Agricultural and Extension Education Internships

Youth & Family Education (YFE) 495 Internship

Description

Youth and Family Education 495 Internship is designed as a pre-professional experience for students. The purpose of the course is to provide students an opportunity for an off-campus learning experience relevant to a potential career in cooperative extension or another non-formal education program. The internship is a planned six-week learning experience for 6 credit hours. Students interested in the internship are encouraged to obtain "Guidelines for Extension Education 495 Internship" from internship coordinator.

The student is to consult with the internship supervisor (extension agent) and the faculty member (internship coordinator) to determine plans and objectives for the internship. Written objectives are to be submitted by the student to both the internship coordinator and the internship supervisor. This is to be done prior to the internship experience. At midpoint into the internship experience, it is suggested the student and internship supervisor discuss appropriate adjustments. The internship coordinator will plan a site visit with the student and agent during the last part of the internship.

One of the valuable experiences for students in the internship program is to have a major responsibility for a program. The purpose of this experience is to provide the student the opportunity to plan, conduct, and evaluate a program for which they have major responsibility. This provides the student an opportunity for a "real feel" of extension work.

During the internship the student is to keep a daily log or journal of their experiences throughout the six weeks. Midway through the internship, the student is to submit a mid-term report describing experience to date. At the conclusion of the internship, students are to prepare a report of their experiences and accomplishments. This report along with their journal is to be submitted to the internship coordinator within two weeks following the internship.

Operational Principles

The student internship concept as practiced at Penn State University's College of Agricultural Sciences adheres to the following operational and philosophical principles:

• That each student intern shall have well-defined work activities that are regarded as worthwhile by the cooperating agency with whom the student intern is affiliated, the intern, and the faculty advisor.
• That each student intern shall develop specific learning objectives that can be readily identified and reviewed periodically throughout the internship.
• That each student intern shall be supported by the Youth and Family Education internship coordinator and an extension agent as internship supervisor. The roles of these support persons are to assist with task identification, learning objectives, carrying out of the task, counseling the student, and carrying through with ideas and projects initiated.
• That regular contact be arranged to permit student-internship supervisor and Youth and Family Education academic advisor feedback and accountability.
• That each student intern assess the worth of the internship experience, and prepare a final report for the internship coordinator.

Enrollment Procedures

• Students seeking internship experiences are to complete an internship application form stating the kind of professional experiences desired and their preference for geographic location.
• During the semester, prior to the semester in which the internship is to be taken, the student must arrange an interview with the internship coordinator to determine objectives and possible locations for internship.
• On approval of the agency representative, and with the work description or schedule of anticipated activities, the student will submit the "Plan for Internship" to the office of the Internship Instructor. At that time, the Internship agreement will be completed.
• The student will proceed with registration for the course following the registration instructions issued by the University each semester.

Responsibilities of the Principal Participants

The Student

Assisted by the internship coordinator, the student seeks out placement opportunities for the internship program. On approval of the internship site by the internship coordinator and extension agent, the student develops a "Plan for Internship." A signed copy of this plan must be submitted to the internship coordinator office before the student begins their internship program.

Registration procedures for the course are outlined on the University calendar at the front of each semesters "Schedule of Classes."

While participating in the internship program, the student is expected to:

• Complete the tasks and activities outlined in the "Plan for Internship" to maximize this opportunity for learning.
• Conform with the normal work hours including overtime when requested.
• Submit mid-semester and final reports at the mutually agreed upon time.
• Recognize that the agencies in which they are working are providing a rare opportunity to them to acquire valuable knowledge and experience in the area of their work choice and will utilize the Internship Program to the fullest possible extent to test the validity of their career choice.

The Internship Coordinator

The coordinator assists the student in developing the "Plan for Internship" and reviews this plan to determine whether the internship:

• Includes adequate and appropriate experiences for the career goals of the student requesting the internship.
• Involves initiative, creative opportunities, meaningful responsibilities, and assignment in contrast to routine or continuously repetitive activities.
• Provides the student a learning experience and the exposure needed to understand the opportunities, functions, and responsibilities of a non formal educator.
• Includes appropriate supervision.

Internship Supervisor and Cooperating Agency

The internship supervisor of the agency (normally an extension agent with Penn State Cooperative Extension) interviews the student prior to enrolling for the course. The agency is asked to provide a work description or schedule of the intern's anticipated activities, experiences, and responsibilities during the internship period. The internship coordinator makes the final approval for registration.

The cooperating agency is expected to provide a variety of experiences for the intern plus a program sufficiently flexible to permit intern involvement on specific projects. One of the valuable experiences for students in the internship program is to have a major responsibility for a program. The purpose of this experience is to provide the student the opportunity to plan, conduct, and evaluate a program for which they have major responsibility. This provides the student an opportunity for a "real feel" of extension work. Further, the agency representative completes an evaluation form in which the student's performance is rated. The form is forwarded to the student's internship coordinator.

The cooperating agency may provide wages, reimbursement for travel, and other needs while the student is on the internship. These arrangements are to be agreed upon by the cooperating agency and the student.

Grade

At the end of each semester, the internship coordinator determines and enters final grades for Youth and Family Education 495 Internship. The final grade is calculated by the coordinator using the following criteria.

15% Internship plan
25% Mid-term report
35% Final report
25% Cooperative agency representative final evaluation