Academic Internships
Only for-credit (academic) internships are recognized by the College as internships. Other work-related experiences, e.g., part-time or summer employment, or job shadowing, are valuable in their own right but should not be confused with the internship experience.

• Academic internships involve a three-way partnership among the student, employer or host site, and the College. They emphasize professional projects and activities rather than clerical duties; tasks and responsibilities should enable students to draw upon, apply, and expand knowledge/skills they have developed in their coursework at Penn State Altoona.
• Interns work a minimum of 40 hours on-site per academic credit. Several Penn State Altoona degree programs have established higher work-hour requirements for internship credits.
• Fall, Spring, and Summer internships are available.
• Internships last a minimum of eight weeks.
• Internships may be paid or unpaid.
• Student-interns register for course credit under the direction of a faculty member. The faculty member (“faculty supervisor”) helps the student to structure the course, communicates regularly with the student during the internship, and evaluates his or her academic performance.
• Academic credit is granted not for work per se, but for successful completion of assignments that integrate the workplace experience with classroom knowledge.

Expectations of Your Organization
The internship supervisor is the most important member of an intern's learning network. Ideally, s/he will have the time and inclination to actively mentor the intern. At a minimum, the supervisor should:

• Provide professionally relevant, challenging work assignments.
  • When planning or assigning work tasks or projects for a student-intern, always ask, “What will be learned from performing the task or working on or completing the project”? “What potential ties exist between the tasks and responsibilities assigned and what the student is studying in a bachelor’s-level degree program”?
• Facilitate the intern's introduction into relevant professional networks.
• Meet weekly with the intern to address questions and concerns. Even if you meet and talk informally over the course of the week, set aside a regular time specifically to discuss questions, problems, and progress with your student-intern.
• Formally evaluate the intern’s performance at the midpoint and end of the internship.
  • These internship evaluations are online, and are available for your review at http://www.altoona.psu.edu/internships/evaluations/

Expectations of the Intern
In addition to displaying a high degree of professionalism in all aspects of the work experience, students identify specific, academic learning objectives in consultation with College faculty. They produce written and/or oral work that ties the workplace experience to the classroom, as directed by their faculty supervisor. Interns may make formal, public presentations about the internship.

Expectations of the College
To ensure that the experience is working to the benefit of the intern, your organization, and the College, the College maintains regular contact with the intern and host site supervisor throughout the internship. The College Internship Coordinator is available to assist with issues, concerns, and problems that may arise during the course of the internship experience.

How to Obtain an Intern

• Create a position description outlining key responsibilities, projects, dates, and contact information. See www.altoona.psu.edu/internships/employers.htm. Feel free to contact the College’s internship coordinator directly (see below) with questions or concerns when designing your internship opportunity.
• Send us your internship description well in advance of the anticipated start date. For best exposure, opportunities for the summer and fall semesters should be available by late February or early March. Spring semester internships should be advertised by early November.
• We will work with you to meet your needs. Please contact the Internship Coordinator at your convenience.

CONTACT:
Thomas Shaffer
Internship Coordinator
Office of Academic Affairs
Penn State Altoona
Phone: (814) 949-5789
Fax: (814) 949-5547
E-mail: TLS24@psu.edu
http://www.altoona.psu.edu/internships

Copyright © 2004-2008 Penn State Altoona; Internship Program Tom Shaffer, Penn State Altoona Internship Coordinator 158 Learning Resource Center, 3000 Ivyside Park, Altoona, PA 16601 Phone: 814-949-5789; Fax: 814-949-5456; E-mail: TLS24@psu.edu Site Index | Faculty & Staff Directory | Privacy and Legal Statements | Copyright