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Internship Bill of Rights

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e Model Partnership for Students, Employers and Educational Institutions The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars (TWC) has been, for nearly 40 years, advancing experiential learning in higher education. TWC, a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit organization, has worked with hundreds of colleges, thousands of students and scores of internship sites to create valuable academic internship programs. For the first time TWC is making its standards public to help inform best practice for all academic internship experiences. We propose that universities, colleges and educational institutions embrace this Internship Bill of Rights and Responsibilities to create structured learning conditions based on empirical evidence for both interns and internship sites. The chart below explains how the intern, intern supervisor and educational institution can work together effectively. Internship Bill of Rights and Responsibilities 1 Internship Site Foster a professional environment free of discrimination, where the intern enjoys the same respect as other team members. Educational Institution* Coordinate and implement structured pre-internship advising sessions to set appropriate expectations for success in the workplace environment and guide students to identify an internship site that matches their professional and academic goals. Intern Maintain professionalism in all internship interactions, and respect office policies and project deadlines. Respect and Professionalism 2 Internship Site Facilitate goal setting with each intern. Monitor and provide feedback regularly about progress. Educational Institution* Provide intern with framework for Individual Development Plan to evaluate current skill set and specific areas for growth, and share directly with the intern supervisor. Intern Establish individual and professional goals and commit to pursuing them. Goals 3 Internship Site Allocate resources to prepare for intern. Explain organizational culture and structure. Educational Institution* Require the intern supervisor and intern to complete an Internship Agreement outlining professional and academic commitments and review with intern supervisor. Intern Understand work environment, organizational structure and culture. Structured Environment 4 Internship Site Facilitate opportunities for intern to apply academic skills and knowledge to workplace environment. Educational Institution* Make academic credit available for the internship experience, provided it meets standards predetermined by the credit-awarding institution. Provide supplemental seminars and courses that require the intern to reflect on broader aspects of the experience through an academic lens. Intern Actively use workplace experience to enhance academic growth and achievement. Academic Transfer 5 Internship Site Identify intern successes and strengths and offer constructive feedback on progress toward goals. Educational Institution* Require interns to document work and accomplishments, reflect on experiences and identify specific leadership skills. Intern Reflect systematically and deeply on the entire internship and its relevance to future professional and personal development. Self-Reflection

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