Center for Transformational Learning and Leadership

COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURAL, HUMAN, AND NATURAL RESOURCE SCIENCES

The Center for Transformational Learning and Leadership

I N T E RN SH I P

The CAHNRS Center for Transformational Learning and Leadership (CTLL) provides students with opportunities to gain industry-relevant work experience while allowing industry personnel to connect with members of their future work force. The CTLL creates a bridge between your organization and talented students. By creating an internship you facilitate a win-win scenario for CAHNRS graduates and for your business.

INTERNSHIP BASICSWhat You Should Know ■ An internship is an on-site, pre-professional experience providing

exposure to career options and work responsibilities.

■ Internships provide students with opportunities to gain practical work experience and to identify essential skills for professional success.

■ Internship length can be anywhere from 2 weeks to 6 months depending on the position.

■ Students are often required to enroll in college credits for internships as part of the curriculum requirements of their major.

INTERNSHIP GUIDELINESEstablishing Your Internship Program ■ Consider your organization’s ability to provide meaningful work assign-

ments, and to invest time in interns through training and supervision.

■ Begin by locating a staff member who would enjoy and benefit from working with an intern.

■ Ensure that the intern supervisor is a professional in the field, and is committed to, and capable of, providing structure and constructive feedback to the intern.

■ Develop goals and learning objectives for the intern and identify the intern’s projects and activities.

■ Consider your ability to accommodate the presence of an intern into your work environment.

■ Assess whether it is feasible for you to provide financial support for the intern and the experience.

Provide anOpportunity

Working at Northwest Farm Credit Services has reinforced coursework, given me valuable insight into what I will look for in a full-time position, and helped me gain  experience  that will assist me in my future career.”

» Jenica HaglerJunior, School of Econimic Sciences

“

This program is designed

to be mutually beneficial.

The intern will acquire

significant life experience

and gain insight into your

business or workplace.

In return, you will have

access to an energetic,

enthusiastic, and creative

student, who may become

a future employee or

colleague.”

» Kimberlee K. KidwellCTLL Director,

Executive Associate Dean CAHNRS

“

Having a good internship

is so important. We need

to experience our work in

the real world. Having a

position with a company

during college helps

make WSU students more

competitive and helps us

begin our careers.”

STEP 1: Gaining Access to WSU Students■ The first step is to create a company overview, job description, and qual-

ifications for the position. Include a brief description of projects, tasks, compensation, location, and time commitment required.

■ Several options are available for recruiting WSU CAHNRS students:

• Register on CAHNRS CougLink, our online internship portal (ctll.cahnrs.wsu.edu/internship/employer-link)

• Attend the annual CAHNRS Networking Night

• Create a Customized Recruitment Event with our CTLL staff

The CAHNRS CTLL staff can assist you with the recruitment process. Please contact us at (509) 335-2243 or email ctll.leader@wsu.edu.

STEP 2: Preparing for the Internship■ Review the CAHNRS CTLL Internship Handbook and the Internship

Mentor Checklist for tips, information and documents for mentors to complete before the internship starts.

http://ctll.cahnrs.wsu.edu/internships/handbook/

■ Meet with your intern to discuss the job description and expected outcomes, decide on start and end dates, and finalize any required documents for signatures.

■ Orient the intern to your work site through a tour and acquaint them with the mission, goals, and policies of your company.

■ Provide your staff with background information about the intern’s project and responsibilities.

STEP 3: Evaluating Your Intern■ Evaluation is a key component of a successful internship. The constructive

feedback that you provide will guide the student’s professional develop-ment. We provide opportunities to enhance the experience for you and your intern by participating in a guided evaluation process.

■ During the internship period, the supervisor and intern should meet frequently to discuss progress and expectations as related to the job description and learning objectives.

■ Mentors should complete the midway and final mentor evaluation surveys (located in the CAHNRS CTLL Internship Handbook, see link above).

■ An exit interview should be conducted with the intern to review their overall performance and accomplishments.

The CTLL is here to assist you with tools and support through every step of the process. To create an internship or advertise your current internships with CAHNRS, contact the CTLL at (509) 335-2243 or by email at ctll.leader@wsu.edu.

“

» Tom JensenHorticulturePoulsbo, WA

Creating a Bridge fromCollege to Career

Internship

• Agricultural and Food Business Economics

• Agricultural and Food Systems

• Agricultural Biotechnology

• Agricultural Education

• Agricultural Technology and Production Management

• Agriculture and Food Security

• Animal Sciences

• Apparel Merchandising, Design and Textiles

• Economic Sciences

• Environmental Science

• Field Crop Management

• Food Science

• Fruit and Vegetable Management

• Human Development

• Integrated Plant Sciences

• Interior Design

• Landscape Architecture

• Landscape Design and Implementation

• Landscape, Nursery, and Greenhouse Management

• Natural Resource Sciences

• Organic Agriculture Systems

• Turfgrass Management

• Viticulture and Enology

• Wildlife Ecology

L E A R N I N G I N T E R N S H I P L E A D E R S H I P C A R E E R N E T W O R K I N G

Support these CAHNRS

AREAS of EXCELLENCE

Contact us today to find out more.

509-335-2243 • http://ctll.cahnrs.wsu.edu