Internship resources for employers

An internship is a form of experiential learning that integrates knowledge and theory learned in the classroom with practical application and skills development in a professional setting. Internships give students the opportunity to gain valuable applied experience and make connections in professional fields they are considering for career paths; and give employers the opportunity to guide and evaluate talent.

In order to mitigate risk to host sites, students, and the university, NAU complies with the criteria set forth by the Department of Labor Fair Labor Standards Act (Fact Sheet #71) and the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) position statement on U.S. Internships when evaluating internship postings.

Internships can be paid or unpaid but must be a learning experience for the primary benefit of the intern. To ensure that an experience is educational, and thus eligible to be considered a legitimate internship, all the following criteria must be met:

1. The experience must be an extension of the classroom: a learning experience that provides for applying the knowledge gained in the classroom. It must not be simply to advance the operations of the employer or be the work that a regular employee would routinely perform.
2. The skills or knowledge learned must be transferable to other employment settings.
3. The experience has a defined beginning and end, and a job description with desired qualifications.
4. There are clearly defined learning objectives/goals related to the professional goals of the student’s academic coursework.
5. There is supervision by a professional with expertise and educational and/or professional background in the field of the experience.
6. There is routine feedback from the supervisor.
7. There are resources, equipment, and facilities provided by the host employer that support learning objectives/goals.

When determining an intern’s compensation, explore NACE’s Key Factors to Consider When Setting Intern Salaries, keep in mind recent court decisions and lawsuits, and review the U.S. Department of Labor Fact Sheet #71: Internship Programs Under the Fair Labor Standards Act. It is important to note that academic credit does not replace compensation.

International students can bring a wealth of knowledge and cultural capitol to your internship program, but it helps to be aware of the issues with unpaid internships for international students.

In the case of credit-bearing internships, NAU requires an Affiliation Agreement between the internship host and NAU/Arizona Board of Regents to aid in defining the relationship between parties. The agreement must be signed and on file prior to the intern’s first day at the internship site.

Affiliation Agreements are valid for five (5) years unless otherwise stipulated. In some cases, non-standard or multiple agreements may be needed if the duties of different internships require specific language or exceptions to the universal Affiliation Agreement. This agreement will be provided to you by the student’s departmental internship contact.

Students at NAU can complete both credit-bearing and non-credit-bearing internships, and both are equally valuable. Some degree programs require students to earn credit for fieldwork or internships, but others offer credit for these experiences as an option.

Follow these steps to advertise your internship to NAU students.

Supervision

Tips for Supervising Interns

Evaluation templates

Below are recommended templates that can be used as is or adjusted as needed. Just remember that evaluations need to offer questions or prompts that allow for thoughtful and critical evaluation of the student’s perceptions and work, and provide information that can be built upon to strengthen the learning experience.

Intern Self-Evaluation

Supervisor Performance Evaluation