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Click here for previous places BSU students have interned. Purpose of an InternshipAn industrial internship is an on-the-job assignment that corresponds with an Intern’s instructional program. Through the interaction and integration of academic studies and occupational experiences, the Intern is able to enhance his/her academic knowledge, professional preparation and personal growth. The concept of industrial internship is based upon the following observations: 1. There are certain phases of every Intern’s professional development that cannot be effectively taught in the academic environment. These facets can only be learned through direct, on-the-job experience working with successful professionals and experts in the field. 2. For many Interns, it is the first time they are required to communicate, work, and attempt to understand individuals having widely differing educational and economic backgrounds. The opportunity to engage in productive employment under competitive conditions in a realistic environment can provide Interns with insights, which enrich their educational experiences. 3. Some of the Intern’s experiences will be challenging as well as positive. Exposure to these various situations under supervised, cooperative experiences can help an Intern learn how to cope with difficult situations and to be better prepared to deal with similar circumstances in the future. 4. In many cases, students take temporary jobs through their college career, which do not contribute to their professional growth or have no relation to their career goals. An internship provides an opportunity for the Intern to earn income while engaging in employment that is meaningful and relevant to present academic studies and future career goals General Information about InternshipThe Intern applies for a position in professional practice related to their area of emphasis/specialization. The internship serves to provide the Intern an opportunity for professional practice under the guidance of a mentor. An internship has the following characteristics: 1. The Intern assumes the role of professional in an actual business setting for a period of 12 weeks at 40 hours per week. 2. The Intern is linked with a professional on site who becomes the Internship Supervisor/Mentor. 3. An I.T. Internship Coordinator supervises experience. Credits 1-16 credits (16 credits maximum). Check with your advisor to determine the number of credits that you will be allowed to use in your program. Within specific programs, an Intern may repeat enrollment to earn up to sixteen credits. Job requirements must be progressively more advanced for each successive enrollment. Internship Agreement Form Prior to enrollment for Internship credit, documentation for each internship must be completed through the Internship Agreement Form. It is signed by the I.T. Internship Coordinator, the Intern, and Internship Supervisor/ Mentor. Agreements will describe: 1. The goals of the internship for the Intern. 2. The processes the Intern will use to carry out the internship including goals/activities, timelines, possible compensation and the number of credits to be earned in one semester. Internship Report/Journal One of the requirements of the internship involves preparing and submitting a final written report of the internship experience. The purpose of the report is to bring together the Intern’s observations and investigations in order to broaden his/her understanding of the overall operation of the employing firm, and to generalize what has been learned to future educational and industrial situations. The final Internship Report/Journal will also serve as an instrument to measure how effectively the Intern has fulfilled the purposes and objectives of the internship experience. It will also provide an opportunity for faculty members and other students to benefit from the Intern’s experience and learning. Supervisor/Mentor Written Evaluation Form The I.T. Internship Coordinator will supply two written evaluation form to the Intern. It is the Intern’s responsibility to remind the Supervisor/Mentor to complete the forms during the 6th and 12th week of the internship and return the completed forms to the I.T. Internship Coordinator. Email Contact It is the Intern’s responsibility to contact the I.T. Internship Coordinator by email a minimum of two times during the internship experience. Contact by email should be once at approximately the midpoint of the internship and a second time during the last two week of the experience. The contacts should include a brief overview of progress/status. Requirements for Evaluation The goals/activities listed on Internship Agreement Form will be used as the basis for evaluation. The I.T. Internship Coordinator will evaluate internship products/information submitted by the Intern and will assign the proper grade. It is the Intern’s responsibility to provide the I.T. Internship Coordinator with a target date of completion (usually within 3 weeks of completing the internship). A grade of IP (in progress) is assigned until all required components are complete. The university will retain your Internship Report/Journal, so be sure to make a copy for yourself. Compensations The University expects employers to pay an Intern qualified to perform internship tasks. Internship pay is generally considered taxable income. Unsalaried internships are only used in circumstances when there is lack of financial resources within the organization such as non-profit agencies. Sexual Harassment Policy Bemidji State University has a stringent policy on sexual harassment that applies to Internship Supervisor/Mentor as well as the Intern representing the university. Any Intern or Supervisor/Mentor who believes that this policy has been violated should report the incident immediately to the I.T. Internship Coordinator or Ms. Lorena C. Cook, Affirmative Action Office, Deputy 309, or phone (218) 755-2900. Internship Report/Journal Information1. The written report should be 8 1/2” x11 pages and bound in a three-ring notebook. 2. It must be typed and double-spaced in 10 point type Times or Arial. 3. The report must be free of typographical, grammatical, and punctuation errors. 4. The report will be checked for technical accuracy, appearance and organization. 5. One report should be submitted to the I.T. Internship Coordinator and the Intern should retain an additional copy. Organization Each report will include five sections in the order described below. The content and comprehensiveness of the main body and appendices of the report should include the following: 1. The Title Page--title (An Internship Experience Report For (Your Name), name of internship organization, name of the Supervisor/Mentor and his/her title, date started and completed, and number of credits for which the report is submitted. 2. Table of Content--an outline of the contents by topics and subtopics with the page number and location of each section. 3. Introduction--short, but should include how and why you obtained the internship experience position and the relationship it has to your professional and career goals. 4. Main Body--should include but not be limited to daily tasks performed. Major projects contributed to, dates, hours on task, observations and feelings, meetings attended and their purposes, listing of tools and materials and their suppliers, and photographs if possible of projects, buildings and co-workers. 5. Appendices--include pamphlets, forms, charts, brochures, technical and descriptive literature, graphs and other information related to your Internship experience. How Are Internships ObtainedThe ultimate responsibility for obtaining an internship rests with the Intern. The University does provide assistance. The following modes are available for obtaining an internship: 1. Agreements--The University maintains agreements with some organizations in an on-going basis. 2. Referrals--Interns may check with the faculty advisor or I.T. Internship Coordinator regarding internship availability. 3. Self--Interns may make their own contracts to arrange for internships. Role of I.T. Internship Coordinator1. Work with the Intern and his/her Supervisor/Mentor in completing the Internship Agreement Form. 2. Responsible for maintaining contact with Internship Supervisor/Mentor, visiting internship site if possible, reviewing the Internship Report/Journal, conducting a post-interview with Intern. 3. Evaluate internship experience materials and assign grade in a timely manner. Role of Supervisor/Mentor1. Work with the Intern and the I.T. Internship Coordinator to complete an Internship Agreement Form. 2. Provide supervision and mentoring relationship for the Intern as described in Internship Agreement Form. 3. Assess the Intern’s experience at the 6th and 12th week by completing the Student Intern Evaluation Form. After discussing the results with the Intern, the form is then send to the I.T. Internship Coordinator. An Intern Represents Bemidji StateRemember, that as an Intern you are representing, at a professional level, the quality and integrity of the Industrial Technology or Design Technology programs at Bemidji State University. It is expected that the Intern will exhibit the highest possible moral and ethical judgment at all times. Many firms have concerns that supervising/mentoring an Intern will require immense amount of “close supervision.” Professionals in industry realize that many times they must go the extra mile to get the job done without close supervision at all times. This is the key attribute of any professional. Always ask pertinent questions when you do not understand the assignment. Questions are an expected as part of the learning process and experts in the field can view the absence of questions negatively. A successful internship experience is up to you. Intern’s Check List__ Study the Internship Guidelines. __ Talk to your faculty advisor about the role and timing of an internship experience. __ Meet with the I.T. Internship Coordinator and discuss all internship requirements. __ Interview with potential organizations providing internships. __ Prepare the Internship Agreement Form and obtain signatures of all required parties and return the form to the I.T. Internship Coordinator. Retain a copy for your files. __ Serve internship. If you have any questions, concerns or need assistance during your internship, you should contact your I.T. Internship Coordinator or your Supervisor/ Mentor. __ Make a minimum of two required contacts via email with the I.T. Internship Coordinator discussing your progress. __ Remind your Supervisor/Mentor to complete the Student Intern Evaluation Form at the midpoint and the end of your internship. Return the completed written evaluations to the I.T. Internship Coordinator. __ Notify the I.T. Internship Coordinator 3 weeks before your internship is complete as to when your Internship Report/Journal will be arriving in the Industrial Technology Department. __ Submit the required Internship Report/Journal upon completion of the internship. __ Schedule post-interview with I.T Internship Coordinator. |