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By their very nature, these courses do not always fit easily within disciplinary designations and are coordinated at Lakeland through the Success Coaches.
There are several types of external study courses, all of which require a minimum GPA in Lakeland classroom work. All external study courses require junior or senior standing. There will be dual supervision of all such courses by both an on-site supervisor and a Lakeland College faculty member. Where academic credit is given by Lakeland College and where Lakeland faculty assign final grades, the experience is called an internship.
Students seeking a credit-bearing internship must contact their Success Coach at least one semester in advance of the planned internship. This will allow for ample time to develop application materials and connect with prospective employers. Students must add internship courses to their schedules by the end of the add/drop period for the term in which the internship is to occur. Students must also have a site secured by that point in time.
Any exceptions to the policies stated here will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and must have the written sponsorship of a member of the Lakeland College faculty.
Required Paperwork to be Completed by Registration Deadline
To receive approval and to be registered for your internship, you must complete the following requirements by the registration deadline.
- Internship Agreement Form
- Liability Form
- Have an Affiliation Agreement on file with the college
- Have a Certificate of Liability Insurance on file with the college
- Have a Worker’s Compensation Certificate on file with the college
International Students and Curricular Practical Training
Generally, international students in F-1 visa status are eligible to work off-campus in internships under Curricular Practical Training (CPT), if the student and the internship meet certain eligibility requirements. Prior to beginning the internship, students must complete all documentation and register for the internship credit for the academic term during which the internship is to be conducted. In addition to completing the standard required paperwork for an internship experience, the following process must be completed by the registration deadline to be eligible for an internship/CPT experience.
- An Internship Agreement must be signed by you, your faculty advisor, prospective internship supervisor, and a Lakeland College internship coordinator recommending you for the CPT.
- A job-offer verification must be completed by you and your supervisor.
- Submit all required paperwork to the International Student Office for endorsement.
- Visit the Office of the Registrar where a new I-20 will be processed for CPT authorization. You may not begin the CPT until authorization is noted on page 3 of your SEVIS I-20.
Eligibility Requirements for Internship Courses
Any Lakeland student who completes the course prerequisites and meets the eligibility requirements listed below may take up to 15 semester hours of course credit from Lakeland College in the form of full-semester internship. The following policy is intended to address all such programs where course credit is awarded through Lakeland College, whether credit-bearing activities are coordinated and evaluated by Lakeland College staff or by the staff of other institutions.
In some exceptional cases, up to 30 semester hours of credit may be awarded for year-long internships, which are required for the completion of an academic major. Where they are part of the standard program offerings of the college, the exceptions to the 15-hour limit on external study will be clearly noted in this course catalog.
- Grade-Point-Average Requirement
Except where other specific GPA requirements are indicated, the student must have an overall Lakeland GPA of at least 2.50 to be eligible for internship credit.
- Enrollment Requirement
To be eligible for internship experience credit from Lakeland College, the student must have completed two full-time semesters or their equivalent (30 semester hours) at Lakeland and must be registered through Lakeland College for that term.
- Contact Hour Requirement
To qualify as an acceptable internship experience, the out-of-classroom coursework must involve a minimum of 50 contact hours of educational activity for each semester hour of credit to be awarded. A minimum of 3/4 of the internship contact hours must be completed within the registered term.
- Location Approval Requirement
To qualify as an approved internship experience site, the institution or location at which the out-of-classroom coursework is to be completed must have the signed approval of Lakeland’s internship coordinator and a sponsoring member of the Lakeland faculty.
- Financial Aid Eligibility
To be eligible for full financial aid support during the semester in which the internship experience is to occur, the student must be registered as a full-time student through Lakeland College. Students who are registered on a part-time basis may be eligible for partial aid support, but eligibility will vary on a case-by-case basis. In all cases, the Director of Financial Aid will determine financial aid eligibility and level of support.
Regular Internship Opportunities
The following descriptions cover Lakeland’s on-going special internship programs:
- Education Internships
These teaching-experience internships are required of all education majors who are seeking teaching certification. Prerequisites are determined and arrangements are made within the Education Division, and all inquiries should be directed to the chair of that division.
- Semester Internships
Such internships may be taken for 1 to 15 semester hours of credit in any one semester and are available to all eligible students through application to the internship coordinator. An overall GPA of 2.5 or better and junior or senior standing are prerequisites. A minimum of 3/4 of the internship contact hours must be completed within the registered term.
- May Term Internship
While internships are periodically offered during May Term, finding project-based work for such an experience may be difficult due to May Term’s shortened time-frame and the limited benefit host organizations receive. To be eligible for a May Term internship, students must meet all previously stated guidelines. It is recommended that graduating seniors do not rely on a May Term internship to complete his/her degree requirements if planning a spring graduation. A minimum of 3/4 of the internship contact hours must be completed within the three (3) week May Term.
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