Requirements
What is Expected of Supervisors?
We expect you to provide career-related work experiences that are of sufficient challenge to college-level students. In addition to providing work that contributes to your organization's mission, we also hope you actively support the student's learning endeavor. Someone who has a heart for the professional development of others should be assigned to supervise the student. That person should:
- Provide a clear job/project description for the work experience
- Orient the student to the organization, its "culture" and their work assignment(s)
- Assist the student in developing/achieving personal learning objectives
- Host an on-site visit from the Internship Faculty sometime during the work term
- Offer feedback to the student on a regular basis
- Complete formal written evaluations at the mid-point and conclusion of the work experience
When a student registers for academic credit to intern at your site, you will be emailed or mailed a confirmation letter and agency agreement form. The latter is a document you will be asked to sign and date.
With an academic internship, the student is automatically covered under the college's general liability insurance. Regarding issues of liability, we support the Statement of Principles Regarding Release and Indemnity Agreements(PDF) (otherwise known as 'Hold Harmless Agreements') approved by the Cooperative Education and Internship Association.
Must an Internship Be Paid?
If your organization is able, we certainly encourage you to consider offering compensation. This may help you attract more quality candidates, as well as solidify time commitments from interns. Many students work their way through college and often give up a paying part-time position to take an internship, so receiving some form of remuneration is appreciated. If your organization is unable to offer a regular wage, consider helping the student with internship-related expenses such as parking fees, mileage, meals, etc.
Unpaid student employment will not violate the Fair Labor Standards Act if it is a training program which meets the following criteria:
1) The training should be similar to that given in a vocational setting
2) the experience is for the benefit of the student
3) students do not displace regular employees
4) the site sponsor provides the training and receives no immediate advantage from the activities of students
5) students are not necessarily entitled to a job at the conclusion of the training period
6) the site sponsor and student understand that the student is not entitled to wages for the time spent in training.
Many employers ask how much they should pay students. The average hourly wage for a Messiah College internship student in 2007-2008 was $9.50.
If your business would like to contribute to the Clifford & Carole Jones Public Service Internship Fund, please contact Michael True at: mtrue@messiah.edu . The fund assists students who are not eligible for other forms of financial aid and are interning in non-compensated, public service-oriented positions.
What Skills Do Students Bring To The Job?
Why should your organization host an intern? What types of skills and background do they bring to the job? As an example, check out our History students(PDF).
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