Student Internship Program

Fall 2007 Syllabus

Mrs. Diana Kirtley, Coordinator
Room B-306
Telephone Number: 240-497-6328
Email (preferred method of contact)

What is an Internship?
A student internship is an unpaid, career-focused experience during which students become directly involved in the workplace. This experience provides an opportunity for a student to apply the skills obtained in school to real work situations and to learn additional skills. An internship will also help students to define career goals.

Program Goals. At the end of the semester, students should be able to:
          • Identify a career cluster of interest
          • Determine whether a career is compatible with interests, values, skills, and aptitudes
          • Prepare a resume
          • Write a correct resume cover letter
          • Develop interviewing skills
          • Write correct, timely thank you letters
          • Set priorities, plan use of time, adhere to a schedule
          • Develop effective interpersonal skills with workers and supervisors
          • Develop important work habits such as promptness, reliability and accuracy
          • Understand the evaluation process in the workplace
          • Explain the correct business attire and etiquette

Minimum Requirements:
In order to earn credit for internship, students must work a minimum number of hours, as follows:
            3 period interns             225 hours/semester = 15 hours per week
            2 period interns             150 hours/semester = 10 hours per week
            1 period interns               75 hours/semester =   5 hours per week

The hours may be arranged to suit the convenience of the supervisor and student. Hours will be given for classroom participation during the first two weeks of school and for attendance at seminars.

Unit I: Career and Placement Preparation

September Schedule:
We will meet in classrooms August 27– September 7. Two and three period interns will meet during Period 6, and single period interns will meet during Period 7. Specific class location announcements will be made during class, as well as posted daily on the Internship Office (B-306) door. Beginning September 10, each intern will report daily to the Internship Office to either sign out (if the intern has a placememt) OR to meet with me to locate an internship.

We will meet as a class again Wednesday, September 19, and Wednesday, September 26. After September we will meet twice a month on different days. A schedule of these seminars will be provided at the beginning of each month so that you can work your hours around it.

ATTENDANCE AT SEMINARS IS MANDATORY UNLESS CLEARED WITH ME IN ADVANCE.

Performance assessments:
Quarter 1:

Reporting regularly to an internship & completing assigned tasks/duties	300 points
Attaining half the required semester hours	100 points
Weekly emails (minimum 3 per month)	200 points
Goals and objectives	25 points (due Tues., Aug. 28)
Resume – bring existing resume to class	25 points (due Wed., Aug. 29)
Resume (revised) [eligible for reassessment]	50 points (due Fri., Sept. 7)
Cover letter (for resume) [eligible for reassessment]	50 points (due Fri., Sept. 14)
Thank you letter (following interview) [eligible for reassessment]	50 points (due Wed., Sept. 19)
Job description, signed by supervisor	50 points (due Thurs., Sept 27)
Special project: a journal* [eligible for reassessment]	100 points (due Wed., Oct. 3)
Your supervisor’s evaluation of you	50 points (due Thurs., Oct. 18)
TOTAL POINTS:	1,000

* Refer to Grading and Reporting Addendum distributed in Administrative Units. The Internship grading scale is based on the 100 point grading template.

Unit II: Professional Character

Performance Assessments:
Quarter 2:

Reporting regularly to an internship & completing assigned tasks/duties	300 points
Attaining half the required semester hours	100 points
Weekly emails (minimum 3 per month)	200 points
Special project: an interview*           Typed Narrative           Typed copy of interview notes           Copy of thank you note to interviewee	(Due Wed., Dec. 12)   100 points     50 points     50 points
Your supervisor’s evaluation of you	50 points (Due Fri., Jan. 4, '08)
Portfolio**	150 points (Due Fri., Jan. 11, '08)
TOTAL POINTS:	1000

**Compile a portfolio of internship materials. You may use a three-ring binder or pocket folder. Your portfolio must include, where applicable, both draft/teacher edited and polished copies of the following:
          • Cover sheet
          • Goals and objectives
          • Job description
          • Resume and sample cover letter in correct business format
          • Sample thank you letter (after an interview)
          • Copies of emails sent to internship coordinator (minimum 12)
          • First quarter journal
          • Interview assignment
          • Personal reflection
          • Something of added interest, e.g. photos, company brochures, etc.

*Refer to Grading and Reporting Addendum distributed in Administrative Units. The Internship grading scale is based on the 100 point grading template.

The Internship Syllabus is posted on Edline where specific assignments listed on the syllabus are also posted in the Internship Homework folder.

Re-teaching/re-assessment policy: Refer to syllabus for assignments eligible for reassessment. The re-assessed grade will replace the original grade.

Make-up work policy: Make-up work will be accepted up to one week following assignment due dates and will drop one letter grade per day the assignment is late. Weekly e-mail assignments are not eligible for make-up credit.

Student support opportunities: Students are encouraged to schedule appointments for support in the Internship Office (B-306) during lunch and after school Monday through Friday.