The Undergraduate Educational Policy Committee approved the following policy statement October 20, 1997: "All internships offered by departments in the College of ACES must be well-managed at the department level, and students should be registered for internships in such a way as to minimize any need to use EX grades." This policy supersedes all previous policy statements relating to internships in the College.
Program Description
The NRES Internship Coordinator and Faculty Advisors assist students with securing internship positions in natural resources and environmental sciences by individually counseling students and maintaining our Internship Program Website, a central system for disseminating information. The NRES Student Services team members also pursue and facilitate internship opportunities with agencies and organizations.
Requirements
Internship Eligibility
- NRES has no specific requirements or restrictions on the eligibility of an individual student to participate in an internship.
Course Prerequisites
- Prerequisites for NRES 293 Professional Internship include consent of the NRES Internship Coordinator and the internship supervisor.
- Prerequisites for NRES 294 Resident Internship include consent of the NRES Internship Coordinator and the faculty supervisor.
Academic Credits
- It is the responsibility of the student to discuss internship objectives and duties with an academic advisor first.
- The student initiates the completion of Memorandum of Agreement in consultation with the NRES Internship Coordinator and the on-site supervisor. The MOA must be completed and approved PRIOR to participating in the internship.
- The NRES Internship Coordinator along with the student will determine if the internship experience will qualify to earn course credit. This determination is based on factors such as the amount of time worked, the performance of meaningful and professional work and the opportunity for a learning experience that complements the student's academic program.
- There are two different numbers that students may use to earn internship credit. Students doing an internship with a UIUC faculty member should enroll in NRES 294. Those participating in an internship with an institution or organization outside of NRES enroll in NRES 293. In either case, students may earn 1-4 hours of internship credit. The amount of credit is negotiated as part of the Memorandum of Agreement. If the student works at least 30 hours per week for three months, the typical award is 4 credit hours. Credit is pro-rated for internships requiring less commitment by the student.
- For students completing an NRES 293 experience, the student is required to complete a paper and video or PowerPoint during the semester of enrollment in NRES 293. The academic credit is earned for these academic products, rather than the work experience. The academic expectations are:
- Written report of at least 2 pages per credit hour (choose one):
- Final report that is reflective and evaluative in nature-the report should be more than a diary of activities, exploring questions such as:
Please note: These questions are designed to guide you in thinking more deeply about your experience and are not required. Feel free to explore different questions.
- What have I learned in NRES and other college courses that was useful in this experience?
- What did I discover that I need to learn much more about? What course(s) or other experiences can I pursue to learn it?
- Is this an industry/organization/career path in which I would like to work full time? Why or why not?
- What did I learn about the characteristics that are important to me in a job?
- What professional skills do I need to work to develop?
- Given the knowledge gained in the internship, what campus resources and opportunities should I utilize to move me toward my career goals? Set up a task list with deadlines.
- Specific written project required by the employment/internship.
- Final report that is reflective and evaluative in nature-the report should be more than a diary of activities, exploring questions such as:
- Video or PowerPoint illustrating the internship (to be posted on the NRES website) The objectives are to:
- Portray the value of the internship to the student
- Illustrate some of the learning that occurred
- Be visually interesting
- Communicate clearly
- Periodic progress reports to the NRES Student Services Coordinator
Unless a student is participating in a formal internship program structured by the employer, he or she should include periodic progress reports in the Memorandum of Agreement in order to facilitate reflection throughout the experience.
- Written report of at least 2 pages per credit hour (choose one):
- Credit should be awarded during the semester that the academic products related to the internship are completed. In most instances, that will be the semester following the on-site experience portion of the internship. Credit must be arranged the semester prior to the internship.
- Internship credit is not granted for internships completed during high school or the summer prior to freshman year.
- Students may repeat NRES 293 with a second internship but may not earn more than 4 total hours of credit for NRES 293. Credit beyond this may be granted through a Special Problems course.
Grading for NRES 293
- Determined by the NRES Internship Coordinator, the student will earn either S/U. The NRES Internship Coordinator will consider the job evaluation submitted by the on-site supervisor and the quality of the campus projects.
Student Responsibilities
- Initiate Participation - Students should discuss their intention with their advisor or the NRES Internship Coordinator the semester prior to the semester of participation in the internship.
- Determination of Specific Objectives - Students will assume primary responsibility to determine specific objectives of the internship in consultation with the faculty supervisor (NRS 294) or cooperating employer (NRES 293), and will also identify activities that will relate to these objectives.
- For NRES 293, the student will submit the completed MOA to the NRES Internship Coordinator for final approval and signature. This must be completed prior to the start of the internship.
- For NRES 294, the student will provide documentation of an approved experience with an NRES faculty member to the NRES Internship Coordinator to receive NRES 294 registration assistance.
- Students will register and pay tuition and fees in the semester in which the internship is being completed. Students who participate in internships that take them away from campus for fall or spring semester (or both) should notify the Academic Programs office of the College prior to the internship to avoid being dropped from the University and having to apply for readmission.
NRES Internship Coordinator Responsibilities
- Identification of Objectives and Activities - Assists the student pursuing NRES 293 in identifying internship objectives that are consistent with the intention of the program and the student's interests and capabilities. Identifies activities that are consistent with the objectives and are feasible at the selected work site. Indicates support of objectives and activities with signature on Memorandum of Agreement.
- Supervision of External Internships - Provides indirect supervision by reviewing progress reports that are submitted by the intern. Serves as contact person when cooperating employer finds it desirable to discuss aspects of intern program.
- Provides call number for NRES 293 /294 registration.
- Evaluates the required campus project and assigns course grade for NRES 293
Cooperating Employer Responsibility
- Approval of Objectives and Activities - Signature on Memorandum of Agreement signifies that stated objectives can be achieved and stated activities are feasible at the proposed work site.
- Provides the opportunity for a student to receive a professional and educational experience.
- Cooperating employer will complete an intern evaluation for the student.
Memorandum of Agreement Form Instructions for Completing the MOA Form Intern Evaluation Form