As a host site supervisor, your active mentorship plays a crucial role in shaping the intern's experience. Here are the key expectations:

  1. Review and Assess Internship Proposal: Carefully review and assess the student's internship proposal to ensure alignment with the work proposal and learning objectives. If in agreement, sign the authorizations page of the proposal.

  2. Provide Valuable Work Assignments: Offer professionally relevant and challenging assignments that contribute real value to your organization.

  3. Weekly Meetings: Schedule regular weekly meetings with the intern to discuss their progress, address any questions or concerns, and provide guidance. Allocate dedicated time for these discussions.

  4. Facilitate Professional Networks: Assist the intern in connecting with relevant professional networks within and beyond the organization to enhance their learning and networking opportunities.

  5. Conduct Formal Evaluations: Conduct formal evaluations of the intern's performance at both the midpoint and the end of the internship. Online evaluation forms will be provided for your convenience.

In preparing the employer evaluation, consider the following:

  • What valuable insights have been gained from the tasks or projects completed by the intern?
  • How do the assigned tasks relate to the intern's academic studies and career aspirations?

Steps to Obtain a Student Intern

We look forward to partnering with you to provide students with valuable real-world experiences through our internship program! Here are the steps:

  1. Create a Comprehensive Position Description: Craft a detailed position description outlining key responsibilities, project details, internship duration, and relevant contact information.

  2. Reach Out to the Campus Internship Coordinator: For assistance in designing the internship or if you have any questions, contact the campus internship coordinator directly at [email protected].

  3. Submit Your Request for an Intern: Attach and submit your request for an intern.

To ensure students earn course credit for their internships, it is crucial for them to register well in advance. Penn State Greater Allegheny advises students to contact the campus at least four to six months before their anticipated internship start date. For optimal opportunities and exposure, internships for summer and fall should be available and confirmed by early March and June, respectively. Similarly, spring semester internships should ideally be advertised and confirmed by mid-October.

Best Practices for Internship Host Sites

Here are some best practices for internship host sites based on NACE recommendations:

  • Provide interns with challenging assignments that add real value to your organization.
  • Consider offering scholarships or stipends to help cover costs such as travel, parking, tolls, and meals.
  • Conduct orientations for all parties involved to clarify roles and responsibilities.
  • Offer interns an organization handbook with details about your history, mission, values, and important policies.
  • Facilitate access to executives and top management through lunches or networking events.
  • Provide training and professional development opportunities to enhance interns' skills.
  • Recognize interns' contributions through presentations or other forms of acknowledgment.
  • Conduct exit interviews to gather feedback and improve your internship program.

Featured Internship Collaborations

At Greater Allegheny, we have partnered with a diverse array of organizations to provide our students with enriching internship experiences. Some of our esteemed partners include:

  • Adelphoi
  • Auberle
  • Auberle SNAP Program
  • Allegheny Health Network
  • Aramark Sports and Entertainment
  • Ascent Data
  • Boys and Girls Club of Western Pennsylvania (AmeriCorps Program)
  • Brncic Accounting and Tax Services
  • Buckle, Inc.
  • Connective RX
  • Covestro
  • Drug Enforcement Agency (Florida Division)
  • East Allegheny School District
  • GNC Holdings, LLC (Pittsburgh Headquarters)
  • Lavner Education
  • Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center
  • Matthews International
  • Mayor's Office, City of McKeesport
  • The National Basketball Academy (Cleveland, OH)
  • Northwestern Mutual
  • Palace Entertainment (Kennywood Park)
  • The Pavilion at Star Lake (formerly Key Bank Pavilion)
  • The Pennsylvania State University Department of Strategic Planning and Communications
  • Pittsburgh Federal Credit Union
  • Pittsburgh Magazine
  • ProCamps
  • RyCon Construction
  • United States Steel
  • UPS
  • Vinoski Winery
  • The Queens Gambit
  • The Walt Disney Company
  • Washington Wild Things
  • WQED Multimedia

These partnerships offer our students unique opportunities to apply their academic knowledge in real-world settings and pursue their career goals effectively.