Creating Successful Internship Programs

Our Internship Journey MTM established formal internship program in 2016 Continuously improved to: Increase structure Define expectations Identified opportunity for transit-focused internships to attract new talent to the industry

Best Practices Paid Internships Follow minimum wage requirements & pay overtime Follow employment classification regulations Ensure internships span an appropriate length of time Limit number of interns initially We started at four per session, now we are at ten

Selecting Interns Selection process mirrors our recruiting process Online application to give experience with job search process Resume required Minimum of two interviews: phone & face-to-face Formal offer letter

Onboarding Interns Formal onboarding to avoid risk, protect data access & acclimate interns to our culture Compliance courses FTE documents signed Meet & greets with team members & leaders Formal syllabus Training opportunities Conference call & email etiquette HIPAA & ADA regulations Leadership development Operational experience

Evaluating Interns Interns are given goals & KPIs to manage productivity, behavior & outcomes Interns & managers complete regular performance evaluations throughout internship

Then vs. Now 2016 2018 Identifying Opportunities Any leader needing an extra pair of hands Leaders with the capability to successfully manage interns following defined curriculum & application process What Kind of Work Does the Intern Get? “Laundry” work that no else took ownership of/had time for—minimal value to intern High level, meaningful work that prepares the intern for their future career How Structured is the Program? No syllabus or structure & few expectations Formal syllabus & full on-boarding/training program

Applying MTM Intern Model to Ride Right Introduce new talent to transit & build a bench of future leaders MTM’s department-specific approach would not be effective Create full rotational experience to all areas of the transit operation, providing interns with global perspective on running an transit operation

Transit Internship Experience Operations Dispatch, reservations & scheduling Staffing, overtime & payroll Safety & training Maintenance Leadership Recruiting Employee engagement Compliance & audit CBA dynamics P&L RFPs, rebids & client relations

Launch & Partnership Ride Right launching internship program this summer Partnering with university programs for unique, hands-on approach

Unitrans Local public transit serving the City of Davis & UC Davis since 1968 Partnership between the Associated Students of UC Davis & the City of Davis began in 1977 Started off with just two London Doubledecker buses in 1968 to almost 50 buses today From two routes in 1968 to 18 routes today Over 250 student employees Only North American agency operating vintage London doubledeckers in regular service

Service Area

Unitrans by the Numbers 22,000 daily customers 4,000,000 annual customers 68,000 city population 35,000 UC student population 18 routes 18 hours per day 15-30 minute frequencies 48 buses, including 3 vintage doubledeckers & 2 modern doubledeckers 50 pax/hr 3rd highest in CA SF LA Davis Lowest cost per hour in CA $65/hr Over 250 employees—all front line staff are students Undergrads ride fare free/City staff ride fare free $1 fare; less than half our regional partners

Building Transit Professionals Almost 250 student employees—drivers, supervisors, trainers, mechanics, planners, managers, etc. Convenient & one of best paying campus jobs 10 student managers overseeing Operations, Training, Marketing, Planning, Hiring, etc. On the job, real-life transit experience across all fields

Student Model, Better Outcomes Student model provides pipeline for future transit professionals Engaged, motivated workforce Friendly, customer-focused service Model has quadrupled federally & locally supported service levels