Community Service Internship

Signing up

    You do NOT register for this class in the usual way. Instead, you do the following:

  • Pick up an internship form from Admissions and Records or from the Global Studies Coordinator, Rheyna Laney
  • Fill out the internship form in consultation with your advisor. Your Prof. Laney will pass the form along for signatures to the Chair and Dean, and it will then be submitted to Admissions and Records.
  • Later in the semester, you will notice that Admissions and Records has added the course to your course load
  • Grade option: CR/NC only

Deadline

  • The priority deadline to submit 'Contract Courses' is usually the last day to add/drop a class. Check the academic calendar for the exact date. The final deadline is usually about two weeks later (again, check the calendar).

Assignments

    1. Daily journal: During this internship, you must keep a daily journal of your experiences and observations which you will submit to the Global Studies Coordinator at the end of your internship
    2. Four-page essay: At the end of the internship, you will write an essay describing your duties, experiences, and personal observations, including how this experience contributed to your global studies education.
      • Students should use the guide below when writing the essay.
    3. Letter from your supervisor at the agency, written on the agency's stationary, verifying that you performed the 135 hours satisfactorily.

NOTE: You are not covered by SSU's workers' comp policies during an internship.  If you have any concerns over this issue, you should talk to the agency for whom you plan to work and ask about their policy before signing up.

A good essay will:

Social service mission:
  • Describe the agency’s mission thoughtfully evaluates its goals.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the interrelationship of the organization and community
Personal Growth and Expansion of Perspective
  • Demonstrate awareness, respect for, and thoughtful consideration of the people being served, including their culture, knowledge and personal strengths.
  • Understand why they are in need, and utilizes local knowledge, resources, and ingenuity to help them meet their needs.
Self-Initiative and Potential for leadership through social service
  • Include a description of the internship work that clearly demonstrates “showing initiative” in a way that is relevant to the organization and community.
  • Articulate a clear vision and explanation of your leadership through your contribution to the agency and/or its improvement.
Professional Growth and Lifelong Learning
  • Thoughtfully assess the contribution/gains resulting from the volunteer experience.
  • Describe your professional growth and consider how the experience contriubted towards your future work.
  • Demonstrate reflection, and indicate understanding of the need for active planning of one’s professional development