COLLEGE OF NATURAL RESOURCES
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
Stevens Point, Wisconsin 54481
Dr. Robert Michitsch
rmichits@uwsp.edu
715-346-4190
Dr. Jacob Prater
jprater@uwsp.edu
715-346-4180
ACADEMIC
SOIL AND WASTE RESOURCES
INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
An internship program is an educational program formally integrating the student’s education with
faculty/employer supervised professional experience. The program’s primary objective is to provide
students with an opportunity to gain practical experience in their chosen field as part of their
education while attending the University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point.
A student in the internship program has the opportunity to earn money to help with educational
expenses while gaining experience and expertise in their chosen field. It is also an excellent way to
discover the benefits of an educational program in preparing for a chosen career. It has been
determined that in most hiring/selection situations employees prefer graduates with internship
experience to graduates without specific experience.
Most employers are looking for intern candidates that have junior or senior status who have
completed at least some of their upper division professional courses. The internship is not just a job,
but a professional experience that has been developed around duties and responsibilities agreed upon
by the employer, the discipline internship coordinator and the student.
EXPECTATIONS OF THE STUDENT AFTER BEING ASSIGNED TO AN INTERNSHIP
The student is responsible for calling the employer and discussing the details of employment,
housing, transportation, equipment and clothing needs, and reporting date. It is essential that a line of
communication be established between the intern, employer and discipline internship coordinator
during that initial phase of the internship. The student must register for the appropriate number of
credits and have the internship card signed by the discipline internship coordinator.
The student is required to turn in bi-weekly activity logs, mid-term and final progress reports, a final
report, and a student evaluation of the internship.
Week 1: Report for work, discuss project possibilities and/or duties with supervisor. Discuss the
evaluation process and its importance in assigning a grade.
Week 3: Submit a project or work plan to Dr. Michitsch (Waste majors) or Dr. Prater (Soil majors).
Week 7-8: Submit the mid-term progress report, student’s evaluation, and supervisor’s evaluation to
Dr. Michitsch (Waste majors) or Dr. Prater (Soil majors).
Week 16: Submit the final a) progress report, b) student evaluation of the internship, c) completed
internship report, and d) supervisor’s evaluation. The internship report should be turned
in not later than four weeks after the last day of the internship completion.
After four weeks the student must ask for an extension or receive a zero for the project grade.
Bi-weekly logs are required from the student. The logs should reflect the duties and responsibilities,
skills learned and other activities completed. Copies of the logs should be given to the supervisor.
Hard copies or emailed electronic copies are acceptable. An example log is shown below.
SOIL/WASTE INTERSHIP PROGRAM
Bi-Weekly Log
Intern_____________________________
Inclusive Dates________________________
Agency____________________________
Supervisor____________________________
Address____________________________
Phone________________________________
A. TIME BREAKDOWN
Week
1
Experience
Soil mapping
Data entry and analysis
Travel and site inspection
Training meetings
TOTAL
3
Travel and site inspection
Training meetings
Soil mapping
TOTAL
Total Hours
10
8
16
6
40
26
6
8
40
Office
8
2
10
0
20
Field
2
6
6
6
20
8
0
2
10
18
6
6
30
B. BRIEFLY EVALUATE THE PROGRAM TO DATE: Include comments on the strengths,
weakness, and recommendations for improvement to the program.
WHAT IS EXPECTED OF THE EMPLOYER AFTER THE STUDENT HAS BEEN
ASSIGNED TO AN INTERSHIP?
The employer is responsible for orienting the intern to the agency and intern position, providing a
job description listing and describing the experiences to be afforded through the internship program.
The employer is responsible for providing training and educational experiences in fulfillment of the
basic premises of the internship program. The health, safety and well-being of the intern should have
priority in all cases. The employer should contact the discipline internship coordinator whenever
problems or deficiencies develop within the internship program.
The employer will assist the intern in selecting duties and or a project and facilitate its completion. A
project proposal or work plan should be submitted to Dr. Michitsch (Waste majors) or Dr. Prater
(Soil majors) by the third week of the internship.
The employer will evaluate the student at mid-term and again at the end of the internship. The
midterm and final evaluation will be graded by the employer, and submitted to the discipline
internship coordinator. A copy should be given to the intern.
The employer should assist the student in locating housing where housing is scarce and /or
expensive.
WHAT IS EXPECTED OF THE DISCIPLINE INTERNSHIP COORDINATOR?
The discipline internship coordinator will maintain communication with both the intern and the
employer/supervisor throughout the internship and will function as the liaison for the University. The
discipline internship coordinator is responsible for either an in-person visitation or contact via email,
telephone, or letter. Students receive official University recognition for completing the internship
program and are, therefore, required to register for 1-12 credits of internship study. The number of
credits is a function of the duties and responsibilities associated with a specific internship program.
Typically, students take 3-6 credits for a 12-week summer experience. The student’s internship grade
is part of their official college transcript. The internship Coordinator reserves to the right to adjust the
students’ final grade higher or lower per their discretion.
The internship grade is based on the following:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Bi-weekly logs/student evaluations
Project Proposal/Work Plan
Supervisor’s midterm evaluation
Supervisor’s evaluation
Internship Written Report
Internship coordinator’s discretion
10%
10%
10%
40%
20%
10%
Note: A field diary of daily activities should be maintained by the intern. In many situations, the
agency requires records of time spent on various work-related activities. Agency forms will suffice
as an alternate for the diary. The diary is a legal document admissible as court evidence and entries
should be made accurately. The diary will be extremely helpful when drafting the bi-weekly logs
and progress reports.
A Project Proposal or Work Plan is due the third week of the internship.
Each intern can either select a specific project in consultation with the agency supervisor and submit
the Internship Project Outline form to the faculty coordinator for approval or submit a detailed plan
of their work including specific duties and tasks to be accomplished. In the majority of cases the
coordinator will discuss the project or work plan with the student either in person or by telephone.
The project should involve one or more of the following:
a) the development of information useful to the employer,
b) a product that can be used by the agency,
c) a process that is useful in the agencies day-to-day activities or,
d) a report based on new or continuing research supported by the agency.
The student should investigate those possibilities where a project could be tied into assigned daily
activities. The project will take time and the intern should consider the length of the internship
program, release time given by the agency to work on the project and facilities, if any, equipment,
supplies, etc., available for use in completing the project. Usually the supervisor and the intern agree
upon the nature of the project, release time and other details during the first several weeks of the
program. The earlier a decision is reached the better the chance of completing the project on time.
The Final Product should be in the form of a written document that may contain the following:
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
VI.
VII.
VIII.
Title
Introduction
a. Explanation as to why the project or work was conducted
Objectives
Methodology/Tasks and Accomplished Work
Results
Discussion
a. Importance/use of the project or work
Literature footnotes
Appendices
a. Output, forms, figures, tables, photos, etc…
For help in designing your paper, you may want to use the following reference and secure the
information before you leave campus.
Hodges, John C. and Whitten, Mary E. 1986. Harbrace College Handbook. Harcourt Brace
Jovanorich, Inc. Orlando, Florida. 553 pp.
The completed internship report is due no later than four weeks after the last day of the
internship. Submit a copy to the supervisor, to the main office of the agency if appropriate, the
discipline internship coordinator, and keep a copy for your records.