Internship Program

Internship Program

Dear Employer Partners:

Thank you for your interest in our internship program. The following are  documents that will be helpful in participating in the internship program at Hostos Community College

Internship Program

Employer Role

The Internship program is an academic program aimed at creating the foundation of a positive working relationship amongst students, employers, and Hostos Community College.
The Career Services Office looks forward to working with employers to provide professional development opportunities for students.

Please read the following information before submitting position descriptions.

Submitting Internship Descriptions

Employers interested in posting an internship position with the Career Services Office should submit the descriptions to the Career Services Office.

Creating A Job Description

Write a one-paragraph job description and be as specific as possible in describing the student responsibilities. We would suggest you divide the description into parts:

The actual duties student will perform:

  • Summary of the interns daily responsibilities

  • Special Knowledge

  • List any prior knowledge or skills student must possess prior to beginning the internship

  • Some examples include: help desk support; use Microsoft Office (Word/Excel/Access) 

  • Desired Characteristic

  • List traits you would like the student to exhibit during the internship

 

Paid versus Unpaid Internships: U.S. Department of Labor's Fair Labor Standards Act on Internship Programs

If your organization supports unpaid internships, Hostos Community College’s Career Services Office recommends that all organizations review the U.S. Department of Labor's Fair Labor Standards Act on Internship Programs.

It is strongly preferred that organizations pay interns for work performed.

For additional information, please refer to the Department of Labor's Guidelines »
 

Interns: Employee or Volunteer (National Council of NonProfits)

Must a nonprofit pay its interns?
"Interns can be volunteers, in which case they are not paid – or – they may be classified as employees, in which case they receive compensation". 

NACE Position Statement: US Internships

CRITERIA FOR AN EXPERIENCE TO BE DEFINED AS AN INTERNSHIP

To ensure that an experience—whether it is a traditional internship or one conducted remotely or virtually—is educational, and thus eligible to be considered a legitimate internship by the NACE definition, all the following criteria must be met: 

  1. The experience must be an extension of the classroom: a learning experience that provides for applying the knowledge gained in the classroom. It must not be simply to advance the operations of the employer or be the work that a regular employee would routinely perform.
  2. The skills or knowledge learned must be transferable to other employment settings.
  3. The experience has a defined beginning and end, and a job description with desired qualifications.
  4. There are clearly defined learning objectives/goals related to the professional goals of the student’s academic coursework. 
  5. There is supervision by a professional with expertise and educational and/or professional background in the field of the experience.
  6. There is routine feedback by the experienced supervisor.  
  7. There are resources, equipment, and facilities provided by the host employer that support learning objectives/goals. 


Hiring Process

Before students apply for positions they will complete individual sessions with the Career Readiness Coach.

INTERN HIRING TIMELINE

Work terms begin February, June or September

Prior to start of work term

    • Post internship descriptions directly on Sign In | Handshake (joinhandshake.com). 
    • Complete Internship program forms as soon as your internships positions are approved and a student intern is selected.

 

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INTERNSHIP PROGRAM AGREEMENT 

  • Designate an individual to supervise student and serve as liaison between employer and college.
  • Complete a preliminary evaluation during the second or third week of the internship and a final evaluation at the end of the internship. These evaluations will constitute a percentage of the students' final grade.
  • Provide training experiences for student through structured learning objectives.

Once employer, student,  faculty, and a career services staff member have signed the agreement, the student may begin  (F-1 Visa students must contact the International Student Advisor for approval of their I-20 before beginning internship placement). Students are expected to complete minimum internship hours, evaluations, and all corresponding academic assignments. Once assignments and evaluations are submitted the faculty will issue a final grade.

Role of Employer During the Internship

In the beginning of work assignment,  students will need clarification concerning their specific responsibilities, as well as, feedback from supervisors regarding their performance. We ask that supervisors guide students and make themselves available for any questions students may have about their job duties. Employers are encouraged to integrate work assignments that blend academic requirements with company goals. Work environments that provide students with relevant learning experience are win/win for both employers and students.

Thank you.