School of Creative Arts Internship Program
At the University of Saint Francis, internships are a fundamental part of the academic process. The internship joins together students, faculty members, and employers in order to provide a real-world learning experience for the student.
The School of Creative Arts requires every student to participate in an internship. These required internships provide opportunities for students to integrate work and formal education under the guidance of professionals in his/her major field of study, and to test career choice decisions. Internships can be on or off-campus, and paid or unpaid.
The School’s active relationship with professionals in the region aids in the process of placing students in ideal environments. This reinforces the professional world of work outside the normal classroom experience. Students learn to develop and build networks that will help in their search for that first job and will allow them to create professional, productive relationships that will last a lifetime.
General Requirements
- Interns will be assigned a mentor/supervisor.
- The mentor/supervisor will be responsible for monitoring the progress of the intern, sharing feedback about work performance, providing training, and assigning meaningful projects and tasks.
- The mentor/supervisor will also be responsible for completing an evaluation form on the student’s performance at the conclusion of the internship.
- Intern will be provided meaningful work assignments.
- Interns want an opportunity to put into practice what they have learned in the classroom.
- When creating assignments for the intern, organizations consider the essential skills and experiences they seek when hiring an employee for a similar professional position. These are the skills and experiences that are taught and provided by the internship.
- Organizations provide an Intern orientation process, in which interns become acquainted with the work of the organization, the staff, and the workplace environment.
- Prior to the beginning of the Internship, interns are made aware of their specific responsibilities and the resources available to them.
- A thorough orientation process will allow the intern to quickly become a productive member of a work team.
- The purpose of the internship program is clearly stated and is congruent with the college’s mission.
- The internship program has clearly stated goals and learning objectives.
- Internship study should be academically rigorous.
- Adequate time must be devoted to the internship so that the student is fully integrated into the professional environment.
- The student will receive credit for the internship.
- The student should receive orientation to the internship that provides a framework for learning.
- Qualified faculty supervise students during internships.
- The student’s progress and learning is assessed by qualified faculty members and based on learning outcomes.