Purposes

1. To provide students with experiences to enhance their professional careers; an arena to practice the application of theory and techniques and to discover their professional strengths and weaknesses.
2. To enhance students understanding of recreation, sport and tourism opportunities and practices.
3. To provide the University with an applied setting for evaluating students’ performance.
4. To establish and enhance communication between recreation, sport and tourism agencies and the University.
5. To offer practitioners an opportunity to contribute to the recreation, sport and tourism industries through the preparation of professionals.

The internship program consists of the opportunity to participate in internship field experiences (RST 280) while enrolled in the undergraduate program followed by enrollment in a professional internship (RST 485-required) during the junior or senior year.  Students are strongly encouraged to seek out field experiences throughout their undergraduate career.

The Internship Program consists of work or volunteer experience, preferably at the operational level (i.e., face-to-face leadership, park maintenance, camp counselor, assistant to full-time staff.) in a recreation, sport or tourism affiliated agency.  It is preferred that students accumulate several field experiences during their freshman through junior year. Each experience will contribute to their professional preparation and may be listed as professional experience on the student's resume.
 

Three courses comprise the Internship Program:

RST 280 Practicum in Recreation, Sport and Tourism credit: 1 hour (not required but strongly recommended).
This practicum course is a 1-credit course that requires students to complete a minimum of 100 hours over the term/semester with an agency that relates to the field of recreation, sport, and tourism. The course enhances the practicum experience by leading students through assignments that will assist them in reflecting on their learning/working experience. The Job Description must be approved, and the Site Information Form, Vendor Approval, Affiliation Agreement, and Agreement Attachment 1, must be complete prior to the start of the practicum experience. Students should contact the practicum coordinator for specific instructions and recommendations 3-weeks prior to the start date. Approved for S/U grading only. May be repeated if topics vary to a maximum of 3 credit hours.

RST 480 Orientation to Internship credit: 1 credit hour (required).
Prepares and places students in the RST Internship (RST 485). Topics include placement requirements and policies, resume preparation, interviewing skills, acquiring letters of recommendation and the roles and issues of professional practice. 1 undergraduate hour. No graduate credit.

RST 485 Internship in Recreation, Sport or Tourism (Required) credit: 12 Hours (required).
The internship course requires students to complete a minimum of 400 hours over a minimum of 10 weeks with an agency that relates to the RST major. The course is designed to enhance the internship experience by leading students through practical steps that empower them in the learning/working experience. Additionally, students practice skills and concepts presented in academic classes, explore areas of personal and professional interest, and apply problem and conflict solving techniques. 12 undergraduate hours. No graduate credit. Approved for S/U grading only. Prerequisite: RST 100, RST 101, RST 200, RST 210, RST 240, RST 255, RST 325, RST 480, and one of the following - RST 120, RST 130, or RST 150. Restricted to students with Junior or Senior standing. Students may take up to an additional 6-credit hours during RST 485.

Internship search and placement procedures are reviewed as part of the coursework in RST 480 Orientation to Internship (taken prior to the internship). The Internship Coordinator assists students as they search for and secure their RST related internship. All Internships must be approved for placement by the final day of the preceding semester. Specific submission deadlines for approval documents will be posted at the beginning of each semester.

Student Intern

The student engaged in the internship to must arrange for the following:

1. Register and pay the appropriate fees as required by the University.
2. Complete all coursework required for course credit in RST 485-Internship.
3. Make arrangements for housing. Agency supervisors may assist with this task as they are more familiar with the housing situation in their community.
4. Attend and complete any training program provided by the agency.
5. Adhere to the policies and duties outlined by the agency, meeting all scheduled commitments and arrangements made in connection with training assignments.
6. Check with the agency supervisor before any money is expended for program materials.
7. Attend periodic conferences with the agency and University supervisors.
8. Arrange for personal liability insurance and present proof to the University and the Agency.
9. Perform work assignments to the best of ability.

The Agency Supervisor

Given the learning emphasis of the internship, the intern should receive training, supervision, and ongoing evaluation similar to that provided for employees. The Agency Supervisor serves as an agency-based teacher providing instruction and supervision to the intern utilizing the agency's operations to further the student's professional competence. Additionally, the agency assumes responsibilities to meet specific University requirements for the internship including:

1. Indicate acceptance of the student as an intern by submitting the Internship Site Information Form.
2. Partner with the RST Internship Coordinator in the completion of the Vendor Information Form, Affiliation Agreement, and Agreement Attachment 1, for Internship as required by the University of Illinois for all off campus student practicum placements.
3. Consult with the University Internship Coordinator, as necessary, to review the student's progress. These consultations may be conducted in-person (when in Illinois), by phone, electronic and/or mail correspondence.
4. Provide support to student as they create internship goals and objectives related to their placement with the purpose of verifying the feasibility of achievement. Goals and objectives that cannot be achieved within the agency should be returned to the student for revision.
5. Assist the student in meeting specific agency university requirements through completion of a mid-term and final evaluation of the student to gage progress, adjust goals, and provide professional development opportunity. Review provided evaluation forms with the student and the Internship Coordinator.
6. Confer with the student at least once a week to arrange schedules, discuss work performance, and analyze problems.
7. Monitor the student to safeguard the quality of the agency's services as well as the student's progress and well-being.
8. Inform the student of all personnel policies and procedures and help the student understand their role in the agency.
9. Allow the student reasonable freedom so that an adequate learning experience may be experienced.
10. Provide necessary program supplies and equipment for activities conducted by interns.

University

The Internship Coordinator from the University has overall responsibility for the Internship Program. These duties include:

1. Serve as a liaison between the Agency and the University.
2. Complete the Vendor Request, Affiliation Agreement for Internship, and Agreement Attachment 1, in accordance with University contract requirements for student off-campus placements.
3. Supervise arrangements for student and give final approval of all internship placements.
4. Monitor the student's experience and be available for consultation with students or agency personnel
5. Evaluate the student's written reports and assignments and assist them in completing satisfactory work.
6. Visit the student during the student's experience to observe their work and evaluate progress, when feasible. Students who are placed out- of-state are not visited in-person; the student's progress will be monitored by phone, electronic, and/or mail correspondence.
7. Assign the student a final grade.

While the University cannot demand that agencies pay interns a wage or a stipend, it is strongly encouraged. University of Illinois interns have performed extremely well for agencies in the past and have an excellent reputation for service. Some interns have performed vitally needed research on topics of interest. Other interns have designed and led programs with great success. With rising costs of tuition, food, and housing, it can be difficult to interns to select sites other than those near their hometowns. Providing compensation often allows for a more appropriate match between the agency and student goals. When compensation is provided, care should be taken to ensure the intern training relationship is that of an educator/trainer and student rather than that of employer and employee.