“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.”
~ As defined by NACE the National Association of Colleges and Employers
Many students recall their internship(s) as a defining collegiate experience. An Internship provides students with external community engagements to coalesce years of academic rigor into applied experiential learning opportunities.
The challenges, hands-on training and success achieved through an internship provide the experience and focus for our students post-graduate success. Internships are an intrinsic element of our Integrated Clusters Model and fundamental to the Plymouth State signature experience.
Plymouth State University students pursue internships for all of the following reasons:
- to develop and enhance their knowledge and skills
- clarify their occupational preferences
- grow personally and professionally
- acquire valuable networking contacts and connections
- add “real world” experience to their resume
- gain letters of recommendation from their internship supervisors
- increase employment opportunities following graduation
Employers
- The proposed experience must be relevant to the student’s discipline and provide a learning experience enhancing the knowledge, skills and attitudes gained from classroom learning. It must not simply advance the operations of the employer or be the work that a regular employee would routinely perform.
- The skills or knowledge learned must be transferable to other employment settings.
- The experience has a defined beginning and end, and a job description with desired qualifications.
- There are clearly defined learning objectives/goals related to the professional goals of the student’s academic coursework.
- There is supervision by a professional with expertise and educational and/or professional background in the field of the experience.
- There is routine feedback by the experienced supervisor.
- There are resources, equipment, and facilities provided by the host employer that support learning objectives/goals.
All off campus partner sites and projects must be approved prior to student engagement. If the desired partner or project is not already approved and sanctioned by Plymouth State University, the student must get approval by the sponsoring on campus office to engage in the proposed project/work. The appropriate university office must contact the organization at least one week prior to the anticipated start date to complete the approval process. The following criteria must be met and documented for approval.
Approval Criteria:
1. The partnering organization and project must support the Plymouth State University mission and sanctioned university curriculum.
2. The partnering organization must provide a safe working environment for students.
3. The partnering organization must recognize student work as an extension of university education and experience.
4. The partnering organization must abide by all State of NH Department of Labor laws
5. Unpaid Internships must meet Federal Requirements
Scholarships
The Morgridge Family Scholarship is a stipend that is bestowed bi-annually to Plymouth State University students planning to support the costs of a credit bearing internship in the tradition of experiential learning. There are basic costs associated with an internship that can be prohibitive for students of modest financial means. The purpose of the Morgridge Family Scholarship Fund is to grant stipend(s) or honorarium(s) to qualified Plymouth State University students to ease their financial burden.
The recipient(s) may use the funds for any costs related to his or her internship: for travel expenses, lodging, clothing, meals, materials, etc. The $500 award is funded from an endowment established at Plymouth State University by John D. (‘85) and Carrie Morgridge.
To be considered for this award, a student must complete all sections of the Application Form, provide a resume, and write an essay of no more than 500 words outlining his or her internship plans explaining how his or her participation, goals, and objectives illustrate a similar spirit, enthusiasm, and willingness to expand oneself with new challenges and exciting opportunities much the same way that John Morgridge did as a student here at Plymouth State University. The essay should illustrate how the award money will facilitate those plans, and should indicate the ways in which the internship experience will benefit the student, the site, and the Plymouth State community.
Application form, essay, and resume must be submitted to the Internship Coordinator, located in Mary Lyon Hall #034 (Garden Level) no later than May 1 for summer/fall internships and December 1 for winter/spring internships each year. The recipient(s) will be announced by mid-May and mid-December respectively.
