Internship Guidelines and Policies

Involvement in a professional field experience has significant value during your academic career. The practical application of classroom learning gives meaning and fulfillment to formal education and prepares you for full-time professional work.

The purpose of this internship experience is to augment formal classroom instruction and provide you with opportunities to apply concepts in a real-world setting. A primary goal of the Inver Hills Community College (IHCC) Information Technology Careers (ITC) program is to prepare you for the IT workplace by cultivating resourcefulness, situational leadership, critical thinking, and technical problem-solving.

Internships provide an invaluable addition to your curriculum. They introduce you to professional work environments, enable you to apply specific technical and interpersonal skills, and help you evaluate your long-term career goals within Information Technology. For many interns, these experiences also create pathways to future full-time employment.

Oversight and Evaluation Overview

During your internship:

  • If You Have Concerns: If you have specific conerns about your work, working conditions, or how the internship is progressing contact the ITC Internship Supervisor as soon as possible.

  • Faculty Meetings: Your supervising faculty member will hold at least one meeting with you and your on-site supervisor (typically at your primary work site or via video conference).

  • Final Evaluation: At the conclusion of the internship, your on-site supervisor will complete a written performance evaluation assessing your progress and growth.

Specific Internship Guidelines

Course Requirements & Grading

  • Workplace Hours: You must complete a minimum of 192 hours of approved IT work experience for a 3-credit internship course.

  • Grading Options: You may enroll on either a standard letter-grade basis or a Pass/Fail (P/NC) basis.

  • Grading Criteria: At a mimimum grades are based on:

    1. Goals and Expectations Paper

    2. Weekly Work Reflection Logs

    3. End-of-Internship Reflection Paper

    4. Faculty Supervisor Meeting(s)

    5. Employer Performance Evaluation

Job Eligibility Standards

  • Paid Positions: In accordance with U.S. Department of Labor guidelines (Fact Sheet #71), internships must be paid positions meeting at least minimum wage requirements if you are doing work that provides a benefit to the employer. Unpaid internships are not permitted at "for-profit" employers.

  • IT Core Focus: The position must be in the IT career field. While non-IT tasks may occur occasionally, the vast majority of your duties during the 192 hours must involve core IT functions.

    • Qualifying Role Examples: IT Helpdesk / Service Desk, Systems Administrator, Network Administrator, Cybersecurity Analyst, Managed Services Technician, IT Consultant.

    • Non-Qualifying Role Examples: Data Entry, standard Microsoft Office desktop application usage (Word/Excel/PowerPoint), line-of-business application usage, or administrative office support.

    • Faculty Approval: The faculty supervisor serves as the final authority on whether a position meets qualification standards.

  • Project Collaboration Requirement: You must participate in at least one collaborative IT project involving team interaction, project meetings, or change management workflows. Shadowing senior IT personnel on major project implementations can fulfill this requirement if active participation is not feasible.

Non-Qualifying Positions

If the ITC Internship Supervisor determines a position is found not to meet internship criteria:

  • If you have not yet registered your registration request may be declined.

  • If discovered after enrollment, you may receive a lower grade, be granted up to one additional semester to secure a qualifying position, or fail the course, depending on when and why the position fell short of requirements.

ITC Internship Course Enrollment Steps

  1. Fully read the ITC Internship Handbook and Syllabus: Make certain you understand all of the requirements and expectations for the course. Discuss any questions or concerns with the ITC Internship Supervisor after reading everything and before continuing.

  2. Secure an IT Position: Apply for and accept an eligible IT position. The job title does not need to explicitly include "Intern" or "Internship", but the role must meet IT qualification criteria and the employer must agree to support your internship learning goals.

    • Customer-Facing / Call Center Limits: Positions limited strictly to high-volume phone or external call-center support typically do not qualify. You must have opportunities to participate in broader technical projects or escalate issues alongside higher-tier IT staff.

    • Compensation: Positions must be paid at or above minimum wage unless very limited exemptions outlined by the US Department of Labor apply.

  3. Request Faculty Approval and Permission: Send an email to your ITC Faculty Supervisor with the following details:

    • Full Name & StarID

    • Employer Name

    • Job Title & Job Description

    • On-Site Supervisor Name, Title, and Contact Information (Email & Phone)

      Upon review and approval, your faculty supervisor will enter course permission in eServices so you can register for ITC 2189.

      Flexible Scheduling: Your internship hours do not need to strictly align with standard term start/end dates. You will typically be enrolled in the semester during which you perform the majority of your 192 hours.

  4. Submit Your Goals & Expectations Paper: Complete your Goals and Expectations Paper and submit copies to both your faculty supervisor and on-site supervisor before you begin counting your 192 internship hours.

    While you may begin working at your job before writing this paper, you cannot begin logging internship hours or reflections until your Goals and Expectations Paper is submitted and accepted.

Employer Responsibilities

The employer plays a key role in preparing you for the professional world. As an intern, you will gain insight into the information technology profession in a way not often attainable through classroom experiences. The on-site supervisor will help guide you through a progression of experiences ranging from site orientation to assuming progressively greater responsibilities. The expected responsibilities of the employer include:

  1. Providing qualified supervision of the intern

  2. Determining, with the intern, the types of learning experiences that are mutually beneficial and rewarding.

  3. Preparing the firm’s employees for the arrival of the intern.

  4. Orienting the student to the mission, policies, programs, and services provided by the employer.

  5. Participation in at least one meeting with the supervising faculty member to review internship progress and the facilitation of hosting that meeting at the workplace. Participation in a second meeting with the supervising faculty member at the discretion of the faculty member.

  6. Integrating the intern, at all appropriate levels, as a fully functioning participant in the company’s activities, projects, programs, and services.

  7. Notifying the supervising faculty member promptly of any problems regarding the intern on the intern’s conduct which may adversely affect the intern, your company, or Inver Hills Community College.

  8. Evaluating the intern’s performance and the degree to which the intern meets stated goals and objectives, completion of a final written evaluation. See details in the assignments section below.

Intern Conduct

As an intern, you must accept the responsibilities and obligations of a professional staff member and adhere to the principles, practices, and policies of the organization. You will need to understand the nature of privacy, confidentiality, and human respect that are prime factors in the workplace. Even as an intern, you are also a representative of Inver Hills Community College and, as such are governed also by college policies and practices. A breach of conduct may have consequences detrimental to you, clients, employers, the ITC department, and the school.

It is expected that you will respect, acknowledge, and abide the policies set forth by your employer as well as by Inver Hills Community College. Any variance from these policies is cause for immediate concern, and could ultimately result in the termination of your employment, failure or removal from the internship, and/or legal action.

In all instances, you are expected to conduct yourself in a professional manner. That conduct should extend to writing reports, exchanging information, and interacting with staff and clients.

Assignments

The following section will describe the core required assignments for successful completion of the internship. Your faculty supervisor may have additional assignments or questions for you which you will be notified of at the time you are enrolled in the internship.

Goals and Expectations Paper

Timing: Complete and submit this paper before you begin logging your 192 internship hours.

Length: Approximately 3 pages (double-spaced).

Recipients: Submit to both your ITC Faculty Supervisor and your On-Site Supervisor.

Minimum Required Content:

  1. Header Information: Name, employer name, project start/end dates, on-site supervisor contact info.

  2. Work Overview: Expected technical tasks and project responsibilities.

  3. Interpersonal Skills: Non-technical / soft skills crucial for success in this role.

  4. Broad Career Goals: Overall outcomes you hope to achieve through this experience.

  5. Target Skills: Specific technical tools, platforms, or skills you want to learn or strengthen.

Work Reflection Log

Frequency: Minimum of one detailed entry per week (2–3 paragraphs) plus additional professional development reflection every two weeks.

Format: Keep all work reflection log entries in a single file rather than as separate files. Use headings to indentify separate entries.

Submission Schedule: Submit your full consolidated log file to the ITC Internship Supervisor:

  • At least once per month

  • 2 days prior to any meeting with your faculty supervisor

  • As a final complete submission at the end of your internship hours

You must continue logging weekly reflections until all course requirements (including final faculty meetings and reflection papers) are fulfilled, even if this means you exceed 192 hours.

Required Miminum Weekly Log Components

Each minimum weekly entry (2-3 paragraphs) must summarize hours and reflect on your experiences:

  1. Hours Tracked: Date of entry, daily hours worked, and weekly total.

  2. Positive Highlight: A positive experience or achievement and why it occurred.

  3. Growth Area: Performance aspect needing improvement and your action plan.

  4. Goal Review: Progress evaluation against goals set in the previous entry.

  5. Challenges: Workplace obstacles faced and strategies considered/implemented.

  6. Key Interactions: Notable discussions with supervisors, mentors, or team members.

Bi-Weekly Professional Development Reflection

Every two weeks, add a second 2–3 paragraph section reflecting on one of the following broader IT industry topics, make sure this is clearly identified:

  • Interview Process: Reflections on your interview experience and lessons learned.

  • IT Organizational Structure: Roles, career pathways, and team dynamics within your company’s IT department.

  • Interpersonal & Team Dynamics: Experiences with cross-functional teams and communication styles.

  • Industry Trends & Current Events: Connecting real-world news (e.g., Computerworld, Network World) to your company’s tech strategy.

  • Problem Solving & Escalation: Analysis of complex technical challenges and troubleshooting methods.

  • Management & Leadership Styles: Observing directing, delegating, or supporting leadership styles in action.

  • Project Management Practices: Methods used to plan, track, and complete major IT deliverables.

Faculty Supervisor Meetings

Timing: Held approximately midway through your 192 hours.

Participants: Student Intern, On-Site Supervisor, and ITC Faculty Supervisor.

Format: On-site at your workplace or via video conference (at faculty discretion).

Meeting Agenda (20–30 minutes total):

  • Student & Faculty Discussion (10–15 min): Review of reflection logs, progress, technical growth, and challenges.

  • Combined Discussion with Employer (10–15 min): Review of performance, project opportunities, and supervisor feedback.

  • Site Tour / Private Consultations (Optional): Short walkthrough of the facilities or brief 1-on-1 time if requested by either party.

Coordinate and schedule this meeting early! Both faculty and employer schedules fill up quickly. Submit an updated copy of your Work Reflection Log to your faculty supervisor 2–3 days prior to the meeting.

End of Internship Reflection Paper

Timing: Submitted after completing 192 hours and all faculty meetings.

Length: 5–8 pages (double-spaced).

Recipients: Submit to your ITC Faculty Supervisor

Key Sections to Cover:

  1. Executive Summary: Overall evaluation of the internship experience and key surprises/challenges.

  2. Task & Project Breakdown: Major duties performed and details on collaborative project(s) completed or shadowed.

  3. Soft Skills Analysis: Importance of communication, teamwork, and problem-solving relative to technical skills.

  4. Goal Assessment: Evaluation of initial goals outlined in your Goals and Expectations Paper.

  5. Technical Development: New platforms, tools, or certifications developed.

  6. Academic Alignment: How well IHCC coursework prepared you for practical job demands.

  7. Career Impact: Changes in your academic, career, or personal growth plans going forward.

  8. Advice for Future Students: Key takeaways for upcoming IT interns.

End of Internship Employer Performance Review

Timing: Completed by employer upon conclusion of the 192 hours. Must be received by the ITC Internship Supervisor before the course grade can be completed.

  • Format: Employers may use their internal performance review form, a standard company evaluation template, or a detailed letter of evaluation outlining student strengths and growth areas.

  • Submission: Reviews may be submitted directly by the employer to the faculty supervisor or delivered via the student.

Nondiscrimination Statement

Inver Hills Community College is a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System and an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer and educator. This information is available in an alternate format by calling 651-450-3508 or TTY/Minnesota Relay at 1-800-627-3529.

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