The EXPERIENCE Program/Internships for Non-Business MajorsComplete the following steps to gain an understanding of the internship process: Downloads Internship OverviewThrough the Internship/Experience Program, students can earn credits for experience program projects. This program provides an excellent opportunity for students to gain more information about occupations and to test tentative career choices. There are two kind of internships:
With the advice and consent of faculty, a student enters into an agreement with an agency (either on or off-campus) to participate in a proposed learning experience which must relate to an academic discipline. While a faculty sponsor and department chairperson approve the proposed experience, (objectives, credit value, and evaluation procedure), the agency is responsible for providing the student with a learning experience at the professional level. Upon successful completion of the contract, the student is granted the specified number of credits, but no grade, by the faculty sponsor. Role StatementProgram Goals for Students:
Role of Students: Internship/Contact Learning is an individualized learning program that requires the student to assume a major and active role in the process. The student obtains the placement and faculty sponsor, arranges for required meetings, and writes the contract. Role of Faculty Sponsor: The faculty sponsor must approve the proposed experience and determine the number of credits to be awarded. The contract must involve an experience program situation that is worthy of academic credit. The number of credits should be based on the course-equivalent knowledge to be gained by the students. The sponsor is also responsible for evaluating the performance of the student. The sponsor is required to meet with the student and outside agency supervisor at least three times during the semester. If these meetings are not possible, then three-party telephone conferences will satisfy the requirement. Role of Sponsor's Department Chairperson: The chairperson certifies that the sponsorship properly belongs with the department and that the contract is worthy of the number of credits. Role of Student's College Dean: The student's College Dean must approve the taking of more than 6 credits through Internship/Experience Program. Role of Outside Agency or Firm: The agency or firm must provide students with a learning experience at the professional level and supervision. The supervisor must discuss the progress of the student with the faculty sponsor at least three times during the semester. There is no obligation to pay students during the contract period or hire them at a later date. The agency or firm may accept or reject any student who is referred by the University. Role of the CRC Staff: Staff members of the Career Resource Center (CRC) provide students with program information, direction sheet, registration form, and agency/firm information. They maintain and publish agency/firm opportunities and assist students with the selection of an agency or firm. They check contracts for completeness and process contracts for registration. A Sample Contract-Title of Internship/Contract: Counselor Aide Description of Experience: The learning experience will involve working as a counselor aide in the Guidance Office of Diploma School in Sometown. The office provides educational, career, and social-personal counseling for tenth, eleventh, and twelfth grade students on both an individual and group basis. The office also provides testing and placement services for pupils. It is staffed by a director, Ms. Empathy, and six certified counselors. My duties will consist of assisting the tenth grade counselor with the career counseling program. I will counsel ten pupils on a one-to-one basis in the area of self-assessment in order to identify their interests, values, and abilities. The sessions will include the administration and interpretation of the Strong-Campbell Interest Inventory. I will also help these students with the exploration of various careers. Each pupil will be seen at least five times during the semester. In addition to individual counseling, I will assist the tenth grade counselor with the presentation of life-planning workshops to be held for two five-week sessions for thirty pupils. My responsibility will be to lead small group discussions about the various stages in the life-planning process. Objectives: Through this experience I intend to accomplish the following: (1) to apply the theory of counseling which is comfortable and effective; (2) to gain insight into the thinking of adolescents; (3) to learn how to communicate effectively with my counselees; (4) to gain skills as a group facilitator; (5) to obtain experience in interpreting test results; and (6) to motivate pupils to give careful consideration to career decision- Supervision: My supervisor will be Mr. Able Listener, who has a Master's Degree in counseling. I will meet with him prior to each individual and group session to discuss content and process. Meetings will also be held after each session to discuss my performance. Approximately one hour each week will be devoted to these meetings. The school is located at 777 Education Lane in Sometown. The phone number is 123-1996. Evaluation and Final Paper: Professor Intellect will be my faculty sponsor. I will schedule three meetings with my supervisor and sponsor for the purpose of discussing the learning experience. At the final meeting at the end of the semester, the supervisor's written evaluation of my performance will be discussed. I will also submit a taped recording of one of my counseling sessions to Professor Intellect for his review. He will make the final determination if the objectives listed above have been met. Evaluation of objectives 2,3,4, 5, and 6 will be based on my answers to questions at the final meeting and on a review of a paper written by me on how the objectives were met. Credit: The contract is for three credits and will be used as an elective within my major. I will work from 8am to 12:30pm every Tuesday and Thursday until the end of the semester for a total of 135 hours. Signatures:
EXPERIENCE PROGRAM FormsTo be eligible for Experience program, a student must have a 2.0 GPA or greater and be at least in his or her sophomore year, but preferably junior or senior. The form is available in the Career Resource Center. Further directions and examples may be included in the packet. Also, please specify if you are a business major or otherwise. |
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Last Updated On: 11/8/06
