ACADEMIC INTERNSHIP PROCESS

  1. Students looking for internship:

If a student needs assistance finding an internship, they may be referred to Career Center Bronco Connection in finding academic (paid/unpaid), as well as, non-academic (paid) internships.

  1. Non Academic Internships:Students may see any Career Counselor. Drop-in counseling is available daily from 11am-3pm; otherwise, students are encouraged to make an appointment via Bronco Connection:
  1. Academic Internship:Students will bereferred to their academic department, faculty internship coordinatorregarding prerequisites and requirements (for example: Must be Junior/senior status, prerequisite course, minimum number of internship hours, learning objectives, supplemental assignments, etc. differ by department).
  • Once students has been offered an internship positionand fulfilled the academic department prerequisites, we ask that the academic department internship coordinator approve the academic internship position (indicated on the Internship Learning Plan) prior to starting the internship. Once approved by the department, the internship partner agreement form, and the site self-assessment forms must be forwarded to CCE for university approval and site visits will be conducted when necessary.
  • REQUIRED FORMS:

Our focus is to protect and provide guidance to our students and CPP colleges/departments faculty internship coordinators during the internship process. In order to successfully comply with the CSU policy, we ask that the academic department have the following formscompleted:

  1. Partner Internship Agreement

(Completed by Employer/Partner)

  1. Site Self –Assessment

(Completed by Employer/Partner)

  1. Academic Internship Learning Plan

(Completed by student)

  1. Academic Internship Release of Liability Form

(Completed by student)

  1. Student Emergency Contact Form

(Completed by student)

The forms can be found on our CCE website at

  1. When Internship Partners/Agencies are looking to hire students for academic internships:
  2. They must register their agency with the Career Center’s Bronco Connect or contact Dawn Finely (909) 869-4048 for university approval to post academic internship positions with Cal Poly.
  3. Once approved, they may contact CCE to forward your information to the appropriate College Department/Faculty or they may contact the academic department directly.

Misc. Information:

  1. International Internships:
  • All international internships must be submitted to the International Center.
  1. Out of State Internships:
  • If the site self-assessment form indicates a necessary site visit with the out of state internship partner, then we would have to be decline the internship.
  • However, if the academic department allows the faculty member teaching the internship class (or the department internship coordinator) conduct the site visit, then the internship may be conducted.
  1. Home-Based/Virtual Internships
  • The University does not allow home-based internship
  • The Universitydefinitely does NOT allow students to work "on-site" at an individual's home.

An individual's home is NOT considered to be a safe work environment.

  • “Virtual” Internships are not encouraged, however, sponsor companies must provide details of how the internship students’ work will be directed and how mentorship will be given. The sponsor company shall meet on campus or at a safe public location with the internship students.
  1. Agency contact information:Supervisor contact information must indicate company email not personal email, like .

Responsibilities:

Faculty Responsibilities:

  1. Develop Syllabus
  2. Educate/guide students during internship
  3. Assign a grade for the academic internship course
  4. Collect the following Academic Internship Forms
  5. Academic Internship Agreement (Stored at CCE)
  6. Site Self-Assessment (Stored at CCE)
  7. Learning Plan (Stored at CCE and Academic Dept.)
  8. Release of liability form (Stored at the Academic Dept.)
  9. Emergency form (Stored at the Academic Dept. copy to Internship Partner)
  10. Submit the following form to CCE for review and approval:
  11. Internship Partner Agreement

(This form must be signed by the organization/agency)

  1. Site Self-Assessment

(This form is an assessment of the appropriateness of the internship site as a placement for Cal Poly students)

  1. Copy of the Internship Learning Plan

(For CCE, this form will confirm academic department approval)

CCE Responsibilities:

  1. Provide information andassistance to all university colleges regarding academic internship policy andprocedures.
  2. Serve as a point of contact with Faculty, department internship coordinators, students, and internshipbusiness partners.
  3. Collectinternship agreements and submit to Associate Provost for approval. Store internship agreements.
  4. Review site self-assessment forms and conduct follow-up site visits with academic internship partners as needed.

The Career Center Responsibilities:

  • The Career Center will recruit, explain process, approve employer as well as meet and screen employers to determine if their opportunity is appropriate for internship. They will also, advise student regarding resume or interview workshops.

Cmd4/12/2017