Host Site (Employer) Internship Requirements:

To provide an effective, positive learning environment for Rock Valley College student interns, host sites must meet the following minimum qualifications:

Internship hosts must have at least one full-time employee who can serve as a co-educator, mentoring the intern and serving as a resource for questions.

Hosts must agree to all Employer Supervisor Responsibilities including:

• Hosts must have a policy discouraging harassment in all forms and make that policy known to the student intern.
• Hosts must have liability insurance or offer worker’s compensation, depending on whether the position is paid or unpaid.
• The workplace cannot be located in a private home.
• The designated representative from the Host employer site and the intern will complete an online Internship Learning Agreement on the first day of employment. The Host site representative will receive a copy of the ILA in the email provided. This will be used as a contract of learning for the intern.
• Responsibilities must align with what should be expected of a college student at the appropriate level.

The site should be one with which the student has no prior experience. Experiences on the Rock Valley College campus cannot be completed for academic credit.

While part-time jobs are excellent opportunities to gain experience in a professional setting, they do not rise to the level of academic rigor required of the internship program.

In order for an internship to be unpaid, it must follow the following six criteria established by the U.S. Department of Labor.      

1. The training, even though it includes actual operation of the facilities of the employer, is similar to that which would be given in an educational environment.
2. The internship experience is for the benefit of the intern.
3. The intern does not displace regular employees, but works under close supervision of existing staff.
4. The employer that provides the training derives no immediate advantage from the activities of the intern; and on occasion its operations may actually be impeded.
5. The intern is not necessarily entitled to a job at the conclusion of the internship.

Employer Responsibilities:

The company or organization that hosts the internship will be responsible for the following:

1. Create a description of the job duties and responsibilities of the internship as well as any qualifications needed. The description should also contain information regarding whether the internship is paid or unpaid, how many hours per week and if those hours are specific or flexible around student schedules. The description should be sent to the Career Services Specialist.
2. Employers will then receive resumes of interested students and will be responsible for interviewing candidates and making an offer.
3. Prior to the internship or first working day, the intern and employer contact will complete the Online Internship Learning Agreement. The intern and employer contact must complete this step together as both will need to digitally sign and give consent.
4. Provide a safe workplace and advise the student of any dangers associated with the workplace.
5. Provide a calendar for workdays, holidays, and special company events that will affect the student.
6. Provide a copy of the insurance certificate for Worker’s Compensation protection.
7. Assign a worksite supervisor who will provide guidance, direction, and constructive criticism for the student.
8. Reimburse the student intern for any work-related travel or expenses incurred other than to and from work.
9. Contact the RVC Career Services Specialist in the event of special problems or termination of the internship.

Employer – Supervisor Responsibilities: 

Employer Supervisors are the liaison between the employer and RVC Career Services Specialist. They supervise the student intern, constructively critique the intern’s work, and sign off on intern goals & learning objectives and time sheets. The Employer Supervisor will:

1. Provide a positive, supportive learning environment in which the intern may participate in work that directly correlates to their academic major.
2. Provide a meaningful orientation for the intern regarding the organization’s purpose, services, clientele, and operating practices. Make available space, supplies, and other resources needed for completing assignments.
3. Harassment in any form, including sexual harassment, will not be tolerated in this work environment. This behavior may include using explicit language, gestures, graphics, verbal or nonverbal suggestions, subtle or overt threats, and the like. If at any time, an intern is made to feel uncomfortable by a coworker or supervisor, they should report the incident to the site supervisor and faculty supervisor immediately. Action cannot be taken if the incident goes unreported.
4. Review and sign time logs and journals. Notify the Career Services Specialist immediately in the event the intern’s performance becomes unsatisfactory.
5. Complete the Online Student Internship Evaluation form at the end of the internship.

My digital signature below confirms that my company agrees to the above internship application information as well as the employer internship roles, responsibilities and expectations. I understand that the intern position at my company does not fill a preexisting or vacant position and does not displace a current employee.