The Walt Disney Co., College Program will be looking for prospective students for their initiative this week.

An informational meeting about the Disney College Program will be from noon to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Bovee University Center Auditorium.

Disney has been working with Central Michigan University for 28 years, giving students chances to work with trained professionals in multiple fields, while earning college credit and making money through partnerships and internships.

This year’s fall presentation will be all about the “Spring Advantage Program,” a six to seven month program that accepts all majors.

Collegiate courses offered during the Spring Advantage Program include communications, experiential learning, hospitality management, human resource management, marketing U: personal and career development strategies, organizational leadership and practicum.

Anyone interested in participating in the program should register by Feb. 20, 2009.

While working alongside Disney, CMU does require each student to complete “work experience,” which means students must take one Disney Education Course, turn in a written assignment and submit an evaluation completed by a Disney College Program supervisor.

The written assignment requires students to turn in a description of work and learning experiences, overall expectations and evaluation of the Disney College Program and two interviews with workers, also known as “cast members.”

Working with Disney provides a huge advantage over many normal internships, said Dean Wallin, director of Leisure Services.

“Disney’s like a small city, with 55,000 to 65,000 employees, they have all kinds of representatives that our students are exposed to,” he said.

Wallin also said all students can take advantage of the program.

“I think the experience is just a dynamite experience, no matter the department,” he said.

CMU was one of the first of 30 universities to work with Disney, and CMU always stands in the top three universities regarding enrollment into the program, he said.

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E-mail the author: Alex VanDerStuyf