Internships and Practica
Information for Employers - Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is a practicum/internship?
A. A practicum/internship is a work experience in an on- or off-campus setting for which a student receives academic credit. Supervision is provided for the student at the place of assignment by a designated on-site supervisor. An academic coordinator on campus further supervises and evaluates the student's progress and serves in a liaison capacity between the experience site and the university.
Q. What is the academic background of students who apply for practicum placements?
A. Juniors, seniors, and graduate students are eligible for practicum placements. Juniors would have completed most of the general education requirements and all of the lower-division courses in the business core, including courses in basic computing, accounting, communications, and statistics. Seniors would have completed at least a year of upper-division courses in business administration, much of which would be in their specialty areas. Graduate (M.B.A.) students hold a baccalaureate degree, in business or non-business areas. Sophomore or freshman students may register for BA 209 credit, however four credits is the maximum amount of credit available.
Q. What can the student do for a business or organization?
A. In addition to the normal duties performed by others in your business or organization, students might perform one or more of the following:
- Assist in developing a business plan
- Research and report on assigned topics
- Conduct a survey
- Prepare a personnel policy manual
- Research tax matters
- Install computer software packages
- Devise an inventory control system
- Conduct a financial analysis of your business
- Assist in marketing/promotion efforts
- Ideally, the work plan for the student should show an increase in knowledge and skill required and in the variety of tasks performed.
Q. When can a student begin an internship and how long can he or she work?
A. Normally, the student will enroll in a practicum at the beginning of a 10-week term and finish at the end of the term; however, the practicum may begin and end at any time that is mutually agreed upon by the academic department, the site supervisor, and the student.
Q. How many hours do students typically work?
A. The student must work at least 3 hours per week for the duration of the 10-week term for each credit hour granted. Most students enroll for three or four credit hours, and, thus, would work from 90-100 hours during the term. Additional credit hours may be granted under special circumstances. Students may earn a maximum of 15 credits in BA 409 Practicum toward their bachelor's degree; however, students must work closely with their advisor to determine the applicability of these credits toward their business degree.
Q. What are the responsibilities of a site supervisor?
A. Supervisors are expected to spend sufficient time supervising the student to ensure that the objectives of the practicum agreement are met. He or she is expected to periodically evaluate the student and to meet and coordinate with the campus supervisor when planned or called upon to do so.
Q. Does the student receive pay for his or her work?
A. There is no obligation on the part of the business to pay the student. Traditionally, practica are paid in some industries, in others they are not. Applications to list an internship should indicate whether or not there is an intent to offer pay for the internship. If the issue of pay is not addressed in the internship description, questions may be directed to the School of Business or to the Director of Business Services. Because many students must work in order to afford tuition and living costs, paid experiences tend to be highly appealing.
Q. Are students provided with liability and workers' compensation coverage?
A. It has been established that students who are earning practicum credit(s) are NOT employees of the university. The university is prohibited from accepting any liability for the acts, omissions, and conduct of the students, and is prohibited from providing coverage with State Accident Insurance, liability insurance, or workers' compensation insurance. Because this is a legal issue, no definitive answer can be provided, however, prudence would argue that you should provide for coverage, at least for workers' compensation.
Q. Will interested businesses and organizations have to sign a formal practicum contract with the university?
A. A signed "Work-Site/University Agreement" form should be signed and on file with the Director of Business Services at Southern Oregon University for any organization offering practicum experience. More info at http://www.sou.edu/careers/internguidelines.shtml
Contact Meredith Reynolds in the School of Business Internship Office for assistance in setting up a practicum: mreynolds@sou.edu 541-552-6677.
