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THE COOPERATIVE EDUCATION AND INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

AN INTRODUCTION FOR UW-LA CROSSE FACULTY AND STAFF

The Cooperative Education and Internship Program offered through the Career Services Office provides junior and senior level students the opportunity to gain professionally oriented, practical experience before they graduate. The internships provide students with career exploration, hands on application of classroom skills and knowledge and academic credit that can count toward graduation requirements. Students can apply year round for internships offered locally and throughout the United States.

Faculty and Staff Involvement in the Internship Program

Faculty Internship Advisor Responsibilities

Student Intern Responsibilities

Sample Internship Descriptions

Tips for the Internships Search

Benefits of the Internship Program

Faculty Internship Advisor Responsibilities

What is a faculty internship advisor? A faculty/teaching academic staff member that a student selects to oversee their internship experience. Some departments have a pre-determined internship advisor and other departments allow any faculty/staff member advise a student during their experience.

Faculty Responsibilities:

Sign the Credit Approval Form to approve credit for students. All internships done for credit by students are approved in advance by a faculty/instructional academic staff member from the department granting credit. This approval process varies according to department and is facilitated by the Career Services Staff.
Monitor and review periodic work progress reports & employer evaluations. Work progress reports and supervisor evaluations are forwarded to faculty/staff advisors from Career Services.
Optional: Many faculty/staff assign additional papers, journals, presentations or projects to students. This optional assignment is discussed with the student at the time the credit approval form is signed by their faculty internship advisor.
Assign a final grade (pass/fail or letter grade depending on the department) for students at the end of the semester.

If a student is looking for an internship, please refer her/him to the Career Service Office
located at 210 Wilder Hall. Career Services has an on-line system with internship postings
and staff members will work with students on special requests.

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Student Intern Responsibilities

Once a student has found an internship, he/she must notify Career Services immediately to discuss credit options and to obtain the necessary paperwork to register for academic credit .
Students must gain approval of internships by faculty or teaching academic staff members from the department granting credit. This approval process varies according to department and is facilitated by the Career Services staff. The student will need signatures from her/his faculty internship advisor and the department chair. Please review department guidelines on internships listed in the undergraduate catalog.
Student must attend an Internship Orientation Session prior to starting internship. Students will be notified about the session via the Career Services Office.
Paperwork Requirements: Credit approval form, Student/Employer Work Agreement, Work Progress Reports (on-line form), Employer Evaluation (s) & Student Final Evaluation. It is the student's responsibility to submit all paperwork including the employer evaluations.

Completion of additional assignment arranged with faculty internship advisor.

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Tips for the Internship Search

The Search Process:

1. Start searching early. Most spring semester internships are posted in September. Most summer internships are posted in January. Most fall semester internships are posted in March.

2. If a student doesn't find an internship that interests them through the Career Services web listing, or if they are interested in a specific internship location, please refer them to Career Services for help with their search. It's important that students begin to investigate early. Many organizations interview and hire their interns months before they begin.

International Internships:

For more information on international internships, please contact the Office of International Education. Career Services does not assist in finding international internships but will assist in international job searches and domestic-based internships with international organizations.

Viewing Internship Postings at Career Services:

1. Students should prepare a resume to upload to Eagle Opportunities, the UW-L Career Services online system. Resumes must be in either .doc, .rtf or .pdf format. Resume samples can be found on the Career Services Home Page. If students need help, Career Services staff will assist them by reviewing a draft of their resume. Students can make an appointment by calling (608) 785-8514.

2. After registering, students can view internships on-line. They log into the Eagle Opportunities system by clicking on “Login to Eagle Opportunities” from the Career Services Home Page. Enter their User ID and password. (Career Services will supply these when they register). Click on “Internships and Job Search”. To search internships do an "Advanced Search". Select "Internship" and under majors, click on "Add" to add your major. Do not enter other variables. Click on individual internship "job id" for further details and the application process. To apply for internships:

Read the instructions: Some organizations will ask students to apply directly to them. If organizations don’t ask them to apply directly, simply click on the “Submit Resume” button and their resume will be sent to that employer by Career Services on the deadline date.

Taking an internship for credit or not for credit:

1. Notify Career Services as soon as an internship has been secured. It does not matter if the internship is for credit or non-credit. We keep an official record of all student interning throughout the semester. If a problem arises during the internship, we will have record of the experience and may be able to help.

2. If the student is taking an internship for credit:

Visit the Career Services Office for the Credit Approval Form.
Students must secure a faculty internship advisor in their academic department and review the requirements for that department.
Return the completed Credit Approval Form to Career Services.
Attend an internship orientation session (they will be notified of the date and time). This is an extremely important session as students will be given paperwork and instructions for receiving internship credit.

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Benefits of the Internship Program

§Career Exploration - Internships allow students to explore career options within their fields of study.

§Related Work Experience - Internships provide the opportunity for students to gain valuable work experience prior to graduation.

§Academic Credit - Students may earn academic credit for internship experiences.

§Financial Assistance - Students interning with profit organizations may be paid while on their assignments.

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For more information on the Internship Program, contact a Career Services staff member.


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