Internship Policies

GOALS OF INTERNSHIP

The internship is an opportunity for final year students to work in a professional environment, using the skills and knowledge that they have learnt as part of their degree. Media and Communication internships are designed to benefit both students and employers. Students receive practical experience in a communication-related career, while employers benefit from their skills, enthusiasm and assistance, and may evaluate first-hand possible future employees.

STUDENT ELIGIBILITY and EXPECTATIONS

Students must enrol in MECO3671 - Internship to receive academic credit for the internship placement. The
resulting grade is an ‘R’ for Requirements Satisfied.
Eligibility criteria: Senior standing (you have normally completed the seven senior MECO units).
MECO 3603 Media Law & Ethics is a pre-requistie for this unit of study.

Students are expected to meet high standards of personal conduct and professional ethics, as well as to maintain attention to punctuality, deadlines and cooperation with others. In short, students are expected to work hard and become an asset to the organization they are serving.

EMPLOYER ELIGIBILITY and EXPECTATIONS

The employer must meet the following criteria before an internship may be approved:

• The employer must offer an opportunity for the intern to apply, practice and develop skills and knowledge emphasized in the MECO curriculum.
• Work is expected to be substantive and varied (entry-level duties) and must be related to the MECO curriculum. Typically, this means work in print or online media, TV or video production, radio, and public or media relations fields.
• The conditions of an internship should be established before the student starts the placement and documented on an Offer Form. These include the nature of the internship, supervisory arrangements, specific responsibilities of the intern, compensation (if any), and work schedules. It is expected that employers will provide a safe environment in which students can work and the materials that students need to complete their assignments (a desk, computer, etc). Once the internship begins, employers should review the students' work with them regularly and treat them as professionals. The workplace supervisor must also complete the Completion Form and return it to the Internship Coordinator.

WORKPLACE VISIT by the INTERN COORDINATOR

Please note that the Internship Coordinator (or the Internship Academic Advisor) may visit the Intern in the workplace. Interns are asked to check with their supervisor then email the Internship Coordinator with possible times for a work place visit.