About the Program

What is the Internship Program?

It is a program in which Williams College of Business (WCB) students work in a career-related position<.

Internships may be associated with an academic department in the WCB (For-Credit) or done independently (Not-for-credit). Internships are either part-time or full-time and are typically paid.

For-Credit Internships (when students earn academic credit towards their academic degree while interning) have specific eligibility requirements and procedures. The Williams College of Business determines these guidelines for all business major internship courses. Students are assigned a professor and goals/objectives to accomplish over the internship period. The student's progress and performance are monitored by the professor and they must submit a final academic project on which their final grade is based. In addition to providing supervision and necessary training, internship company supervisors are required to sign an internship agreement form, ensure the student completes 200 hours of on the job experience and complete two evaluations on the students performance.

Not-for-Credit Internships are done by the student independent of the WCB and Xavier University for real world experience. Students are not monitored by a professor, nor is the supervisor required to complete any paperwork through the WCB.

The Williams College of Business (WCB) offers internship opportunities in the fields of: Accountancy, Economics, Entrepreneurship, Finance, International Business, Management, Management Information Systems, Marketing and Strategic Human Resource Management.

National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) Criteria for an Experience to Be Defined as an Internship

To ensure that an experience, whether it is a traditional internship or one conducted remotely or virtually,is educational, and thus eligible to be considered a legitimate internship by the NACE definition, all the following criteria must be met:

1. The experience must be an extension of the classroom: a learning experience that provides for applying the knowledge gained in the classroom. It must not be simply to advance the operations of the employer or be the work that a regular employee would routinely perform.
2. The skills or knowledge learned must be transferable to other employment settings.
3. The experience has a defined beginning and end, and a job description with desired qualifications.
4. There are clearly defined learning objectives/goals related to the professional goals of the student�s academic coursework.
5. There is supervision by a professional with expertise and educational and/or professional background in the field of the experience.
6. There is routine feedback by the experienced supervisor.
7. There are resources, equipment, and facilities provided by the host employer that support learning objectives/goals.

If these criteria are followed, it is the opinion of NACE that the experience can be considered a legitimate internship.

Is This the Same as a Co-Op?

For most companies, "internship" and "co-op" are one in the same; the terms are interchangeable.

Legally, the state of Ohio has defined the two terms. Here are the basic differences:

Co-op

• Regular, cyclical periods of study and work experience.
• Must be paid.
• Student must earn academic credit.

Internship

• Varied, intermittent periods of study and work.
• May be paid or unpaid*.
• Student may or may not earn academic credit.

*In compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), we will not approve unpaid internships at "for-profit" companies. For further information, please review the U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division Fact Sheet #71.

Why Pursue Interns?

• Hire motivated and enthusiastic students with a specific business degree skill set.
• Screen students for permanent employment - reducing the cost of recruitment, hiring and training.
• Increase your company's visibility and image at Xavier University.
• Promote the connection between classroom theory and the reality of the business world.
• Hire students with fresh, innovative ideas and new approaches.
• Satisfy seasonal personnel demands, special project needs and other duties, thus releasing senior staff from routine professional tasks.

Why Xavier University Interns?

Hiring a Xavier student means hiring a motivated, enthusiastic intern who is educated and skilled in their declared business degree. They have already completed required courses in liberal and fine arts, mathematics and science. A Xavier intern is more than half way through completing an educational experience characterized by critical thinking and articulate expression with specific attention given to ethical issues and values.

What Responsibilities do I have as an Internship Supervisor?

Your responsibilities to interns in the WCB Internship program are not much different than those to regular employees. Interns are expected to meet the same levels of quality, service, loyalty, and corporate policy as other employees. The internship company supervisor is also responsible for training and supervising the student.

If the student is working a ?For-Credit? internship<, the additional supervisor responsibilities include:

1. Signing an Internship Agreement form (provided by the student) so the internship company supervisor, student and Xavier all understand the student's job duties and expected accomplishments.
2. Submitting two electronic evaluations (provided by the university) on the student's performance.
3. Providing at least 200 hours of on-the-job, business related, work experience.
4. Consult with the internship professor about any problems the student intern encounters.

Who is Eligible to Earn Academic Credit?

Junior or senior business students with an overall cumulative grade point average of 2.75 or higher are eligible to receive academic credit. MBA students who are enrolled full-time, have an overall cumulative GPA of 3.00, have completed or are in process of 18 hours of 600 level coursework (and are at least in their second semester of the program) and who are not working full-time are eligible for academic credit.

Can I offer Academic Credit for an unpaid internship?

Academic credit is conferred upon an internship via Xavier University. Students must meet all eligibility requirements and complete the necessary paperwork to earn academic credit for their work (see Eligibility requirements above). In compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the Williams College of Business will not approve unpaid internships at "for-profit" companies for academic credit.

For further information, please review the U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division Fact Sheet #71.

How Long Are Intern Sessions?

Intern assignments last between 12-16 weeks and typically correspond to Xavier's academic semesters, which are:

• Spring Semester: January-April
• Summer Semester: May-August
• Fall Semester: September-December

However, companies may hire an intern at any time during the calendar year.

Interns are either part-time or full-time. Students serving a part time internship are limited to no more than 20 hours/week when taking classes full time (average is 12-20 hours/week). Students serving a full time internship will work 30 or more hours per week.

Whether full or part-time, students must work at least 200 hours during the semester if they desire to earn academic credit. Many students participate in an internship, but do not earn academic credit for various reasons. Usually it is because the elective course which the internship would satisfy has already been completed.

Students may continue their internship past the 200 hours, at the internship company's discretion, but they will only earn academic credit for one internship. Also, unpaid intern "volunteers" (non-profits only) are limited to 20 hours per week.

Must I pay an intern?

In compliance with the U.S. Dept. of Labor's Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), interns must be paid for their work at a "for-profit" company. For more details on the U.S. Dept. of Labor and the FLSA, please refer to their official guidelines.

Non-profit companies or exempt government agencies may offer either paid or unpaid internships.

Can an intern be considered an "independent contractor"?

Interns (whether receiving academic credit or not) cannot be ?independent contractors? due to IRS regulations. The IRS has stated that 1099 status (independent contractors) is reserved for individuals who require little instruction on how work should be completed, little training on procedures and little supervision.

Questions?

For additional information, visit the Career Development Office's internship website.