1. United States
2. Ind.
3. Letter

The proposed budget cuts for Indiana State Parks are directly impacting my students abilities to gain professional experience. Seasonal hiring at Indiana State Parks is one of the preferred summer work opportunities many of my students at IU Indianapolis pursue to avoid unnecessary student loans and build their resumes for when they graduate. Several students who have been hired to work in state parks around the state last summer have told me that they will not be able to return to their summer jobs this season, and students who have not had the opportunity are being told not to apply for positions because of the proposed budget cuts. These dollars are adversely affecting my students abilities to gain skills promoting their career readiness and I implore you to reconsider these cuts.