The following guidelines describe areas of responsibility for the internship participants: the Department of Writing Studies, Rhetoric, and Composition, sponsoring agency, and student.

Responsibilities of the Writing Studies, Rhetoric, and Composition faculty advisor:

Guide students to internship preferences that are appropriate for their interests, ability, and academic experience. This process should lead to the selection of at least two or three placements that would interest the student.

Responsibilities of the Writing Studies, Rhetoric, and Composition faculty site sponsor:

Complete the Internship Proposal Agreement in collaboration with the student. The student will take the completed, signed form to her advisor.

Maintain regular contact with the student throughout the semester via electronic journals, blog entries, and/or face-to-face meetings to help the student analyze and assess the success of the internship experience, and assist with any challenges that may arise.

Contact the internship site supervisor at least twice during the semester to check on the intern’s progress (mid-term) and to solicit an evaluation of the intern (end of semester).

Provide a course grade at the end of the semester, based on

• ongoing progress reports from the student
• the internship site supervisor’s assessment of the student
• a reflective essay from the student
• any other requirement documented on the Internship Proposal Agreement

Responsibilities of the internship supervisor/sponsoring agency:

Design and supervise a program of work that will involve approximately 135 contact hours during the course of the semester. This work should provide the student with as many opportunities as possible to develop communication skills.

Offer regular guidance that will support the intern and promote his or her success.

Communicate regularly with the faculty site sponsor about the student's work, including a brief oral or written midterm and end-of-semester evaluation.

Student's responsibility:

Work with the faculty site sponsor and agency in designing projects that will be completed during the course of the internship.

Maintain a regular schedule that will allow for the successful completion of 135 hours of work for the sponsoring agency.

Behave professionally and demonstrate an awareness of the expectations of the sponsoring agency.

Prepare a portfolio (paper or electronic) containing texts that document the student's learning through the internship. The student and faculty site sponsor will work together to determine appropriate deadlines for submitting portfolio items.

For more information, contact Faith Plvan, Assistant Director, The Department of Writing Studies, Rhetoric, and Composition, 315.443.9314, fsplvan@syr.edu