Guidelines & Requirements for Credit internships

Introduction  

Queens University of Charlotte has received national recognition for its intensive internship program. As an integral part of the academic experience, 100% of all entering freshman complete an internship as part of their graduation requirements.  If you are interested in hosting a Queens University of Charlotte intern, there are a number of steps you should go through in order to make it the best experience possible.  

Choosing an Intern  

College Central Network, Inc. (CCN) is the nation's leading application service provider (ASP) of career services management tools for small, mid-size and community colleges, as well as art and design schools. This ASP is the primary site that Queens University of Charlotte students use to locate internships. For this reason, we advise all employers to register with CCN in order to post their positions for our students. Using this system you can post your company information, internship job description, academic requirements, etc. For specific posting and registration instructions, link to the "Post a Job or Internship" section of our website.  

Once your internship is posted, students interested in a position will submit a resume/cover letter, based on your instructions. Employers can screen resumes and only interview the students that best fits the organization's needs. We advise employers to invite prospective interns to their office for onsite internship interviews. This allows students to observe the organizational culture and workplace of potential employers.    

After completing interviews, employers should make hiring decisions in their normal fashion - choose the intern that best fits the organization and its needs. The Internship & Career Programs Office is happy to provide references and insight to potential interns.  

Payment Options  

Organizations that are new to hosting interns often times will not have policies set in place as to whether or not the interns should be paid. In order to better guide you, below are some guidelines set by the federal government on proper policy:  

Covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act, students must be paid at least minimum wage if:

1. They provide essential services to the employer; or
2. They are working in a position where someone is normally paid; or
3. There is a history of paying someone to do the work; or
4. Other people are currently paid for the same or similar work.  

Students are not considered employees and do not need to be paid if all six of the following criteria apply:

1. The experience is similar to that which would be given in a vocational program;
2. The experience is primarily for the benefit of the student (this is accomplished if the internship is part of a school curriculum);
3. The student does not displace other employees and works under close supervision;
4. The organization derives no immediate advantage from the student's activities and on occasion may be impeded;
5. The student is not entitled to a job with the organization at the completion of the internship or training; and
6. The student and organization understand that the student is not entitled to wages or any other form of compensation for the training.  

If you do decide to pay your Queens intern, the typical pay range is $8.00 to $15.00, depending on experience, major of study, and the scope of the internship.  It is also common to give a stipend at the end of the internship, instead of providing hourly pay.  In doing this, take into consideration parking fees and other incidentals accrued while on site.    

Internship Paperwork  

There are three important documents employers should be aware of once they have chosen their intern. They are the Queens University of Charlotte Internship Contract, Work Log, and Supervisor Questionnaire. These documents can be found within this packet of information and online.  

Queens University of Charlotte Internship Contract

The Queens University of Charlotte Internship Contract is a signed agreement between the employer, the student, and the University. This contract will detail the intern's duties throughout their time with your organization.  The intern must be doing work beyond administrative tasks that directly relate to their major of study and/or career interests to be approved for academic credit. Once the contract is completed, it is sent to the Manager of Internships for approval.  

• Internship Contract

Work Log

During the internship, hours worked are monitored in the Work Log. Most students keep track of these, along with the supervisor's approval. At the end of the internship the work log must be signed by both parties and given to the Internship and Career Programs Office. Be sure to note that there is a minimum of 86 required work hours for 2 academic credits, 172 hours for 4 academic credits.   

Supervisor Evaluation

The Supervisor Evaluation is used as an assessment tool, providing feedback on the internship experience as a whole. It is extremely helpful to the Internships and Career Programs staff in order to better assess what work. In addition, the evaluation is used to address needed areas of improvement for each student.  

For further information on how to make the internship experience valuable to both you and the intern, link to the  "Internship Best Practices" section of our website.

 

Who to contact with more questions?

Sarah Sipperly
Manager of Internships
704-337-2366
internships@queens.edu