Breadcrumb Navigation

print mail

Protecting the Internship/Co-op Investment

Preparation:

• Plan and organize work assignments and projects in advance of the student's arrival.
• Develop well-defined and specific job descriptions, student expectations, and time schedules. Be prepared to discuss work assignments in the context of the larger project or department goals.
• Closely align the nature of work assignment with students' academic disciplines and functional areas considered to be relevant to the participating departments.
• Consider student's skills and interests in relation to tasks and develop mutually beneficial and measurable learning objectives.
• Establish criteria for performance evaluation where supervisors and students are evaluated.

During Internship/Co-op:

• Provide company/departmental and technical orientation for interns/co-ops as you would any new employee.
• Prepare students to step into the role of a productive professional and help them be perceived as valuable team members.
• Create an atmosphere receptive to "supervised learning." Students will progress quickly where questions are expected and encouraged.
• Include students in meetings and problem-solving sessions.
• Offer a progressively challenging series of work assignments.
• Provide supervision and mentoring by a willing and qualified professional.
• Provide students with objective evaluations and assessment of progress throughout the intern/co-op experience.
• Host an on-site visit by the co-op/intern program staff and/or faculty as needed.
• Offer networking and cross-departmental exposure opportunities.