California State University, Fullerton
Communications / RTVF/ HCOM Internship – A High Impact Practice
Academic Year 2013-14 Annual Report
Pamela Caldwell, Faculty Internship Coordinator

Executive Summary

The COMM / RTVF /HCOM award-winning Internship Program continues to provide students with the resources necessary to fulfill their internship class – COMM 495t, RTVF 495 and HCOM 495. The 3-unit course has specific prerequisites for each course. Beginning in the Fall 2014, the senior status requirement has been removed and now COMM and RTVF students are able to take two internships for credit – one of which is required. HCOM students do not have a required internship but the coordinator continues to work with HCOM faculty to make it a requirement for the major. The syllabus details the specific requirements and the curriculum that each internship student must complete to receive Credit.

The internship program oversees almost 900 College of Communications students a year. Titanium is used to manage the course curriculum outlined on the internship website at: attachment #1)

The 12-month Faculty Internship Coordinator provides office hours three days a week to meet face-to-face with students and goes into the field two days a week as often as possible to visit the sites that host our students each semester. Eight to ten Mandatory Internship Orientations are arranged the semester before each registration period to provide an overview of the internship process and program. Students are required to attend one.

In addition to answering students’ internship questions in a variety of settings, the coordinator provides major, concentration, TDA, and graduation advisement; credit letters for companies who require letterhead with a personal signature; substitution forms for qualified students; review and feedback of curriculum; grades upon completion of the minimum of 120 hours and the final report; and other daily activities as needed. The coordinator also interfaces with various units on campus that provide resources to our interns. These include the Career Center; the Center for Internships; the International Education and Exchange Office; Admissions and Records; Titan Degree Audit; and the Grad Unit. The coordinator maintains the internship website and Facebook page: (See attachment 2)

In addition, there is regular interface throughout the year with company internship supervisors to help them find interns, get their companies approved by the University, and occasionally help them solve intern challenges that may come up during any term. A welcome letter is sent to each supervisor at the beginning of the semester and a Zoomerang evaluation of the student is sent out at the end. A newsletter is sent with each evaluation form. This semester, a copy of the newsletter will be sent to more than 1800 sites that have not been hosting internships in the last 18 months. As mentioned above, regular site visits are made throughout the year.

Overall, the COMM / RTVF / HCOM Internship Program is highly affective and successful.

STATISTICS

During the academic year 2013-14, the internship database held 867 registered interns: Adv – 165; ES – 141; Journalism – 106; Photo – 18; PR – 216; HCOM – 9; and RTVF – 212. The minimum number of required internship hours is 120. COMM students worked averaged 140. RTVF averaged 160 and HCOM 120.

Of the total number of all internships verified in 2013-14, approximately 97 were paid and 770 were unpaid. These figures represent approximately 641 separate and distinct sites.

There were 96 site visits during this academic year – 15 percent of distinct sites. The meetings are with various people who represent the company including Directors of HR, Internship Coordinators, CEOs, Office Managers, Producers, etc. many, many of whom are CSUF alum. A specific list of questions are asked about the company, the intern and our program. Overall, our students are loved in the professional world. Often there are statements such as, “CSUF students rate equal to USC,” and “Your program produces excellent students.” Many different industries are represented. (See attachment #3) Locations include many in Southern California including, Woodland Hill, Carlsbad and Rancho Cucamonga and a few national and international.

ASSESSMENT

After an intern student completes the final report, the intern’s site supervisor is asked to submit an online evaluation and respond to questions associated with the intern’s proficiency in Communication Skills, Adaptability and Resourcefulness, Technical Skills, Professional Attitude, Diversity Sensitivity, and Overall Aptitude, and Needs Improvement. (See attachments 4 & 5)

CONCLUSION

The COMM / RTVF Internship Program provides excellent resources for students ready to complete their senior internships. It monitors internship progress and internship sites. The Interns in the program showcase the high quality education they receive in the Cal State Fullerton College of Communications. Overall, interns represent themselves as eager to learn, knowledgeable about their fields of studies, and highly professional.