Internships
In today's job market, every graduating student needs an edge. We are told by employers who recruit on our campus that they value internship experience as an important factor in their decision making process. In fact, some employers offer a higher starting slary based on wehther or not a student has internship experience. The National Assocation of Colleges and Employers reported that 65% of surveyed employers reported that they pay new, permanent, full-time hires with internship experience an average of 8.9% more than their inexperienced counterparts.
Studies establish the importance of internships that are student-centered, multi-dimnensional, academic, skills-based, and developmental. Literature clearly shows that such experiences provide an effective bridge betweent he classroom and the workplace, has a positive effect on students' personal growth, and helps to narrow the gap between inexeperienced student and confident job seeker.
Career Services feels strongly that the campus Internship Program will help make internship opportunities available to all interested students and facilitate the learning process and personal development. Together with faculty and employers, we can ensure that students will have the opportunity to challenge themselves both inside and outside of the classroom.
Career Services Responsibilities
- Coordinate the internship program, which will include identifying and maintaining internship opportunities.
- All known internship opportunities will be forwarded to Career Services for action.
- Establish and communicate policies and guidelines applicable to all employers wishing to post internship opportunities.
- Develop and implement all required training for student preparation, such as resume writing and interviewing skills.
- Continue to collaborate with faculty to assist students in identifying internship opportunities as part of their overall career strategy.
- Provide all appropriate forms.
- Maintain and update internship-related student files.
- Continue to vultivate internship opportunities through continuous interaction with employers (e.g., campus programming events, employer outreach, membership in professional organizations).
- Distribute employer-completed student evaluations to faculty.
Employer Responsibilities
- Make a position description available to students, faculty, and Career Services outlining hte duties and responsibilties of the student, the expectations the employer has regarding student performance and the learning component of the internship.
- Complete a mid-term and final evaluation of the student-intern's performance (see Appendix B).
- Understand that there is a mentoring component to their responsibilities that they need to be sensitive to.
- Ensure that the student has a space in which to work that is adequate.
- Detemrine compensation (e.g., hourly rate, stipend).
- Provide a quality experience for the student that includes training, regular performance feedback, exposure to current business practices, and career-related projects.
Guidelines for Posting
Career Services will advertise or post a position if:
- There is a clear description of the responsibilities and learning component of the internship.
- The name, address, e-mail address, and phone number of the employer are listed.
- The contact person is identified.
- The position complies with all federal and state affirmative action and equal employment opportunities.
Career Services will not advertise a position if:
- The position involves on-campus solicitation, sale, or posting of materials, products, or services.
- The student must pay a non-refundable fee to participate or pay any type of fee for related training
- The student is required to purchase or rent any type of sales kit or presentation supplies.
- The employer fails to provide all required information necessary to post a position.
- The position interferes with or negatively affects the academic progress of the student.
- The employer fails to identify the learning component associated with the position.
- The employer makes no effort to provide a reasonable explanation of why payment or stipend is not offered.
Forms
Internship Posting Form.
Employer Evaulation of Student Intern Form MS word (.doc)
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