Information For Faculty

Faculty Roles in the Credit-Bearing Internship Program

Faculty members are key partners in the credit-bearing internship program – as faculty internships supervisors, as departmental internship coordinators, and as overall advocates for academic internships.  Your support directly contributes to the success of the students and of the internship program here at Millersville University.  When faculty recommend internships to students, they listen. 

Credit-bearing internship experiences at Millersville University are considered academic courses. As such, there are specific responsibilities expected from all parties involved. As credit-bearing internships are reciprocal experiences, it is important that all parties (faculty, The Career Center, students, and employers) understand their Roles and Responsibilities (PDF). 

Faculty Internship Supervisors

Every student’s internship is supervised by a faculty member in the student’s academic department.

As a student’s faculty supervisor, you are the vital link between the employer and the university, and the key academic mentor for the student regarding their internship.

Effective supervision is an important key to a student’s internship success—both academically and professionally. Faculty supervisors assist students with developing learning goals and objectives, help structure academic reflection for the internship and monitor the student's growth and learning.  If you are a faculty supervisor, you will find the overview of student requirements and outcomes paper guidelines on our webpage. 

Roles and Responsibilities of Internship Faculty Supervisor:

  • Determine from the department coordinator the conditions of student assignment (internship location, duration, work function and responsibilities.)
  • Accumulate a minimum of five (5) communications with the student during their internship experience. Meetings with the student should occur on at least three (3) separate occasions, one of which should be an on-site visit; scheduled by student, preferably around midterm.  If the travel distance from Millersville University is prohibitive the visit may be virtual. We provide the students with an outline for meeting topics:  
    • 1st meeting- planning, create learning objectives/goals
    • 2nd meeting- review goals
    • 3rd meeting- progress reports
    • 4th meeting- site visit 
    • 5th meeting- evaluations
  • Complete mid-term site visitation responsibilities, including a rating/review of the student's work performance in consultation with the student and their immediate employer supervisor.  Encourage the intern to share what they learned; to explain to you and the employer supervisor the processes and work products within the organization, demonstrating what was learned and accomplished in the internship. Guide the student to see the professional roles assumed in the industry.  With the help of the employer supervisor, how can the student assume the roles and responsibilities that reflect the vision, mission, goals, messaging and identity of their organization?  Do not hesitate to connect with the employer supervisor separately from the student to receive the most honest assessment of the experience.  
  • Collect all student assignments and evaluations, and, based on this material and student contact, determine and report the student's grade at the end of the term.
  • Whenever possible, initiate new or expanded contacts for the development of additional internship experiences.
  • Whenever possible, assist the internship student with registration and other liaisons with campus offices.

Faculty Internship Coordinators

Each academic department coordinates its internships under the direction of an appointed faculty internship coordinator. The coordinator is responsible for approving student eligibility, internship job descriptions, and faculty supervisor assignments, as well as problem-solving, communicating, monitoring, record-keeping, and advising. 

Roles and Responsibilities of Department Internship Coordinator:

  • Administer the departmental internship program, collaborating with The Career Center in matters pertaining to the internship program.
  • Approve potential internship job sites in conjunction with The Career Center.
  • Establish departmental guidelines to direct daily operational procedures.
  • Approve potential internship students entering the candidate pool for a possible internship experience.
  • Assign a faculty supervisor (pending the Dean's approval) to a student matched with an employer in accordance with departmental policy. Complete and expedite requisite paperwork (including regular load or overload assignment and determination of cost). The coordinator may maintain a departmental file on each student completing a internship assignment.
  • Assist in the development and maintenance of a qualified student applicant pool through departmental communications to academic majors and faculty.
  • Whenever possible, initiate new or expanded contacts for the development of additional internship experiences.