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

  1. Review and Assess Internship Proposal: Review and assess the student's internship proposal, ensuring it aligns 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 the organization.

  3. Weekly Meetings: Schedule weekly meetings with the intern to address questions, concerns, and progress. Allocate dedicated time for these discussions.

  4. Facilitate Professional Networks: Assist the intern in connecting with relevant professional networks to enhance their experience.

  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.

In preparing the employer evaluation, consider the following questions:

  • What valuable insights can be gained from performing the tasks or completing the projects?
  • How do the assigned tasks relate to what the student-intern is studying in college?

Steps to Obtain a Student Intern

We look forward to partnering with you and offering students valuable real-world experiences through our internship program!

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

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

  3. Submit Your Request for an Intern: To proceed with the internship process, click here to attach and submit your request for an intern.

As 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 the 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 is a quick checklist of best practices for internship host sites, adapted from NACE (National Association of Colleges and Employers) recommendations:

  • Provide interns with challenging work assignments that contribute real value to the organization.
  • Consider offering scholarships or a small stipend to help offset costs for travel, parking, tolls, and meals during their internship.
  • Conduct orientations for all involved parties to ensure everyone is familiar with their roles and responsibilities.
  • Offer interns an organization handbook or reference material that provides an overview of the organization's history, mission, vision, values, rules, and other important information.
  • Facilitate interns' access to executives and top management through lunches, special events, or networking opportunities.
  • Provide training and opportunities for professional development to enhance the interns' skills and knowledge.
  • Showcase interns' work through presentations to top management, recognizing their contributions to the organization.
  • Conduct exit interviews with interns to gather feedback and insights, helping to improve and grow the internship program for future participants.

Featured Internship Collaborations

At Greater Allegheny, we take pride in our partnerships with a wide variety of organizations, not only in Pittsburgh and western Pennsylvania but also across the country and even globally. Some of the organizations where our students have had valuable internship experiences include:

  • Auberle
  • Allegheny Health Network
  • Ascent Data
  • Connective RX
  • Lavner Education
  • Matthews International
  • Mayor's Office, City of McKeesport
  • 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
  • ProCamps
  • The Walt Disney Company
  • WQED Multimedia

With this diverse range of organizations, our students have had access to a wealth of unique and enriching internship opportunities that align with their academic pursuits and career goals.