Internship Responsibilities

Internship responsibilities for students

In order to complete an internship, it is your responsibility to:

  • Apply to positions of interest in order to secure a placement site. The application process will include you creating and submitting a resume and participating in an interview with each employer. Applying does not guarantee placement.
  • Find a faculty sponsor.
  • Complete and submit the learning contract.  
  • Schedule your hours so that the expected number of hours can be completed within a given semester.
  • Complete the work and evaluation requirements listed on the learning contract.
Credits & Hours of Work/Semester
  • One credit hour requires 45 hours on site.
  • Up to six credits can be earned in a single semester for an internship experience.
  • Time spent completing assignments listed in the learning contract under “Evaluation Requirements” does not count towards the 45 hours/credit.
credit hours and hours of work per semester
Internship Credits Hours of Work /Semester
1 credit 45 hours (3 hours/week)
2 credits 90 hours (6 hours/week)
3 credits 135 hours (9 hours/week)
4 credits 180 hours (12 hours/week)
5 credits 225 hours (15 hours/week)
6 credits 270 hours (18 hours/week)
Learning Contract

Internships must have a learning contract. Students will complete a learning contract after meeting with Career Services.

  • Completed and signed learning contracts are due within one week of the start of an internship.
  • It is the student's responsibility to meet with the faculty mentor and establish learning outcomes and methods of evaluation for the contract.
  • It is the student's responsibility to meet with the site supervisor and establish the job description for the contract.
On-campus Interns

On-campus interns are considered JCC student workers and must complete onboarding paperwork with Human Resources. As an intern, you can't start your hours until Human Resources has provided you with a start date.

Paid interns must also complete bi-weekly timesheets in Banner, just as other employees do. It is your responsibility to:

  • Complete all required onboarding paperwork and submit all required documentation to Human Resources within one week.
  • Enter bi-weekly timesheets in Banner on time by the deadline. Contact your internship supervisor or Career Services if you don't know how to enter timesheets.
  • Immediately contact your internship supervisor with any issues related to timesheets (your timesheet is not in Banner, you forgot to enter a timesheet but worked hours, you entered the wrong number of hours, etc.). Failure to enter timesheets on time will result in a delay with your paycheck.

More JCC student worker responsibilities »

Career Services Forms

Forms for students to complete:

Forms for hosts and site supervisors to complete:

Internship responsibilities for faculty mentors

Faculty mentors oversee the educational mentorship of the internship.

    Faculty Mentor Responsibilities
    • Help students identify potential placement sites, as necessary.
    • Work with the student to identify appropriate educational objectives, assignments, and evaluation requirements.
    • Sign the learning contract.
    • Maintain regular contact with the student to ensure they are meeting expectations. Weekly or bi-weekly meetings with students are encouraged to address any issues or concerns that may arise.
    • Maintain regular contact with the site supervisor to ensure their expectations are also being met.
    • Work with Career Services, as needed, to request professional development training for students or address other concerns throughout the internship.
    • Evaluate student work, provide regular feedback, and assign a grade.

    Internship responsibilities for site supervisors

    Site supervisors oversee the career work experience of the internship.

    Site Supervisor Responsibilities
    • Clearly state expectations of the intern in the learning contract.
    • Provide a wholly educational experience, especially if unpaid (i.e. no “grunt work” unrelated to the listed job requirements).
    • Mentor the intern by giving them exposure to various aspects of a particular career and engaging them in meaningful work.
    • Communicate directly with the intern to address any issues that may arise throughout the internship. Career Services is  available to provide support and assist if needed.
    • Respond to requests for information from the student and/or faculty sponsor for the purpose of evaluating progress.
    • Complete the Intern Evaluation Form for each intern you host in a given semester. Career Services will email this form to you.
    • Review the NYS DOL wage guidelines for interns for non-profit organizations or for-profit businesses, depending on your business type.
    Additional Responsibilities for On-campus Site Supervisors

    Paid and unpaid on-campus interns are considered JCC student workers and must complete appropriate onboarding paperwork with Human Resources. Interns cannot start their hours until Human Resources has provided a start date.

    Paid interns must also bi-weekly timesheets in Banner, just as other employees do. As their on-campus site supervisor, it is your responsibility to:

    • Ensure students submit bi-weekly timesheets on time any time they have worked hours in a given pay period.
    • Approve bi-weekly timesheets on time by the deadline. Contact Career Services or Human Resources if you do not know how to approve timesheets.
    • Immediately contact Payroll and Human Resources with any issues related to timesheets (.timesheets are not in Banner, student failed to submit, you failed to approve, etc.). Failure to enter or approve timesheets on time will result in a delay with the student's paycheck.