Occupational Internship Work Site Supervisor's Information Sheet

Southern Illinois University at Carbondale offers courses leading to the baccalaureate in Information Systems Technologies.

Internships are designed to give students practical experience in an area of their career field. Students must spend at least 225 (15 hours/15 weeks) hours during the semester working under the supervision of a qualified work site supervisor who will assist the student in establishing learning objectives to achieve during the work experience.

The arrangement for internships will be established by a written agreement signed by the student, the work site supervisor, and the faculty member. This agreement will include a brief description of the duties to be performed during the internship experience and a definition of the learning objectives for the course.

The work site supervisor is requested to provide a written evaluation of the student's performance and progress at both the midpoint and the end of the internship. Forms will be provided for this purpose. The two (2) evaluations will be a major consideration for determining a final grade for the course; therefore, your reasoned opinion is appreciated.

The student is required to maintain a journal, or log, of the experiences at your work site. This journal should be a complete chronological listing of tasks accomplished, or learning objectives met, rather than a mere hour-by-hour or day-by-day chronology of events. The journal will be turned in at the end of the internship and will be considered as part of the requirements for a grade. The journal must be signed by the student and the work site supervisor.

During the internship, the student will be required to prepare a computer manual (documentation) for a particular task or function they have learned during the internship. This manual should be written in a step-by-step “how to” format with screen shots to illustrate the steps for the user. This manual may range from five to ten pages in length, and will be due by the end of the 12th week of the semester.

Near the end of the internship, the student will be required to write a three- to four-page narrative summary of the internship experience, in general, and the achievement of the learning objectives, in particular.

The portfolio is due the beginning of the last week of the semester (the week before finals week). It should include (1) the student’s current resume, (2) a sheet listing the complete contact information on two individuals from the internship site who have consented to be references (name, title, address, email address, phone, fax, etc.), (3) the original copy of all weekly journals, (4) a copy of the organizational chart of the internship site, (5) a sample of a company brochure or other literature, (6) the software manual/documentation, (7) any other miscellaneous sample projects, and (8) a copy of the final report of internship experiences.

The student will prepare an internship portfolio consisting of his/her current resume, a piece of literature from the internship site, an organizational chart of the internship company or school, student's earned certificates (if applicable), complete contact information on two persons from the internship site who have consented to be references (name, title, address, e-mail, phone, fax, etc)., and examples of student work completed.

The work site supervisor's role in this course is critical in determining the value of the learning experience and assigning an academic grade. By accepting this role, you agree to serve as a role model; to contribute your experience, knowledge, and supervisory abilities to an important practical learning experience for an interested student.

Please allow the student to actively contribute to work site activities while he or she is learning from you. Challenge the student with assignments and responsibilities that require application of skills and knowledge. Please do not expect the student to perform only menial tasks or tasks others wish to avoid.

We at Southern Illinois University Carbondale appreciate your cooperation and willingness to work with our students and the university and sincerely desire this to provide a mutually beneficial experience for all concerned. Please contact the school Director person if you need further information or encounter any problems.

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