Sponsor An Internship

As a faculty sponsor, you will partner with the student-intern to draft their learning agreement, including setting homework assignments. Faculty sponsors serve a vital role in academic internships, linking students’ hands-on experience to their academics.

Internship FAQs

How many credit hours should the intern I’m sponsoring earn?

The general PLU guideline is 30 hours of work at an internship site is the minimum needed for 1 credit hour. Therefore, an internship that is 10 hours per week through the duration of the semester can equal 4 credit hours.

What contact should I have with the internship provider?

Again, this is completely dependent on what you and the student decide! If the internship is local, some faculty like to spend a few hours at the internship site observing the student and meeting their colleagues. Other faculty sponsors are hands-off and never interact with the internship provider. It is important to discuss this aspect of sponsorship with the student when completing the Learning Agreement.

How do I submit a final grade?

Grades for internship coursework are submitted through Banner, like a typical class at PLU.

Can academic internships be graded as Pass/Fail?

Most XXXX 495 courses can only receive a Letter grade, unless an exception has been requested by the sponsoring department and approved by EPC. For example, BIOL 495 can be graded as a Letter or Pass/Fail, and BUSA 495 is only available as Pass/ Fail.

If you would like to find out whether awarding a Pass/Fail grade is possible within your department, please call 253-535-7415 or email intern@plu.edu. Another option for awarding a Pass/Fail grade for an internship is utilizing the internship designations sponsored by Alumni & Student Connections. AICE/COOP internship courses can be assigned a Letter or Pass/Fail grade.

How should I evaluate the student?

Evaluation is determined on a case by case basis, usually determined by the discipline, the number of credit hours and the student’s learning objectives. Some faculty sponsors have students keep a daily log and submit a final research paper. Others may have their student read several print materials, write a literature review, and present to a panel of faculty. If you would like to discuss some potential options and hear what other faculty have used as evaluation methods, please contact intern@plu.edu or check out more ideas below.

Internship Evaluation Ideas

Evaluation is determined on a case-by-case basis, usually determined by the discipline, the number of credit hours and the student’s learning objectives. Some faculty sponsors have students keep a daily log and submit a final research paper.

Here are some evaluation forms you could have your student use to self-assess and have their employer assess them throughout different points of their internship.

Feedback Tools

Employer Final Evaluation
Employer Mid-term Evaluation
Student Self Evaluation

The list below reflects common internship evaluation methods to connect course content to internship experiences and inspire vocational discernment.

 Assignment ideas for before and during the internship:

  • Daily reflections – Each student can reflect on the successes they’ve created and the challenges they face in their internship.
  • Video blogs – Students can create a visual “journal” of their experience, rather than written reflections.
    • If internship experience is part of a class with multiple students, students can respond to one another’s videos.

Assignment ideas for final or culminating projects:

  • Scrapbook – Integrate text and visuals to display learning and growth during the internship.
  • Informational Interview Assignment – Students can profile a professional who works in the organization.
  • Write a reflection paper regarding the following prompts:
    • Connect internship experience to student’s major
    • Discuss the impact of the internship on student’s future plans
  • Write a research paper with an annotated bibliography – Situate the internship experience within academic literature.
  • Create a reflection portfolio, which includes:
    • Goals at the beginning of the internship
    • One journal entry per week for the duration of the internship
    • An annotated bibliography to inspire research and critical thinking
    • Goals at the end of the internship
    • A closing reflection of the experience, where students can compare(what they thought the internship would be vs. what it actually was
  • Draft a grant proposal or publication
  • Revise resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn profile to reflect new skills
  • Create a brochure about the internship position or the organization/company
    • Example: Intern 101 (things student wished they would have known)
  • Create a website and/or offer to update company’s website with internship information
  • Assemble a workshop for other students who might be interested in an internship in this area