The EWU President and Provost have updated internship requirements in relation to the COVID-19 outbreak for Fall 2020. In-person internships/practicums can be approved if the host facility signs the Assurance of Compliance form prior to the student beginning the internship.
Some of you have already responded, and have already made adjustments to your internship program. For those who haven’t, It is important to know that this is required by EWU (and the State) for companies to have a plan for accommodating your interns remotely or complete the in-person approval form, should they continue to have one.
- Could your internship be completed in a non-face-to-face format for the upcoming quarter
- Will it remain open (including teleworking) for the entire internship period.
- If it is in-person, will you sign the Assurance of Compliance form prior to the start of the internship
If all answers are yes, then the internship(s) can proceed forward. If not, it’s likely that your internship will need to be postponed until further instructions.
**If you currently have an intern, and cannot provide a remote internship or complete the in-person approval form, please have your intern contact their faculty internship advisor for proper guidance on how to secure their academic credits.
Strategies for maintaining a good virtual internship
Choose The Best Platform For Online Collaboration
Virtual interns need a place to share documents, assign tasks, and communicate regularly. An online collaboration platform ensures that everyone is on the same page. Ideally, there should be Video Conferencing and Project Management online tools in place to aid this process. Interns can also use these online platforms to clarify tasks and ask questions. Here are some that you can look into.
- Zoom
- Microsoft Team
- Asana Task Manager
Incorporate Group Projects and Activities To Build Practical Experience
Projects, case studies, scenarios, and online training examples give virtual interns real-world experience in a supportive online setting.
Schedule Weekly Web Meetings
Weekly web meetings give interns, managers, and coordinators a chance to touch bases. They can discuss the virtual intern’s progress and create a plan to help them improve.
Incentives
Many internships involve some sort of compensation. However, you can further motivate students by adding bonus incentives. They don’t necessarily have to be monetary, but it’s preferred.
Offer Ongoing Support And Feedback
One of the biggest mistakes you can make is leaving your virtual interns to their own devices. You cannot simply set the ground rules, give them a list of tasks, and then send them on their way. Virtual interns need ongoing online support and feedback so that they can continually improve.
