Thank you for your interest in serving as an intern supervisor for our URI students. If you have any questions about the form, please contact Sarah Miller at sgmiller@uri.edu. ​ 

The Center for Career and Experiential Education (CCEE) has many resources that can assist you with creating a position, as well as helping you find a student.

• Provide the student with a hands-on learning experience that combines practical application, observation, professional opportunities and mentorship.
• Provide feedback on the student goals and assist the student in meeting the objectives.
• Provide adequate supervision in a safe environment with the necessary tools and equipment to perform intended services.
• Be willing to provide more autonomy and responsibility as the intern demonstrates competence.

There are many different tasks for students that may or may not be appropriate for a student who is earning credit. The majority of work should be beneficial for the student and enhance their career goals or objectives. If you are unsure of whether something is appropriate or inappropriate contact the CCEE. Here are some examples of each:

• The training, even though it includes actual operation of the facilities of the employer, is similar to that which would be given in a vocational school.
• The training is for the benefit of the trainees.
• The trainees do not displace regular employees, but work under close observation.
• The employer that provides the training derives no immediate advantage from the activities of the trainees, and on occasion his operations may actually be impeded.
• The employer and the trainees understand that the trainees are not entitled to wages for the time spent training.
• The trainees are not necessarily entitled to a job at the completion of the training period.

Many academic departments use the following best practices to ensure a successful experience. To learn more about these practices, contact the Center for Career and Experiential Education.

In addition to the experience itself, many students enroll in a seminar through the Center for Career and Experiential Education. Seminars focus on the student’s learning experiences, as well as professional and career development. The seminar makes the connection between academic background and practical experience. In seminar, the students create a learning contract. This acts as a road map for the student’s learning experience and serves as the outline for their final project, the portfolio. The Learning Contract will determine:

The learning contract serves as the academic and professional road map for the student’s semester. The learning contract clearly identifies the student’s learning objectives and how they plan to accomplish them, as well as the work place requirements, intern responsibilities, and hours. Students must submit their learning contracts by the third week of the semester. We ask our supervisors to take the time to meet with the intern during the first week of the placement to discuss and negotiate this very important requirement. At the conclusion of the internship, the student creates a professional portfolio based on the content of the Learning Contract.

At the mid and final points of the semester we recommend supervisors complete evaluations on their student’s performance. We encourage supervisors to take the time to discuss the evaluation with the student and provide feedback on their performance. These evaluations will help in determining if the student is productive at the mid and final points of the semester. Students appreciate this feedback from you and it is part of their learning to understand where they are proficient and where they can improve.

The Center for Career and Experiential Education uses RhodyNet, a software system which allows employers to post job and internship opportunities, as well as register for career fairs. RhodyNet will allow you to market your openings to URI students seven days a week, 24 hours a day. Students will then have the ability to view the opportunity and apply directly to you via the contact information you provided.