Faculty Moderators

Frequently Asked Questions:

What are the policies for moderating an internship?

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What is expected of a faculty moderator?

When a student is earning internship credits, the role of the faculty moderator is to make certain the internship is a valuable learning experience for the student. Faculty can do this by helping the student plan what goes into the Registration for Internship Learning Contract. Make sure the student understands your expectations prior to the start of internship when writing up this registration form, Registrar forms. After the internship has started, make sure the intern completes any revisions to the contract.

What should a faculty moderator expect of the intern?

In addition to the reports to the Internship Office and the site supervisor evaluations, the faculty moderator requires the student to do interpretive thinking and critical analysis in a number of ways. This may include regular journals, a portfolio, a final paper, several small papers or a final presentation. Faculty may also provide a book list and require book reports or an annotated bibliography.

When should students begin searching for an internship?

Students planning an internship should begin discussion with their faculty advisers as early as possible. Meetings with your advisees are an opportunity to discuss interests and help them plan ahead. Active planning for an internship for academic credit should begin no later than the student's junior year.

What's Covered in the Legal and Professional Issues Session? The Legal and Professional Issues Session, conducted by the internship coordinator, informs students about: the professional expectations of internship site supervisors, registration procedures, legal issues in the workplace and program requirements. This session is REQUIRED for all interns before registering to earn internship credits. It is offered at various times throughout the year. Check the Internship Program Calendar for dates and times. Students can pick the time that works best with their schedule and do not need to register for this session.

What is the Registration for Internship Learning Contract?

This form (the registration form) must be completed by the student in order to register for internship credits. Before the internship begins the student discusses with the site supervisor, their academic, professional and personal goals in the context of potential projects and responsibilities available at the site. The supervisor may provide a job description which the student and faculty moderator can refer to when they meet to discuss goals. The student then prepares a rough draft of their goals and objectives and meets with their faculty moderator for guidance and approval. Faculty moderators should also discuss their evaluation requirements at this time. Goals, Objectives and Means of Evaluation are outlined in final form on the Registration for Internship - Learning Contract. This outline functions as a learning agreement between the parties involved in the internship and as such is signed by the intern and requires an approval signature from the site supervisor, the faculty moderator, the department chairperson and the Internship Director.

Under what circumstances should the faculty moderator ask for a Revised Learning Contract?

In circumstances where goals and objectives are not firm at the time of registration, faculty may require a Revised Learning Contract from the student. Examples: the student is unable to get a clear assignment of responsibilities from the supervisor prior to the start of the internship or the faculty moderator determines the student’s goals and objectives are inadequate but registration cannot be delayed. In these instances the student may register with a broad outline and the faculty moderator will require a Revised Contract a week or two after the start of the internship. This requirement should be listed in the Means of Evaluation column on the registration form. The student will need to sign the revisions, have the supervisor and faculty moderator sign, and submit a signed copy to the Internship Office.

It is also possible for a student to initiate a change in the goals and objectives in the first week or two after the internship begins. When work content or goals change or evolve after the start of the internship the student, in consultation with the faculty moderator and the site supervisor, may revise the goals and objectives outlined on the registration form. The student, faculty moderator and site supervisor will sign the revised contract and the student will submit a signed copy to the Internship Office.

What reports will I receive from my intern through the Internship Office?

All student interns prepare a Registration for Internship Learning Contract. You will receive a copy after all approval signatures have been obtained. The Internship Office requires all interns to complete two online reports within the first two months of their internship. Specific deadlines for semester reports can be found on the Internship Report and Due Dates page. After the Internship Office receives them, we will forward copies of these reports to you, generally by email. If you require a final paper, the student should submit this directly to you, with a copy to the Internship Office.

How much time is an intern required to work when taking an internship for credit?

Duration of Internships for Credit:

Academic Year: 16 weeks over one semester

Summer: 12 weeks over summer break

The minimum hour guidelines for earning internship credits:

1 to 4 credits: 160 hours in one semester

8 credits: 320 hours in one semester

16 credits: 640 hours in one semester

What are the best ways for me to maintain contact with my intern?

Prior to the start of the internship you and the intern should agree upon a method of contact. This can be done when you meet with the intern to plan the Registration for Internship Learning Contract. Students expect to remain in contact with you and they appreciate your feedback. You should expect your intern to call or email you periodically, for example every two or three weeks. You may also want to contact your intern. Phone numbers for contacting your intern are listed on the registration form. You may also phone or email the Internship Office for help in contacting an intern.

What is the role of the CSB/SJU internship staff during the internship?

The internship staff acts as a liaison between the student, college faculty, and the organization providing the internship. This involves monitoring the intern's progress, providing information for all parties of the internship, and receiving feedback from the organizations where interns are placed. Contact with you may include a conference call or site visit with the intern, the intern's site supervisor and faculty moderator, and the Assistant Director of Experiential Learning & Community Engagement. We encourage you to contact the Internship Office at any time.

How is the internship opportunity publicized on campus?

Organizations interested in offering an internship are directed from our website to eLink, an online internship and job listing site sponsored by Career Services. Students can register and begin using eLink at any time. Most students will register no later than their junior year. The Internship Office also sends emails to students and faculty with information about internships of particular interest to our campuses.

How is a student evaluated in order to earn credits for the internship?

The Internship Office requires the student to turn in 2 reports within the first two months of the internship. The faculty moderator requires the student to do interpretive thinking and critical analysis in a number of ways. This may include weekly journals, a portfolio, a final paper or presentation or several small papers. Faculty may provide a book list and require book reports or an annotated bibliography. The site supervisor's mid-term and final evaluations of the intern are additional criteria used to determine the student's grade. Faculty requirements should be listed on the Registration for Internship Learning Contract in the Means of Evaluation column. The individual department will determine whether to grant a letter grade of pass/fail grade.

What is the Learning Contract?

Before the internship begins the mentor or site supervisor discusses the student's goals in the context of potential projects and responsibilities and assists the student to develop a "learning contract" for the internship. The Learning Contract (the registration form) is an outline of the student intern's goals and objectives for the internship. It functions as a learning agreement between the parties involved in the internship and as such is signed by the intern and requires an approval signature from the site supervisor, the faculty moderator, the department chairperson and the Internship Director.

When do internships for credit begin and end?

Fall and spring semester internships generally begin on the first day of classes and end on the last day of classes. Other arrangements may be worked out between the student and the organization provided the student meets the internship hours requirement of the college when taking an internship for credit. During the summer, starting and ending dates may vary, but summer internships are typically 12 weeks in length, beginning shortly after the end of the spring semester and ending shortly before the start of fall semester.

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