SUPERVISING AN ACADEMIC INTERN

Serving as a faculty supervisor of an academic internship entails a few key responsibilities. The Piper Center staff and faculty supervisors of internships work together to:

  • Provide every interested student with internship, career, and experiential learning information.
  • Guide the student in completing the Learning Agreement and Plan, assigning academic activities that relate to learning goals and strategies.
  • Conduct a site visit, when possible, in order to exchange ideas and discuss student progress.
  • Review evaluations and conduct supportive pre- and post-internship reflection sessions with interns.

Supervising a Summer Academic Internship

Supervising an International Academic Internship

Students Plan And Register

Students need to secure their own internship. The Piper Center offers numerous on-line and hardcopy resources that provide internship opportunities as well as assistance with the application/interview process. Students are also advised to network with faculty, staff, alumni, and other community members who may know of internship opportunities.

View student requirements for registering for a Domestic or an International Academic Internship.

Faculty Supervisors Guide And Teach

The faculty supervisor begins playing a key role as soon as a student decides to earn credit for her/his internship. The Learning Agreement and Plan asks the student to detail learning goals and strategies for the internship. The faculty supervisor takes an active role in guiding the student through this process. Once the student has outlined her/his learning goals, the faculty supervisor works with the student to assign academic activities that support the goals and strategies and enhance the student's learning overall.

In order to monitor the student's progress, the faculty supervisor connects with the intern on a daily or weekly basis via email, phone, or face to face. Correspondence is tailored to the needs of the student at the discretion of the faculty member. The faculty supervisor and the student discuss achievements and challenges and revisit the goals outlined in the Learning Agreement & Plan. The faculty supervisor and the student may decide that revisions to the learning goals or academic activities are necessary based on a changed or clarified understanding of the internship. Regular correspondence with the student will ensure that learning goals are met.

Evaluation And Grading

The faculty supervisor outlines and oversees the academic activities for the internship, whereas the site supervisor oversees student performance at the internship site. The faculty supervisor will evaluate the overall internship experience and offer a P/N grade based on:

  1. Regular correspondence with the student intern
  2. Review of the mid-point and/or final performance evaluation forms completed by the student’s site supervisor
  3. Site visit (if possible)
  4. Student's thoughtful completion of the academic activities

Site Supervisor & Intern Self-Evaluation Forms

The Piper Center corresponds with site supervisors to obtain completed evaluation form(s) and will distribute to the faculty supervisor. Faculty members can contact the Piper Center with any questions about the evaluation forms.