Internship/Workplace Learning Experiences

ACCESS THE REGION'S TOP TALENT POOL

Internships allow companies to invest in their own future success and perhaps discover new talent and future leaders, while gaining fresh thinking and valuable support for your business and your existing team. By connecting to a diverse pool of candidates, you expand your talent pipeline, and you’ll be able to evaluate potential future full-time employees.

HOW IT WORKS

Internship Site Supervisors are responsible for providing supervision, guidance, support, training, and/or mentorship to the student throughout their internship experience.

In addition to the responsibilities below, employers need to agree with the intent and purposes of Work Experience Education, sign the Employer Agreement, and the student's Learning Contract (prior to the student enrolling in the course), which will include agreed upon job-oriented learning objectives.

Responsibilities include

01

Establishing an appropriate and safe internship experience for the student

To provide a valuable and enriching internship experience that will contribute to success for both your organization and the student, it is wise to be familiar with best practices. The following resources may be helpful:

• How to Create a Great Internship Program (Business Insider)
• NACE's Guide to Internships (The National Association for Colleges and Employers)
• Review the general information provided by the U.S. Department of Labor to determine whether interns and students working for "for-profit" employers are entitled to minimum wages and overtime pay under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

02

Signing the Employer Agreement [PDF]

This form memorializes the Employer's commitment to the student and their learning goals.

03

Coordinating a site visit

Within 3 weeks of the student’s first day on your worksite, the Internship Site Supervisor must coordinate and host a site visit and meeting with the college’s Faculty Mentor.

This visit is required to establish a relationship and communication between the college and the site. During this visit, the Faculty Mentor will verify the safety and appropriateness of the student’s working environment and the appropriateness of assigned internship tasks.

NOTE: For students serving remote internships, a virtual meeting with the Faculty Mentor is sufficient.

04

Completing the Internship Site Supervisor Evaluation [PDF]

One week before the end of the school semester, the Internship Site Supervisor will complete an evaluation form to assess how well the student achieved the three learning outcomes (goals) that were defined on their individual Learning Contract.

This evaluation should be submitted to Kate Ottoson at ksnyder9@occ.cccd.edu. (Katie will contact you with a reminder as that deadline approaches.)

BE A MAJOR CAREER INFLUENCE FOR STUDENTS

Career mentoring will help your students build confidence and relationships, develop resilience and character, and raise aspirations- so you support both their proessional and personal growth! You strengthen relationships with employers, which increases your programs real-world relevance, which in turn helps your own teaching career.

HOW IT WORKS

Faculty Mentors support students in identifying, progressing towards, and achieving their goals at their internship while also providing mentorship around the students' career path of interest.

The Course Instructor (Katie Ottoson) may serve as the Faculty Mentor unless the student has identified a different OCC faculty member (full-time or part-time) who has agreed to serve in this role.

Faculty Mentor Responsibilities include

01

Completing a site visit

Within 3 weeks of the student enrolling into the course, the Faculty Mentor must complete a site visit to the student’s internship worksite and meet with the Internship Site Supervisor.

During the site visit, the Faculty Mentor will verify that the working environment is safe and that the assigned internship tasks are appropriate. For remote-work internships, a virtual meeting with the Internship Site Supervisor is sufficient.

The Site Visit Form must be submitted to Katie Ottoson at ksnyder9@occ.cccd.edu within 3 weeks of the student enrolling into the course.

 02

Meeting with the student

Throughout the semester, faculty mentors meet with the student intern at least twice to discuss overall internship experience, progression of their Learning Contract goals, occupational and/or educational goals, and/or overall career development.

It is the students' responsibility to initiate and schedule these two meetings (but a "nudge" is often necessary from faculty!). You will assign points to the completion of these meetings, so it’s important for them to occur.

 03

Completing the Faculty Mentor Grade Sheet [PDF] 

Near the end of the semester, the student will complete their Final Report and submit it to you for grading and feedback. Students are instructed to submit their Final Report at least 1 week before the last day of the semester.

After completing the Faculty Mentor Grade Sheet, please submit it to Katie Ottoson at ksnyder9@occ.cccd.edu before the last day of the semester.