Your internship needs to be planned in advance.  Typically, a student starts making industry contacts in November or December prior to the summer during which the internship will occur.  Prior to the semester that you do your internship, you need to talk with me about where you are doing the internship and fill out the appropriate forms.  Click on this link for the required forms.  Many companies have applications and forms to be completed in advance by the student before they will grant permission for an internship. Do Not assume anything.

Things YOU are responsible for:                  

Suggestions:

Before arriving at your first day of work make a phone call to your supervisor.  Ask them when they would like you to report and also ask them what is the standard business attire or dress policy for the area you are going to be working in.  Follow their lead.  Avoid excessive jewelry, piercings, extreme hair styles, or heavy perfumes or colognes.

You are entering either a broadcast or motion picture work environment.  Time is money!  Set you watch and your life to your employer's time standard and NEVER be a minute late for anything you do.  Better to be five (5) minutes early and appear energetic and on time than to be a minute late and looked foolish.  Late is a four letter word.

Make sure you remember everyone's name you meet and likewise, make sure they know your name.  This is an excellent time to network with people in the industry.  This can pay big dividends later when you are seeking your first position.

Make yourself available to try any professional learning experience offered.  Don't be afraid to try new things.  And above all, ask all the questions you want to!  That's why you are there, to learn.  There is no such thing as a dumb question.  Most industry professionals are pleased to answer your questions, particularly when you ask their opinion or take on something.

While you have a minimum number of hours you must work to satisfy the requirements of the internship, I would strongly suggest to you that you get as involved as much as your employer will permit you.  If there is an after hours or weekend promotion and you are asked if you want to participate, go for it!  Remember, this is an opportunity to "try out your career!"

Internship Requirements:  You are required to work in your career field or related area 150 hours to earn a 3 hour credit.  A double internship for 6 hours credit requires 300 hours of work in your career field or related area.

You are required to keep a detailed daily journal of all of your activities with dates, times, places and the work that you are doing.  You should also keep copies of any materials or projects produced, if allowed.  If you produce anything for "air" be sure to keep an "air check" of the project.  At the end of your internship you are to prepare a paper based on your journals as to what you did and how you did it.  You will chronicle your internship and explain how you felt the experience affected you.  Your journal is an integral part of this paper.

You are responsible for obtaining the mid-term and final employer evaluation report forms from this website or the communications office and delivering them to your employer.  Your internship supervisor is to evaluate your performance at the mid point and the end of your internship and forward the evaluations to the department.  The departments phone number is 828.227.7482.  If you have any questions concerning your internship you should contact me via e-mail or voice mail.

Communications Majors:  This course is graded as a pass fail.  You are requied to pass your internship with an satisfactory rating of S. 

Upon your return to campus, it is your responsibility to turn in your journal and written report to me prior to the final day of class.  Your final written report should be no longer than ten (10) pages and have your journal attached.

Please understand that your written report and your journal are academic papers and as such must conform to accepted standards for paper presentation.

Good Luck!