INTERNS

What is an Internship?

An internship is a structured educational strategy that combines classroom learning with productive work experience in a field related to a student's planned academic or career goals.

An internship or 'co-op' is an educational partnership among Students, Institutions, and Employers.

Each has specific responsibilities that include:

• Formal recognition of the internship experience on student records and by the institution as an educational strategy;
• Productive work experiences related to planned career and academic goals in an appropriate learning environment;
• Pre-employment preparation as well as ongoing advising for students;
• Agreement among institution, employer, and student with regard to:
  • Job description
  • Expected learning objectives
  • Minimum work period
  • College enrollment and credit load during off-campus employment
  • Evaluations of quality and relevance by student, institution, and employer
  • Remuneration

More than 200,000 college and university students participate in internship/cooperative education programs annually and the thousands of cooperating employers throughout the United States who are both mentors and beneficiaries of the extraordinary talent pool are indicative of the emphasis that will be given in the years ahead to 'experience-based learning.'

• Internships-ADVS Department Website
• Internships-College of Agriculture Website
• Internships-Career Services Website

Internship Application Procedures And Requirements

1. Require Junior class standing or higher.
2. Animal or Dairy Science major not required, but preferred. Other agriculture and/or natural resource majors are conditionally acceptable.
3. Contact ADVS Internship Faculty Coordinator, Dr. Lyle McNeal, for general questions and information. Contact Tami Spackman for an appointment, and/or
4. Review ADVS Departmental flyers soliciting applicants for advertised established "internship" programs.
5. Resources and/or choice of internship employer/location can originate from one of multiple sources:
   • By ADVS Departmental advisement
   • By the student
   • By USU Co-op Education Office/Staff
   • By ADVS Departmental Internship and Placement Committee
   • Other faculty in and out of the ADVS Department, and
   • Contracts by off-campus prospective and inquiring agriculturally related private enterprises or government agencies.
6. At least one (1) semester prior to the anticipated term in which the student plans to take his/her internship should complete the following requirements:
   • Pick up basic student internship application packet from ADVS Internship Office.
   • Submit initial screening application form to ADVS Internship Office for review by the ADVS Internship Coordinator and the Department Internship and Placement Committee.
   • Screening of application, evaluation and approval by the Department Internship and Placement Committee. Student intern applicant is assigned to a 'Faculty Intern Contact Person' by the committee.
   • Set-up initial appointment and meeting with assigned and/or selected "Faculty Intern Contact Person" and review application procedures, i.e., resume, letters of reference, health examination, etc.
   • Prepare and submit a current resume.
   • Have three (3) letters of reference mailed to the ADVS Department Internship Faculty Coordinator. Prefer at least one (1) letter attesting to the student's character, and at least two (2) letters focusing on the student intern applicant's work ethic from previous employers who had a supervisory role.
   • Submit documentation from a physician (M.D.) indicating current health status, physical ailments, allergies, required medication and any previous conditions that may restrict physical work. The applicant's physical exam should have been conducted within 12 months from when the student plans to be serving as an intern.
   • Purchase and read "Student Manual Cooperative Education Program" booklet from the Career Services and Cooperative Education Office (University Inn, Room 101).
   • Candidate fills out the "draft" form #101A and submit to ADVS Internship Office.
   • Leave both your local and permanent home mailing addresses and phone numbers with the ADVS Internship Office.
   • Once intern candidate's internship file is complete, set up an appointment to meet with your Faculty Internship Contact for review or materials and to schedule interviews (if applicable) with prospective employers.

Forms

Internship Application Form
Intern Placement Contract
Internship Agreement

For further information on internships please contact: