Requirements for Interns

Preparation and Registration

1. It is the student's obligation to identify and apply to an internship site through the Center for Career & Professional Development, faculty sponsors, or their own resources. This step may include creating a résumé.
2. The student then consults with a faculty member of their choice to sponsor the internship, discussing the student's learning objectives for the internship experience.
3. After confirming the internship site through interviews or other arrangements, the student completes an Internship Contract, available from the Center for Career & Professional Development. The contract includes a general description of work-related responsibilities as well as learning objectives agreed upon by the student and Faculty sponsor for the internship. It also includes a description of a substantive academic component. The academic component of an internship should not be tacked on; it must be an integral part of the internship devised by the Faculty supervisor in consultation with the student and, if possible, the employer. The component might include assigned readings, an academic paper, a journal, a portfolio or log, or written-up notes from a series of interviews. It almost certainly would include several of these. All contracts will include a requirement for an oral presentation in the form of the Internship Showcase. The contract will be approved with signatures by the employer sponsor, the faculty sponsor, the Associate Director in the Center for Career & Professional Development, and the Director of Student Academic Support.
4. Students should register for INT 400. The completed and signed contract will be sent to the Registrar's Office with an internship title, faculty sponsor, and number of credits expected. Students who wish to register for more than three credits must petition the Academic Standards Committee with appropriate support from the faculty sponsor and the Center for Career & Professional Development. Requests for more than three hours credit are very rarely granted.
5. The student must attend one class prior to the beginning of the internship (led by the Associate Director in the Center for Career & Professional Development). This class will include an introduction to experiential learning and an introduction to self-guided inquiry.

Responsibilities of the Student Intern

1. Meet with a faculty sponsor to discuss internship possibilities.
2. Identify an internship site through the Center for Career & Professional Development, faculty sponsor or other resources.
3. Interview with and secure an appropriate internship employer sponsor.
4. Complete an Internship Contract with the faculty sponsor and the employer sponsor.
5. Register for INT 400.
6. Attend one class prior to the beginning of the internship.
7. At the end of the first week in the internship, the student and employer will report to the faculty sponsor and the Center for Career & Professional Development any significant changes in the duties and expected outcomes as described in the Internship Contract.
8. Complete all academic work by the time designated by the faculty sponsor.
9. Complete an oral presentation. Credit will not be assigned until the presentation is made.
10. Complete a final evaluation of the internship and learning objectives.

Responsibilities of the Faculty Mentor

(Information can be found at http://www.centre.edu/after-centre/career-planning/faculty-resources/)

1. Work with student to develop internship objectives and the academic component tying the internship experience to the student’s academic goals.
2. Check in with the student regularly through meetings and email.
3. Read and evaluate all written material.
4. Attend the student’s final presentation.
5. Assign the final grade for the internship. (Internships are graded on a credit/no-credit basis.)

Responsibilities of the Organization Supervisor

1. Comply with all state and federal labor laws.
2. Provide a working environment which allows the student to gain experience relevant to the field.
3. Provide regular feedback to students through regular meetings and email.
4. Provide the intern with a schedule comprise of no less than 70% substantive work.
5. Provide the intern with a desk, computer and/or other necessary tools in order to effectively complete internship responsibilities.
6. Provide intern with information regarding the internship site policies and procedures regarding the dress code; professional, legal and ethical behavior; emergency preparedness, etc.
7. Notify the Center for Career & Professional Development in a timely and reasonable manner if any problems arise, particularly those that might result in the dismissal/termination of the intern.
8. Evaluate the student’s performance at mid-term and at the end of the internship and submit the evaluation form to the Center for Career & Professional Development.

Other Requirements

1. One week before the last day of classes, the student will submit an analysis of the articles/books read.
2. The student will participate in The Internship Showcase at the end of the term. (A handout will provide more specific instructions.)
3. The on-site supervisor will be responsible for monitoring progress in the internship and for on-going feedback to the student. The supervisor also will be responsible for notifying the Center for Career & Professional Development or the faculty sponsor by mid-term if the student's performance needs improvement.

Credit

1. To earn three (3) credit hours of course credit for INT 400, the student must work a minimum of hours:

   Full/Spring/Summer: 120 hours (10 hours per week)
   CentreTerm: 120 hours (35-40 hours per week for three to four weeks)

   *To earn two (2) credit hours of course credit for INT 400, the student must work a minimum of hours:

   Fall/Spring: 80 hours (6-7 hours per week)
   CentreTerm: N/A

   *There may be one-credit internship options during the summer for those students whose employers require them to receive academic credit or for students whose visas require academic credit for Curricular Practical Training.

   The course is labeled "INT 400." The student should register for this credit during regular registration. Anyone who has not completed a contract by the deadline will be removed from the INT 400 class registration.

2. All students enrolled in an internship for academic credit must demonstrate mastery of both an academic component and an experience component. Normally, these will interact. Acceptable performance will allow a student to earn a pass grade for the appropriate number of academic credits. This pass grade does not count for or against the requirements for a major program or the pass/fail option. Students who do not perform at an acceptable level in either area will be assigned a "no-credit" designation by the Faculty sponsor. This will appear on the student's transcript.

NOTE: External agencies may convert "NC" to a failing grade.

Other Information

During the CentreTerm, students who are working full-time for their internships may receive a board reimbursement or reduction. No reduction is available for room. The Finance Office will handle all reimbursement requests.

During the long term, reduction to a 10-meal plan may be possible. The student must discuss the particular situation with the Finance Office.