   

From extension training units that provide certifications to training that elevates the careers of those already in the workforce, it also serves as a way for students to gain experience in a variety of industries before they graduate.

   

CEAT Professional Development is an outlet for this type of training through programs like the Transportation Research Internship Program available through the Local Technical Assistance Program.  

 

Two students completed a summer internship with the City of Tulsa through TRIP. Grace Armstrong, an OSU student, and Dez Harris, a student at the University of Oklahoma, both had success in learning some of the inner workings of careers in city management.  

 

TRIP is a program available to students in Oklahoma universities in transportation related degree programs, where students are placed in internships with government agencies responsible for the maintenance, construction and planning of transportation systems.

  

Armstrong said it was a great experience learning how engineering is utilized in a real-world setting. She enjoyed working with the city’s planning and neighborhood department and seeing how engineers worked on improving existing infrastructure.   

“One project I worked on was reviewing plans for a massive road and sidewalk construction on Gilcrease Museum Road,” Armstrong said. “I got to see how the road was currently and what their plans for it are.” 

 

The most exciting thing was touring the City of Tulsa water plant and seeing the role engineers play in treating the water and making it safe before sending it out to the public. 

 

This was Armstrong’s first internship, something that will help her career moving forward.    

 

“I absolutely will recommend this program to other students,” Armstrong said. “It was great, and for a first-time intern, it was exactly what I needed. My biggest takeaway is that it is OK to ask questions when there is something you don’t know. I was introduced to a lot of concepts and projects that I didn’t understand until I asked.”  

 

Harris benefited from being able to use what he has learned in the classroom and apply it to real-world scenarios. The skills he gained through TRIP have prepared him for success following graduation. For Harris, the TRIP program is one that provides a great opportunity for students to build connections within a professional setting as well as learn valuable leadership skills. He said the program offers many things that students can take advantage of and be part of something that impacts Oklahoma communities.

  

“For 15 weeks, I engaged in transportation planning, neighborhood planning, community engagement and comprehensive planning,” Harris said. “I am returning to my program in my final year of graduate school with better insights into the profession, and I am more prepared to enter the workforce as a trained urban planner.”

  

Paulina Baeza, principal planner for the City of Tulsa and the interns’ advisor, is a former TRIP intern herself. The experience she gained from her internship led to her current role where she helps interns apply for positions with the City of Tulsa.   

Baeza said interns through TRIP have always made a great impression, something she looks forward to continuing with future interns.   

 

“We enjoy having interns during the summer, and we want them to leave with a great experience,” Baeza said. “Interns will get exposure to different types of projects and departments and are treated as regular team members whose voices and contributions are heard and included. We like to challenge them, and our staff gets them involved in meaningful work.”