How do I create an internship?
View this helpful "How-To" document to start the process of creating a meaningful learning experience for a Lindenwood student.
Can I Pay an Intern?
All on-campus internships must remain unpaid opportunities. Please reference the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) guidelines for an unpaid internship.
Does the intern have to receive academic credit for the internship?
While there is no requirement that a Lindenwood student completes an internship for credit in order to complete his/her degree, we strongly recommend you consider including responsibilities relevant to a student’s academic pursuits when creating an internship. If you are not sure whether or not your internship would count for academic credit toward a student’s major or degree, please send your job description to a Career Services representative for consultation.
How many hours does the student work each week?
The minimum hours depend on the student’s major and the number of credit hours the student is seeking. For example, a student in the Plaster College of Business & Entrepreneurship is required to complete 150 working hours to receive 3 academic credit hours. For a 16-week semester, this equates to about 10 hours per week. Students are welcome to complete more than the minimum working hours requirement, and the number of hours worked per week can be determined by the internship supervisor.
What is the best way to recruit students for my internship opportunity?
1. The first step (and most crucial) is to send the job description to a Career Services representative so the opportunity can be added to Handshake and the university website.
2. Career Services hosts a variety of professional events throughout the fall and spring semesters. We invite our community partners to attend and participate. As a faculty/staff member, you are encouraged to attend Career Services events as well to recruit for your on-campus opportunities. Examples of events include Resume Workshops, Career Fairs, Etiquette Dinners, etc. If you are interested in participating in a Career Services event, reach out to your Career Services representative for more information.
What are my expectation when hosting an on-campus intern?
If the intern you have hired from Lindenwood is completing his or her internship for academic credit, there are a few things you will be asked to do at some point before, during, or after the internship.
Before the internship begins
Work with the intern to complete the Internship Approval Forms. Career Services will require the student to provide these completed forms to be enrolled in the internship course. The forms include:
- Expected hours worked per week
- Start and end date of the internship
- Job description
- Name and contact information of student’s direct supervisor
During the internship
The instructor teaching the student’s internship course will reach out to you 1 or more times during the internship to check-in and ensure the internship is progressing positively. While not required, the instructor may also ask to complete a site visit to your company.
You may also be asked to assist the student in developing learning objectives to connect his or her academic pursuits to the internship experience.
After the internship
The student will be required to submit an evaluation completed by their supervisor at the end of their internship; this evaluation will be provided to you by the student. Please provide honest feedback.
