Internship Program Overview/FAQs - Mercyhurst University · INTERNSHIP PROGRAM OVERVIEW/FAQs Thank...
Transcript of Internship Program Overview/FAQs - Mercyhurst University · INTERNSHIP PROGRAM OVERVIEW/FAQs Thank...
MercyhurstUniversityInternshipProgramOverview/FAQs
KyleFoust 814-824-2171 [email protected]
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MERCYHURSTUNIVERSITYINTERNSHIPPROGRAMOVERVIEW/FAQs
ThankyouforyourinterestinhostingaMercyhurstUniversityinternshipstudent.Thematerialscontainedwithinthispacketwillbeapplicabletoallfutureinterns.INTRODUCTION
A. Whatisaninternship?
1. Aninternshipisastructuredlearningexperiencethatincludesanintentionallearningplan,promotesacademic,career,and/orpersonaldevelopmentandincludeslearningobjectives,observation,reflection,evaluation,andassessment.
2. Aninternshipbalancesthestudent’slearningobjectiveswithspecificworkthehostorganizationcan
offer.B. Whataninternshipisnot? 1. “Freelabor.” 2. Awaytoonlyaddress“menial”tasksthehostorganizationcannotcompleteotherwise.
TYPESOFPLACEMENTS
A. Full-timeplacements/duringtheacademicyear
1. Student(s)isplacedonafull-timebasiswithyourorganization.Withapprovalfromtheacademicdepartment,thestudentcanbeplacedacrosstwoand/orthreeacademicsemesters.Full-timeplacementstypicallyare14-30weeksinlength.
2. Becausethestudentisnottakingclasses,theycanbeplacedlocally,regionally,nationally,or
internationally.
3. OnlystudentswithJuniororSeniorstandingareeligibleforthistypeofplacement.Sophomoresareeligiblewithprovenacademicperformanceandapprovalfromtheirdepartment.
B. Part-timeplacements/duringtheacademicyear
1. Student(s)isplacedonapart-timebasiswithyourorganization.Part-timeplacementstypicallyare14
weeksinlength.
2. PlacementisgenerallylimitedtotheEriearea.
C. Summerplacements
1. Duringthesummer,thestudent(s)maychoosetoworkfullorpart-timewithyourorganization.Thenumberofhoursworkedperweekduringthesummerisdependentonyourneedsandthestudent(s)needs
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HOWCANYOURORGANIZATIONPARTICIPATEINOURINTERNSHIPEDUCATIONPROGRAM?
A. ProvideMercyhurstwithadetailedlearningagreementoutliningwhatthestudent’sdutiesareexpectedtobeandwhattheminimumqualificationsoftheplacementare;i.e.minimumgradepointaverage(seepage4forguidancewhencraftinganappropriatelearningagreement).
1. ThelearningagreementmustbeapprovedbytheMercyhurstInternshipProgrampriortotheplacement
toensureyouropportunitywillprovideameaningfulandanappropriatelychallengingexperienceforourstudent(s).
2. ThelearningagreementservesastheagreementbetweenMercyhurstandyourorganizationastowhat
dutiesourfuturestudent(s)canbeexpectedtocomplete.
B. Completeourcontactinformationformregardingyourorganizationandtheavailabilityofplacement(provideduponrequest).
C. Read,sign,andreturntheMercyhurstInternshipAffiliationAgreement(provideduponrequest).
AFTERTHEINTERNSHIPAFFILIATIONAGREEMENT,LEARNINGAGREEMENT,ANDCONTACTINFORMATIONFORMHAVEBEENRETURNEDTOMERCYHURSTANDTHEOPPORTUNITYYOUHAVEOFFEREDHASBEENAPPROVED,WHATHAPPENSNEXT?
A. Wewillannounceyouropportunitytotheappropriatestudents/academicdepartments.
B. Wewillforwardtoyoutheresumesofanystudent(s)whomeetsyourqualificationsandwhodesiresplacementwithyourorganization.
C. Afterreviewingtheresumes,youmaydirectlycontactthestudent(s)youwishtoformallyinterview.
1. Interviewcandidatesthesamewayyouwouldwheninterviewingforafull-timehire;keepinmindthestudentisnotyetaprofessional.
D. Selectastudent(s)forplacement.Youareundernoobligationtoacceptanystudent(s).
UPONSELECTIONOFASTUDENTFORPLACEMENT
A. ContacttheappropriateInternshipCounseloratMercyhursttoconfirmtheplacementofthestudent(s).
B. Withthestudent(s),arrangeanagreeduponstart/enddate.Duringtheacademicyear,thesedatesaregenerallythefirstandlastdayofclassesoftherespectiveacademicterm.
C. Withthestudent(s),arrangeanagreeduponweeklyworkschedule;keepinmindthestudent’sclass/course
scheduleatschool.
D. Establishthepayrateforthestudent(ifapplicable).
E. Discussspecificrules/regulationspertainingtoyourorganizationthatthestudent(s)mustbeawareoftobesuccessful.
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DURINGTHEINTERNSHIPEXPERIENCE
A. Assignaqualifiedsupervisortothestudent(s)whowillserveasamentoronaday-to-daybasis.
B. Ensurethesupervisorassiststhestudent(s)toformulatelearningobjectivesduringtheplacementandthatthestudent(s)isevaluatedattheappropriatetime(dateswillbeprovided)usingMercyhurstprovidedforms;structuretheinternshiparoundshortandlong-termneeds.
C. Providetheinternwithaplaceoftheirown(ifpossible);i.e.desk,computer,etc.D. Rewardtheinterninnon-monetarywayswheneverpossible
ATTHECONCLUSIONOFTHEINTERNSHIPEXPERIENCE
A. Conductanexitinterviewwiththestudent(s)toevaluatetheexperience.B. Providealetterofrecommendationtothestudentifyoufeelthey’veearnone.
NUMBEROFFIELDHOURSREQUIREDFORTHESTUDENTTOEARNACADEMICCREDIT
A. Foreverythreecreditsofinternshipthestudent(s)isregisteredfor,theymustcompleteaminimumof200hoursinthefield;uptoamaximumof12credithoursor800hoursinthefield.Azero-creditinternshiprequiresthecompletionofaminimumof100hours.
*** Forfurthersuggestionstocreateastronginternshipprogramatyourorganization,reviewthebestpracticesasdevelopedbyNACE,theNationalAssociationofCollegesandEmployers.
FASTFACTS
Roughly230studentsaresupervisedthroughinternshipprogrameachyear
56%oftheemployersrateMercyhurststudentsasbetterthaninternsfromsimilarprogramatotherschools
96%oftheemployersrateMercyhurststudentsasacademicallypreparedtoaccomplishtheobjectivesthat weresetforthemduringtheinternship
95%oftheemployerswhohiretheMercyhurstinterntheyhostedinanopeningwereavailable.
87%oftheemployershostinternsto“providemeaningfullearningopportunities”forstudentsand64%of themusetheprogramasa“trainingground”fornewhires.
Aninternshipisthe#1attributeemployerslookforonarecentcollegegraduatesresume;Chronicleof HigherEducation
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LEARNINGAGREEMENT* Pleaseforward/attachabulletedlistorasummaryofwhattheinternsexpectedduties/responsibilitieswillbe.A
well-developedlearningagreementisessentialtoprovidingapositiveandchallengingexperiencethatwillbeviewedaswell-organizedandrobustbyourstudents.
HELPFULHINTSTOCRAFTASTRONGLEARNINGAGREEMENT
1. List7-10specificresponsibilitiesthatareappropriatelychallengingandalignedwiththeintern’sacademicmajor;keepclericaltaskstoaminimum.
2. Arethere2-3projectsinwhichtheinterncanparticipate?
3. CanyouincorporateactivitiesthatwillhelptheinterndeveloptheskillsNACE(NationalAssociationofColleges/Employers)indicatesemployersarelookingforinnewhires:
a. Abilitytoworkinateamstructureb. Abilitytomakedecisionsandsolveproblemsc. Abilitytoplan,organize,andprioritizeworkd. Abilitytoverballycommunicatewithpersonsinsideandoutsidetheorganizatione. Abilitytoobtainandprocessinformationf. Abilitytoanalyzequantitativedatag. Technicalknowledgerelatedtothejobh. Proficiencywithcomputersoftwareprogramsi. Abilitytocreateand/oreditwrittenreportsj. Abilitytosellorinfluenceothers
4. Willtheinternparticipateincompanymeetings,networkingeventsand/orprofessionaldevelopment
activities?
5. Howwillthestudentbesupervised/mentoredduringtheinternship?