INTERNSHIP INFORMATION�AND �APPLICATION TO EARN CREDITS

What is an internship?

An internship is professional experience related to your course of study. The Department of Digital Media and Journalism and the Department of Communication have developed this internship program to grant academic credit for this experience. �The goal is to provide you with a learning experience that allows you to apply your course work to an experience in professional settings. An internship serves as a useful bridge from academia to the work world and will greatly enhance your job possibilities.

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Internships provide significant, professional experience

Your internship placement is meant to provide significant, professional experience and contact with professionals in your chosen field.

Ideally, you will want to intern in the field you aspire to work in some day.

Can I get paid for an internship and earn credit for it?

Most internships are unpaid positions. An organization will offer you a hands-on learning experience in exchange for your efforts.

If you can get a paid internship that’s great! Many major media organizations offer paid internships, which are permitted and encouraged.

What does NOT count as an internship?

Internship credit is not given for doing clerical work, working in your family business or doing a job you’re already doing. The Department will not approve of internship credits for The Disney College Program or blog sites such as Her Campus, Spoon University, Dorm Room TV, the Odyssey, College Fashionista or sports blog sites.

Read these Guidelines for Internships

• Credits are not given retroactively. You must earn internship credits during the semester you are performing the internship.
• No internships over the winter break.
• You must get your internship placement approved, and enroll in the one-credit seminar that runs along with your first internship experience.
• You may take more than one internship during your college career as long as the total credits do not exceed 15.
• In most cases, you will want to plan your internship for the last year in college, but you can start earlier if you have completed all requirements.
• Students who wish to earn more than 6 internship credits require Department Chair and Dean approval and additional assignments to demonstrate learning outcomes. See Internship Coordinator.

Eligibility requirements to earn credits

You must have:

• 60 total credits
• 30 credits at New Paltz (1-year residency)
• 18 credits in the major
• Minimum GPA of 2.5
• Journalism and Strategic Communication majors must complete two of the following writing courses:
• Journalism 1
• Journalism 2
• Feature Writing
• Public Affairs Reporting
• Intro to Strategic Communication
• Writing for Public Relations

When should I apply for eligibility?

Apply as soon as you have 60 total credits and 18 in your major! It’s a 1-time application. Once approved, you can intern anytime thereafter, as long as your GPA remains above 2.5.

• Submit application by the deadline:
• For Spring Semester Internships - Second Friday in November
• For Summer Session Internships - Second Friday in March
• For Fall Semester Internships - Second Friday in April

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Determine how many internship credits you need (check your progress report)

REQUIRED MINIMUM INTERNSHIP CREDITS FOR DMJ STUDENTS:

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Production major 3 credits

Management major 3 credits

Journalism major 4 credits

Journalism minor 3 credits

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Look in the major section of your progress report for the number needed:

What type of Academic Credit will I earn for an Internship?

Internship credits are upper-division, non-liberal arts electives. Internship credits are graded as Satisfactory or Fail (S or F).

According to college policy, you may apply a TOTAL of 15 credits of Internship, Fieldwork, and Independent Study toward graduation. You may take more, but they simply will not count toward graduation. The number of credits you can earn is determined by the number of hours you work. The seminar is NOT included in these totals.

The Internship Seminar asks students to reflect on their learnings in the internship

The Internship Seminar (DMJ491 or CMM491) is an online, 1-credit course aimed at helping the student reflect on the internship experience and leverage it for career readiness. Assignments include discussions, a career research paper and a digital portfolio.

The Internship Seminar is an upper-division, liberal arts credit graded with a letter grade. Students must earn a C- or better in the Seminar for it to count toward the major. If you take two or more internships, you only have to take the seminar the first time.

Note: Your first internship (for credit) must be at least 3 credits.

**NOTE: Summer internship credits are not part of your annual tuition charges. �Summer internship credits must be paid for individually PER CREDIT. �Please see the New Paltz Summer website: https://www.newpaltz.edu/summer/

Students work 40 hours for each internship credit

What if I want to earn more than 6 internship credits at a time?

*Any internship over 6 credits is considered a “High-Credit Internship” that requires special approval and additional assignments to demonstrate learning outcomes.

See Internship Coordinator if you want to earn more than 6 credits at a time.

Read more on the DMJ blog: https://hawksites.newpaltz.edu/dmjnews/2020/09/08/want-to-earn-more-than-6-internship-credits-follow-the-high-credit-internship-policy-process/

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What if I’m a double major or both my major and minor require internships?

You will need to do separate internships for each DMJ major or Journalism minor – to satisfy the credit requirement for each.

It’s possible to satisfy both requirements in one 6-credit internship within an organization (for example the Legislative Gazette, that needs reporters to write, film videos and take photos).

See Internship Coordinator if you want to earn more than 6 credits at a time.

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Follow these steps �to become eligible �to earn internship credits

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First, apply for departmental approval

You must get departmental approval BEFORE you look for a placement.

These are things the Internship Coordinator must have to approve you for an internship:

• A completed application form
• A one-page resume (1 page, single-sided; do NOT list your home street address)
• An up-to-date copy of your Progress Report
• If you are an international student, you must speak with an adviser in the International Student Office to comply with visa regulations.

Read and Save the “Congrats” email!

Once you are approved, you will receive a “Congrats” email (or text message). READ & SAVE IT! It has important info on where to look and how to register for the internship credits!

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If you are not approved, it may just mean your resume needs work. �Re-apply as soon as you can.

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Second, find an internship placement

You must find an acceptable placement in an organization. Finding a placement is just like a job search. The Internship Coordinator can help you by making suggestions, but the responsibility rests with you to be proactive.

These are the things the Internship Coordinator must have AFTER you have a placement:

• The Internship must be approved by the Internship Coordinator prior to registering for credits and starting the internship (email heizn@newpaltz.edu)
• Internship Agreement Form (Completed with on-site supervisor): due within the first week of the semester.

Often, internship host organizations require a letter from SUNY to confirm you are a registered student. Ask the Internship Coordinator for a letter.

Third, request permission to register

In the “congrats” email and text you receive, you’ll get a link to a Registration Permission Request form. You must register for the section that corresponds with the internship credits. (For example, if you are doing a 3-credit internship, you register for DMJ 490_03). If this is your first internship, you must sign up for internship credits and the Internship Seminar, both of which are restricted to Permission of Instructor.

You may NOT register until you have actually secured an internship that has been approved by the Internship Coordinator.

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You must register for the internship by the first day of the semester

Remember, you may NOT register until you have actually secured an internship that has been approved by the Internship Coordinator.

You can take up until the first day of the semester to register for your approved internship. (Don’t panic if you don’t have a placement before your pre-registration time assignment.)

Registration cannot be changed after the Add/Drop deadline, so be sure to register for the right number of credits.

How you find an Internship placement

Look for a placement related to your individual interests.

Check the @npcommedia Instagram page for up-to-date internship opportunities

Check out the Big List of past internships here: http://tinyurl.com/npbiglist

In my.newpaltz.edu, you can access Handshake, which lists job and internship opportunities. Individual faculty members can also provide suggestions.

It is up to you to apply for and obtain an internship with an organization. Passing the department's screening process does not guarantee placement.

What the internship host must provide

The internship host must assign an on-site supervisor who will develop specific tasks and learning outcomes for the internship (See Internship Agreement Form). We view an internship as a stepping stone to professional employment, you should be developing professional-level skills. Stuffing envelopes and answering phones may be a part of any entry-level job, but we do not want you to be an unpaid clerical worker. This is also a violation of federal law.

There must be an on-site supervisor who will train you and mentor you. We request that a supervisor provide a minimum of one hour a week in directing your activities. Good supervisors spend more time, particularly in the first weeks of orientation.

Can I do my internship during Study Abroad?

Absolutely!

If you do an internship overseas through the Study Abroad office, the Study Abroad office will register you for internship credits. You are responsible for asking the Internship Coordinator for permission to register for the Internship Seminar (permission of instructor) unless the overseas internship offers a similar seminar.

International Students Must Get Authorization from the International Studies Office

International Students [non-immigrant visa holders] have additional authorization requirements when they participate in an off-campus placement. This authorization must be entered into the student's immigration record BEFORE they begin an off-campus placement. Please see the International Student Office to update your immigration record with this authorization and obtain an updated immigration form with the authorization listed on it BEFORE you begin the placement. This procedure follows visa regulations set by the US Federal Government. If a student does not get the required authorization from the International Studies Office, the college will be required to terminate their immigration status in order to comply with visa regulations.

Go forth and intern!

There are requirements you need to meet during your internship. These are to ensure you get the most out of this experience and represent New Paltz professionally and eloquently.

• Keep regularly scheduled hours at the internship host organization. Failure to attend work, frequent tardiness or other unprofessional behavior will result in forced withdrawal from the credits.
• By the first week of the internship, submit the Internship Agreement Form. This is a contract between you, the internship organization, and the college.
• During your first internship, take the online Internship Seminar
• Regularly participate in discussions and other assignments listed in the Seminar Syllabus.
• Secure a final performance evaluation from your site supervisor.
• Complete an evaluation of your internship placement.

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What happens if I run into problems?

Speak with the Internship Coordinator right away if questions or problems arise.

Problems might include: not being assigned to the types of activities described in the Agreement Form; being asked to spend more hours at the organization than indicated; not receiving feedback about your progress; or harassment.

If your internship falls through, contact the Internship Coordinator immediately. (If you remain registered for the internship but don’t complete it, you will earn an “F” for the credits, which will affect your GPA.)

We are here to help you get the best experience from your internship, so don't let questions or problems wait.

For more information contact:

Nancy M. Heiz, Internship Coordinator Department of Communication �Department of Digital Media and Journalism

Phone: (845) 257-3460

Office: CSB 64

E-mail: heizn@newpaltz.edu

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