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Introduction This manual describes the purpose of the undergraduate internship program as well as its mission. Additional policies and procedures related to the internship program are listed including responsibilities of the Intern, the Agency, and the Program, guidelines for approval of internships, deadlines, and official forms.
This manual is in effect for undergraduate students who expect to complete internships for academic credit during the Spring or Summer academic sessions.
Purpose of Undergraduate Internship Program The Leisure Studies Program has the closely related missions of:
In pursuing the interdisciplinary study of personal and cultural behaviors related to health, leisure, and sport that enhance quality of life, we advocate individual responsibility, effective organizational policy, and transformative social action that promote healthy environments and patterns of living. The program capitalizes on its diversity in areas of study which focus on people with disabilities and older adults. All students who complete their major earn a Bachelor of Science in Leisure Studies from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Therapeutic Recreation Emphasis Area The primary aim of the Therapeutic Recreation track is to prepare undergraduate students for entry level positions in recreation services by improving or maintaining physical, mental, emotional, and/or social functioning in order to assist individuals in independent leisure lifestyles. Graduates serve persons who are physically, mentally, or emotionally disabled; persons who are mentally retarded; individuals who are incarcerated; persons who are chemically dependent or are socially disadvantaged; as well as older adults. Completion of the degree program satisfies eligibility requirements necessary to take the National Therapeutic Recreation Certification Examination administered by the National Council on Therapeutic Recreation Certification. Students are selectively admitted to the Therapeutic Recreation emphasis area. Therapeutic Recreation students are required to complete a 12 semester hour internship. 169:190 Pre-Internship SeminarThis course is offered fall and spring semesters. Since many agencies have highly competitive internships and application deadlines at least six months before the internship starting date, students should plan accordingly. Pre-internship seminar must be taken at least one semester prior to the semester of the internship. Prerequisite Courses and Other Credentials To qualify for an internship, the student must meet all requirements stated in the Undergraduate Internship Manual edition that applies to the academic session in which the student will take the internship. Failure to meet all requirements will result in postponement of the internship for at least one academic session until all requirements are met.
Pre-Internship Work and Volunteer Experiences Before the internship begins, students must have verified at least 400 hours of paid or voluntary work experiences. The student should have experience in at least three different settings, with at least three different population groups. At least one experience must be in a clinical setting where direct health care services are provided. Examples of clinical settings are hospitals, long-term care facilities, rehabilitation centers, and nursing homes. Only volunteer and work experiences since high school may be used to fulfill this requirement and at least 200 of the total 400 hours must be completed after the student has been admitted to the Program. Each paid or voluntary experience must be verified and approved by the student's Academic Advisor and by the individual that supervised the student during the volunteer or work experience. A Pre-Internship Experience Verification Form should be completed for each experience. Students should have the form completed at the end of each experience and promptly submit it to the Internship Coordinator. The Pre-Internship Experience Verification Forms will be part of each student’s internship file. The student is responsible for identifying and securing an appropriate internship. The prerequisite course 169:190 Pre-Internship Seminar, addresses strategies for internship searches. Since internships are awarded on a competitive basis and are available to students throughout the country, plans must be made carefully and applications submitted early. Students should make alternative plans in case they do not qualify for or do not secure their first choice. The Leisure Studies Program does not guarantee placement of an internship position. Students are strongly encouraged to pursue internships with agencies that have an existing affiliation agreement with the University of Iowa. Eligibility of Agency for Internship For each individual student, the faculty determine the eligibility of an internship. In addition, previous approval of an internship agency for a former intern does not insure approval of the internship for the student applicant. The following factors are considered when determining internship approval:
The Internship Coordinator will notify the student of the approval or denial of the internship. Deadlines for Internship Approval and Graduation Application Program and university deadlines are set so that institutional resources can facilitate the student’s success as an intern and graduate. The deadlines related to applying for the internship and for graduation follow. In addition, students should refer to the steps outlined in this Manual in the section, “Checklist for Internship”. Failure to meet the deadlines will result in postponement of the internship by at least one semester. Students who experience extended personal or family illness or other extenuating circumstances that prohibit meeting the deadlines may write a letter of appeal to the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee in the Leisure Studies Program and ask the Committee to approve a deadline extension. No other deadline exceptions will be considered. Deadlines for Spring Internships and May Degree Candidates First Friday in October Deadline to submit form, Academic Eligibility for Internship and necessary attachments to Academic Advisor Second Friday in October Deadline to submit form, Academic Eligibility for Internship and necessary attachments to Internship Coordinator First Friday in November Deadline to submit forms, Student Request for Approval of Internship Position and Agency Acceptance of Intern. Submit to Internship Coordinator November/December Register for 169:191 Internship I for semester hours credit through academic advisor and Registration Center (see UI academic calendar for exact dates) First week in December Mandatory meeting with Internship Coordinator March Deadline Submit Application for Graduation to Graduation Analysis, for Graduation Registrar’s Office, 1 Jessup Hall (see UI academic calendar for exact date) Deadlines for Summer Internships and July Degree Candidates First Friday in February Deadline to submit form, Academic Eligibility for Internship and necessary attachments to Academic Advisor Second Friday in February Deadline to submit form, Academic Eligibility for Internship and necessary attachments to Internship Coordinator Friday after Spring Break Deadline to submit forms, Student Request for Approval of Internship Position and Agency Acceptance of Intern. Submit to Internship Coordinator April Register for 169:191 Internship I for semester hours credit through academic advisor and Registration Center (see UI academic calendar for exact dates) Third week in April Mandatory Meeting with Internship Coordinator June Deadline Submit Application for Graduation to Graduation Analysis, for Graduation Registrar’s Office, 1 Jessup Hall (see UI academic calendar for exact date) 169:191 Internship IInternship is an active service learning course designed to apply theory, concepts, models and technical/clinical skills in the professional practice setting. The internship course is usually taken during the final semester of undergraduate study in the major. The setting for the course is an agency under the close supervision of professionals who are both credentialed and practice in the student’s emphasis area of study. The Agency Supervisor evaluates the Intern from the practice perspective and the University Supervisor evaluates the Intern from the academic perspective. Successful completion of this course can help prepare a candidate for professional certification exams such as Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS). 169:191 Internship I is offered to eligible students for a minimum of 12 semester hours, requiring at least 480 contact hours. (For each semester hour of credit, the student must complete 40 contact hours in the internship experience.) Tuition fees for 169:191 Internship I are based on the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences undergraduate tuition fee schedule as established by the Iowa Board of Regents. In order to satisfy NCTRC criteria, Therapeutic Recreation internships must be at least 12 consecutive weeks in length. Vacations and other release time may not occur during the 12 consecutive week period. Therapeutic Recreation students are encouraged to review guidelines for certification by the NCTRC . www.nctrc.org Internship Coordinator and University Supervisors Internship Coordinator Kathy Walter (319) 335-3630
University Supervisors University Supervisors are appointed on a semester by semester basis. Students and agency supervisors are informed of university supervisors shortly before the internships are scheduled to begin. Since the internship is designed to enable the student to apply coursework to the practice setting, the internship is usually taken during the final semester of undergraduate study in the Program. Internships are only available for students in Spring and Summer semesters. Students should plan their academic schedules accordingly. The internship is an academic course that meets partial requirements for the Bachelor of Science Degree in the Leisure Studies Program In order to complete the internship successfully, the student must satisfy the following course objectives. By the end of the academic session of the internship, the student should be able to:
Leisure Studies Program. Undergraduate Internship Manual. Iowa City, Iowa: The University of Iowa. Written Reports and Assignments Each student will prepare progress reports (usually five), submit a midterm and final evaluation, prepare a final intern report, and complete an internship project. The Agency Supervisor will review each report before it is submitted for evaluation to the University Supervisor. Each written assignment must be typed, double-spaced. Prior to the beginning of the internship a Schedule of Assignments and Evaluations will be scheduled by the University Supervisor and the Agency Supervisor, and communicated to Intern. Progress Report Progress Reports are prepared by the student. Forms for each Progress Report are in this Internship Manual in the section, “Forms for Reports and Evaluations During Internship”. A maximum of six Progress Reports may be scheduled by the University Supervisor during the internship. The deadline for the First Progress Report is preferred at the end of the second week of the internship. Internship Project The student must satisfactorily complete a major project during the internship. The Agency Supervisor and the University Supervisor must approve the project. In each Progress Report, the student should describe the status of the project as requested in the written assignment section. The student reports on the completion of the project in the Final Intern Report. The student provides printed materials related to the project to the University Supervisor. Final Intern Report The student will complete a Final Intern Report and turn it into the Internship Coordinator by the scheduled date. Intern Journal or Daily Log Keeping a journal or daily log during the internship is a highly recommended method of documentation. Many agencies require that the intern keep a journal or daily log during the internship. Recording of activities, clients served, professional contacts made, successes, challenges, reflections, application of coursework to practice, and areas for improvement facilitates the preparation of Progress Reports. It also serves as a means to document specific experiences for the student as he or she prepares for employment interviews and updates his/her resume. University Supervisor’s Oral Consultations and Written Comment The University Supervisor provides feedback and written comments periodically during the internship. If the agency is within a two hours commuting distance, the University Supervisor should visit the Intern and Agency Supervisor during the internship. Agency Supervisor’s Evaluations The Agency Supervisor completes the following evaluations and meets with the student regarding the evaluations prior to the student sending them to the University Supervisor.
Forms for each evaluation are in this Internship Manual in the section, “Forms for Reports and Evaluations During Internship.” The grading system for this course is the Satisfactory/Fail (S/F) system of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. The final course grade will be awarded as follows:
Policy on Academic, Professional, and Ethical Misconduct Plagiarism, cheating, forgery, and violations of professional standards and ethical standards are not tolerated. Any such misconduct may result in termination of the internship, failure of the internship, and/or other serious penalties. If cheating, plagiarism, forgery, or violations of professional standards is suspected then the Internship Coordinator shall follow College of Liberal Arts and Sciences policies and procedures. Please refer to the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Student Academic Handbook for specific information on Academic Misconduct. This policy can be accessed at Student Rights and Responsibilities; Academic Fraud, Dishonesty and Cheating. Student Complaints Concerning Faculty Actions A student who has a complaint against the Internship Coordinator or the University Supervisor is responsible for following the policy and procedures of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. This policy can be accessed at Student Rights and Responsibilities; Student Complaints Concerning Faculty Actions. Infectious Diseases Immunizations Because each undergraduate emphasis area in the Program focuses on human services, nearly all students during their internships and careers will be exposed to blood and other body fluids and to communicable diseases such as tuberculosis, hepatitis, and rubella. It is to the personal and professional advantage of each undergraduate student preparing for an internship to be current in his or her immunizations for infectious diseases. Immunizations can be obtained through the student’s personal physician or through Student Health Services (335-8370). Internship agencies increasingly are requiring immunizations against selected diseases such as hepatitis B, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus, and polio. Some immunizations, such as hepatitis B require a series of three injections that span a period of six months. It is the student’s responsibility to meet these professional standards. Some internship agencies require that interns meet selected OSHA before the internship begins. Other sites take interns through an orientation and provide the needed training and procedures, sometimes at a small cost to the intern. Whenever possible, students should plan to take their internship during the summer because it provides the best and widest selection of opportunities. In addition, the spring semester internship opportunities are limited due to staff availability for supervision. Students should plan their academic schedules accordingly. Variances in dates are usually necessary for summer internships when the internships are for 12 semester hours credit. Students who start summer internships at the beginning of the University’s traditional summer session and who are progressing satisfactorily and on schedule but who will not complete their internship before the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences graduation date for summer session will receive a grade of Incomplete (I) until all internship responsibilities are fulfilled. Upon satisfactory completion of the summer internship a permanent grade will be given prior to conferring the degree for summer graduation. Should a spring semester internship extend beyond the date for graduation this same procedure will be followed prior to conferring the degree for graduation. Withdrawal of Internship Supervision Frequently there is a period of time in which a student may begin an approved internship before grade reports of the academic session immediately preceding the internship are available for review by academic advisors. If the grades earned do not meet the established standards and the student has begun the internship, then university supervision will be withdrawn and no academic credit will be earned for the experience. Examples of other situations that could warrant withdrawal of internship supervision relate to violations of the law, violations of ethical conduct, and failure to comply with the rules, regulations and procedures set forth by the agency where the student is interning. Please refer to the section, Policy on Academic, Professional and Ethical Misconduct in this Manual. Should internship supervision be withdrawn, then the student should contact his or her Academic Advisor to coordinate a revised academic plan of study. The student must withdraw their university registration for the internship course. Failure to withdraw registration of 169:191 will convert to course grade(s) of F. Responsibilities of the Intern, University and Agency The following lists responsibilities and expectations of each party during the internship: University to the Intern and the Agency
Intern to the University
Intern to the Agency
Agency to the Intern and to the University
University Liability Insurance Program The University of Iowa provides a Student Malpractice Blanket Liability Insurance Program for students in internships that are required as part of their academic program. A description of the insurance program is provided on the following page and may be copied for reference at the agency in the student intern’s file. Agencies that require a certificate of insurance of the University’s liability insurance program for interns should contact the Program’s Internship Coordinator. Supplementary Liability Information Some agencies require the intern to hold professional liability coverage beyond that provided by the University. Professional liability coverage is available through many sources with varying coverage and costs. Examples of some sources include special policies through professional organizations and special plans through insurance companies. The Program Internship Coordinator has information on professional liability plans through professional organizations. The University of Iowa Student Malpractice Professional Liability Insurance Program for Students in Internships, Practicums, Externships, Training Programs Professional liability insurance will be provided for insured students while participating in practicums, internships, and training programs required as a part of their academic program. Upon student’s enrollment in the insurance program, the policy will provide up to: $1,000,000 per occurrence/$3,000,000 in the aggregate for claims arising from any real or alleged act of negligence by the student while participating in required training, practicum, internship programs of The University of Iowa. Professional Liability The insurance company will pay on behalf of the insured all sums which the insured shall become legally obligated to pay as damages because of bodily injury, property damage, personal injury to which this insurance applies in the conduct of the profession of the named insured, caused by an incident which occurs during the policy period. The policy includes the cost of defense, court costs, settlements and judgments. There is no deductible. Company provides expert legal counsel and claims adjusters. Insureds. Students enrolled in the insurance, while participating in activities which are a part of or a requirement of the student’s curriculum. Exclusions. NO coverage is provided for personal liability, (i.e., automobile, health) unrelated business or a profession not specifically listed on student’s enrollment.
Professional liability protection is provided during the term of the student’s internship as required for their academic program. The above is only a brief summary of the coverage. For further details, please contact The University of Iowa’s Department of Risk Management, Insurance and Loss Prevention, 305 Plaza Centre One, 319-335-0010. In the event of any incident that is likely to result in a claim, the student and/or the Program should notify The University of Iowa’s Department of Risk Management, Insurance and Loss Prevention, 319-335-0010 immediately. The insurance company requires immediate notification regarding claims, demands, summons, notice of suit, or incidents. The student earns a significant number of semester hours credit for the internship and the student derives significant career growth opportunities during the internship. Therefore, the University does not endorse paid salary compensation from the agency to the student intern. The student is expected to bear all expenses incidental to living in the area of the internship and to make satisfactory housing and commuting arrangements to carry out the assignments. However, many agencies offer to assist students through honorarium stipends, housing, meals, parking, commuter expenses, insurance, membership benefits, professional meeting expenses, and other benefits. Benefits such as these may be offered to the student. Institutional Affiliation Agreements An Institutional Affiliation Agreement will be initiated by the University after the receipt of the Agency Acceptance of Intern form. This should take place at least two months before the internship is scheduled to start. This allows the document to be reviewed, amended, and approved by the Agency’s and University’s legal counsel before the start date of the internship. Student Preparation for Approved Internship Students with the most rewarding internships are those students that have prepared well for their internships. Communication is the single most important element in a successful internship experience. The following are guidelines for the student as he or she prepares for an internship that has been approved:
The Internship Coordinator and University Supervisor will provide the student and agency with a schedule of deadlines for progress reports, agency supervisor evaluations, and the final intern report. See section titled Written Reports and Assignments in this Manual. The student must consult with the Agency Supervisor regarding deadlines established by the Agency. Deadlines for Certification Examinations Students interested in professional certifications in their area of study should be very familiar with all requirements for certification prior to the internship experience so that the internship is in accordance with specified requirements. Before the internship begins students should contact faculty to obtain information on the certification processes in their profession and should request application materials from the national certifying agencies before the internship begins. For the CTRS credential, go to www.nctrc.org , click on Standards and review the description of an acceptable “Field Placement” (internship). Pre-Internship Checklist Student Checklist for Internship Although the sequencing of events in the internship process varies among individual students, there are steps that must be accomplished in each of four phases. It is the student's responsibility to achieve each step in a timely manner and to retain a copy of all documents for their personal files. The following list outlines the steps that include, but are not limited to, each phase of the internship process. For further information on each step the student should see the corresponding section of this Manual.
Internship Preparation/Experience _____ Comply with guidelines for Student Preparation for Approved Internship Graduation Preparation _____ Complete outstanding degree requirements, if applicable Please the click form you would like to view: |
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