Academic internships can truly enhance your education by expanding skill sets and exposure to real world situations. In order for an internship or an experiential learning activity to be eligible for academic credit, several individuals must work together: the student, an academic advisor, a faculty advisor, and the site supervisor. The process, prerequisites, and requirements vary by department and school. Below you will find general guidelines helpful in getting started.
- Student Responsibilities
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- The process of securing an opportunity and completing all of the necessary paperwork to register for the credit can take several weeks. Do not wait until the last minute!
- Not all internships are eligible for academic credit.
- In most cases, the student will be responsible for identifying the opportunity. We recommend that students participate in the Internship Preparation Program and/or work with the Career Center for help with identifying opportunities.
- Students are responsible for identifying a faculty advisor and working with them to understand the additional projects, papers, or meetings that may be required.
- Students are responsible for completing all departmental paperwork before registering for the academic credits, as well as meeting all of the financial responsibilities related to taking a course at the University.
- Students may only receive credit when enrolled for the internship course at the same time they are performing the internship.
- Some academic departments do not allow students to earn a wage or stipend while also earning academic credit.
- Minimum numbers of credits within a department may be required in order for a student to be able to earn credit from that department. For policies, consult the departmental web page or speak to your academic advisor.
Note: If any student questions the legitimacy of an advertised internship (questionable interview practices, the expectation of investing personal money in an opportunity, being asked to work in a private residence, etc.), he or she should notify a Career Center staff or Internship Team member immediately before committing to an opportunity.
- Recruiter/Host Organization Responsibilities
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- Your primary responsibility as an internship provider or supervisor is to provide an educational and professional opportunity for a student that will enable him or her to learn more about the career options and skill sets in your organization or industry.
- Not all internships are eligible for academic credit. Contact the Internship Team for clarification.
- Your organization is responsible for abiding by policies set by the U.S. Department of Labor with regard to internship compensation.
- In some instances, academic departments may not allow a student who is earning academic credit to also receive compensation.
- If a student is seeking academic credit for your internship, he or she will be responsible for asking you to complete any necessary paperwork prior to the start of the internship in order to be eligible to register for the course credits. You may be asked to provide a signed letter for proof of employment.
- The student will also share with you any review forms that are requested by his or her academic department for mid-point and/or end of internship reviews.
- Faculty Advisor Responsibilities
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- Faculty advisors are responsible for abiding by departmental internship policies, guiding students through the learning process, and supervising all assigned coursework, in addition to providing a final grade.
- Faculty advisors will be expected to sign off on departmental internship forms before the student can register for the course.
- Academic Advisor Responsibilities
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- Academic advisors are considered valuable networking contacts. You may be asked to assist students in making networking contacts during their search for internship opportunities.
- Academic advisors are responsible for guiding students through the paperwork process prior to course registration.