The Denison Internship Program offers our students a structured learning experience as they explore career fields and apply their broadening intellectual skills to workplace environments. Each year, the program promotes and engages hundreds of internship opportunities around the globe. Internships take form in a number of ways, but the most successful benefit from a three-tiered partnership between students, supervisors, and The Knowlton Center for Career Exploration staff.
- If you are interested in promoting a summer internship opportunity, please contact career@denison.edu.
- Please report concerning situations involving Denison students to career@denison.edu or 740-587-6656 so that we can help resolve any issues that may arise.
How the Internship Program Works
The Knowlton Center for Career Exploration – asks that alumni and employers interested in promoting internships at Denison post their positions through Handshake. Once a student receives an offer letter/email, The Knowlton Center requires a copy of said letter along with the student’s completion of an internship registration form. All hires should be reported to The Knowlton Center staff and formal evaluations are requested from both students and supervisors near the end of each work term.
Internships involving Denison students should be brought to the attention of The Knowlton Center for Career Exploration so that all students have the opportunity to earn transcript notation. Also, in order for The Knowlton Center to support our employer partners in a variety of ways, we must stay informed of our students’ experiences. While no numerical credit is typically assigned, The Knowlton Center links with the Registrar and official notation is awarded after satisfactory evaluations are obtained from internship supervisors.
Internship Criteria
The Knowlton Center for Career Exploration promotes the following internship criteria as defined by the National Association of Colleges and Employers:
- The experience must be an extension of the classroom: a learning experience that provides for applying the knowledge gained in the classroom. It must not be simply to advance the operations of the employer or be the work that a regular employee would routinely perform.
- The skills or knowledge learned must be transferable to other employment settings.
- The experience has a defined beginning and end, and a job description with desired qualifications.
- There are clearly defined learning objectives/goals related to the professional goals of the student’s academic coursework.
- There is supervision by a professional with expertise and educational and/or professional background in the field of the experience.
- There is routine feedback by the experienced supervisor.
- There are resources, equipment, and facilities provided by the host employer that support learning objectives/goals
Quick Notes
- Students need to make travel/living arrangements when selected to intern, so we encourage our employer partners to offer prompt feedback regarding offers.
- Internships must offer a minimum of 100 working hours. We strongly encourage internships of greater lengths to provide maximum benefits to all parties.
Employer Guidelines
All Employers Must Adhere to:
- National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) Principles of Professional Practice
- Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) laws and regulations
- Recruitment and employment laws for the state of Ohio and the federal government
- Guidelines established by The Knowlton Center for Career Exploration and Denison University
