A Syllabus For

CSTM 493, ET 493, GCOM 493 Engineering Technology Internships

Department of Engineering Technology

College of Business and Technology

Western Illinois University

Macomb, Illinois

Revised: October, 2011

If You Remember Nothing Else…

Remember These Five Important Items!

  1. Your first week’s report must contain the
  2. Company description;
  3. Company organizational chart;
  4. First week activity log with questions answered;
  5. Expected work hours;
  6. A clear map and written directionsto your place of employment.
  1. If you are doing a 9 semester hour internship, you must work the equivalent of nine (40 hour) weeks, or 360 total hours.

Likewise, if you are doing a 12 semester hour internship, you must work the equivalent of twelve (40 hour) weeks, or 480 total hours.

  1. You are required to do an Objective Checklist self-evaluation of your internship during the fourth week and at the end of the internship. The final self-evaluation report [answers to eight (8) questions] is separate from the objective checklists and is due the final week of your internship. Your supervisor is also expected to complete evaluations at the fourth week and at the conclusion of your internship. These evaluations are very important.
  1. If this internship is your final requirement before graduation, you have one year to complete it.
  1. Every week you are required to send a weekly activity log along with your answers to these two questions directly to your Internship Coordinator. Your answers to the questions should be well thought out, and should be typed and proofread. Handwritten logs and answers to the questions will not be accepted.
  2. Question #1: WHAT MISTAKES DID YOU MAKE? HOW DID YOU HANDLE THE SITUATION?
  3. Question #2: GIVE A DESCRIPTION OF THE MOST INTERESTING INCIDENT OR EXPERIENCE YOU HAD DURING THE WEEK.

This syllabus contains all the documents that you will need for the course. It is suggested that you make a copy of your syllabus and place the original in a safe place. When you begin using the forms, you are to use the original documents.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Topic Page

Five Things to Remember...... 2

Table of Contents...... 3

  1. Introduction...... 5
  2. Objectives...... 5
  3. Qualifications To Apply For An Internship...... 5
  4. Requirements...... 6
  5. Training Schedule...... 6
  6. Internship Weekly Reports...... 6
  7. Internship Technical Report and Final

Evaluation Report...... 8

  1. Faculty Visitation...... 9
  2. Evaluation...... 10
  3. Additional Course Work...... 11
  4. University Housing Contracts...... 11
  5. Registration For Your Next Semester...... 11
  6. Payment of Fees...... 11
  7. Dropping The Internship...... 12
  8. Communication...... 12
  9. Exceptions...... 12
  10. REFERENCES...... 13

Forms and Examples: Appendix

APPLICATION PACKET ...... 14

Minimum Competency for Enrolling...... 15

TABLE OF CONTENTS – Continued

Application For Internship...... 16

Cover Letter/Resume...... 17

INTERNSHIP SITE INFORMATION PACKET...... 20

Preliminary Internship Information...... 21

Internship Training Schedule...... 22

Intern’s Working Hours Schedule...... 23

FIRST WEEK REPORT PACKET...... 24

Company Description Format...... 25

Company Organization Chart...... 26

Weekly Activity Log...... 27

Map and Written Directions...... 28

Weekly Activity Log (example)...... 29

VISITATION PACKET...... 31

Itinerary &Confirmation of Internship Visit ...... 32-33

SUPERVISOR 4TH WEEK & FINAL REPT PACKET...... 34

Fourth Week Report...... 35

Final Report...... 37

STUDENT SELF EVALUATION REPORT PACKET...... 39

Student 4th Week Job Related Objective Report...... 40

Student Final Job Related Objective Report...... 42

Final Self Evaluation Report...... 44

I.Introduction

The technology internship provides qualified students with a supervised program in production practices, management techniques, research applications, and other activities found in engineering technology, in construction, or in graphic communication. This syllabus contains the guidelines for the course and is intended to clarify the student’s requirements. Each student must thoroughly know the contents of this syllabus.

II.Objectives

A technology internship is a unique educational experience and offers specific goals relative to student achievement as follows:

1.Provides the intern with relevant work experience education about manufacturing, construction, or graphic communication in a Work Environment.

2.Acquaints the intern with the physical, technical, academic, and environmental requirements of his or her chosen career.

3.Develops the intern’s technical writing skills.

4.Develops the intern’s ability to search for and find employment in industry.

5.Demonstrates the importance of responsibility and personal interactions in the work place.

III.Qualifications To Apply For An Internship

Each student must:

1.Be a major in the Department of Engineering Technology.

  1. Have completed a minimum of 60 s.h. of credit.
  2. Have a cumulative GPA of 2.00 and major GPA of 2.00.
  3. Have completed the minimum competency as detailed in the Application Packet.
  4. Complete ET, CSTM, GCOM 493 application Form #1 in the Application Packet.
  5. Follow the 493 Internship Semester Hour Credit Ratio of 9 (40 hr. wks.) = 9 sem. Hrs. of credit, or 12 (40 hr. wks.) = 12 sem. Hrs. credit.
  6. Find a sponsoring industry. Internships must be pre-approved.
  7. Be willing to interview with the sponsoring industry at his or her expense.
  8. Follow the policies of the employer.
  9. Pay University fees and tuition for the number of hours of the internship.
  10. Accept being graded on a satisfactory-unsatisfactory basis.
  11. Have prior approval of the internship coordinator before enrolling in CSTM, GCOM, or ET 493 internship.

See Section XIII for any exceptions to items 1 through 12.

IV.Requirements

  1. Training Schedule

Each intern is expected to complete the Preliminary Intern Information Sheet to formulate, in cooperation with the participating company and program coordinator, a training schedule and set objectives for the internship (Internship Site Information Packet). This Training Schedule is the most important document of the internship. The Training Schedule must be accurately completed in its entirety by the intern and then signed by the company supervisor. This Training Schedule gives a summary of the responsibilities and objectives (Objective Checklist self-evaluation) of the intern and should be completed before the intern starts working. THIS TRAINING SCHEDULE MUST BE MAILED TO THE UNIVERSITY COORDINATOR NO LATER THAN THE END OF THE FIRST WEEK OF WORK. Along with the Training Schedule, you must submit an Intern’s Working Hours Schedule (Internship Site Information Packet).

  1. Internship Weekly Reports

Each intern is required to submit, electronically, a Log of Activities and answers to the following two questions on a weekly basis.

  1. WHAT MISTAKES DID YOU MAKE? HOW DID YOU HANDLE THE SITUATION?
  2. GIVE A DESCRIPTION OF THE MOST INTERESTING INCIDENT OR EXPERIENCE YOU HAD DURING THE WEEK.

FIRST WEEK

The first weekly report is to include a description of the company. The description should include such information as: items produced, constructed, or designed, type of customers, and methods of manufacturing, construction, or graphic communication. If the company has a general booklet covering this information, submit that booklet or a copy of it in place of writing the description (First Week Report Packet).

The first weekly report must also include an organizational chart of your internship site. For small companies, it is expected that you will show the entire organizational chart. For larger corporations, your chart should indicate only those areas where you are scheduled to work (First Week Report Packet). Be sure to note where your job (internship) or position is on the chart. Additionally, the first week you are to fill out a “Weekly Activity Log” and answers to the two questions. Proper format with examples is included in the First Week Report Packet.

Also with your first report, mail a map and written directions on how to find your place of employment for the upcoming coordinator’s visit, IF it is a site visit (First Week Report Packet). Here are a few pointers for drawing maps:

1.Assume the coordinator will be coming from Macomb.

  1. Maps are always drawn with North at the top of the page.
  2. Give approximate distances, i.e. “3 miles past McDonalds”.
  3. Good routes to your town without detours are appreciated.
  4. Generally, the town is not hard to find, but details in town are what is needed.
  5. On a separate sheet of paper, either include written instructions to go along with the map OR use electronic maps with directions.
  6. Do not just send a hyperlink, make sure you send actual directions.

SECOND WEEK THROUGH END OF INTERNSHIP

Send your weekly log report and answers to the two questions electronically to the internship coordinator assigned you.

The following time schedule must be followed to insure orderly and clear communication between the intern, company supervisor, and the university coordinator.

1st week: Report promptly to work and perform assigned duties. Schedule an appointment with your company supervisor for the Monday or Tuesday of the first week to complete and confirm your work schedule, plus set objectives for the internship. Send those documents at the end of the first week.

2nd week through end of Internship: Send your weekly Log Report and answers to the two questions to your internship coordinator electronically.

7th week or 10th week: Submit your Internship TechnicalReport for review.

The last week of your internship submit the Final Evaluation Report and final Objective Checklist Report self-evaluation electronically to your Internship Coordinator (Student Evaluation Packet).

Send Reports to:

Internship Coordinator

Department of Engineering Technology

One University Circle

Western Illinois University

Macomb, IL 61455

If weekly materials are mailed, please mail them no later than Wednesday of the following week to your Internship Coordinator. If a weekly report is to be mailed late, inform the University Coordinator by mail and indicate why and when the report will be mailed. Make a copy of your report for your own files.

Your internship coordinator will review your weekly log reports, answers to the two questions, and will return them to you with comments. You will be expected to make corrections and re-submit it to the internship coordinator within one week. Also, incorporate the comments as appropriate in subsequent reports. After a few weeks, your reports should meet the internship standards and the coordinator will inform you when this has occurred.

Special Note: Keep your reports coming in on a weekly schedule. You may receive an unsatisfactory grade if you neglect turning your reports in on time.

C. Internship Technical Report and Final Evaluation Report

This course has been designated to meet the Writing Instruction in the Disciplines (WID) graduation requirement. WID courses provide instruction in the processes and formats for the writing content and style needed to be an effective professional in a student’s chosen field.

The Internship TechnicalReport is to be completed during the seventh (7th) or tenth (10th) week of the internship and submitted electronically. It will be reviewed, corrections suggested, and returned to you. If corrections are to be made, they must be made within one week and returned to your coordinator. This process will be repeated until the report is satisfactory.

Internship Technical Report Format

Your Internship TechnicalReport is a well written and researched report that includes references in APA format and is related to your internship. There are two options for the Internship Technical Report. The first option is a seven to ten (7-10) page report with at least five (5) references. The second option is three (3) reports of three (3) full pages with three (3) references each. The report(s) should reflect a technical area with which you have come in contact as part of your Internship. Your report may cover any TECHNICAL AREA within the scope of your Internship. As you work, keep a list of potential TECHNICAL TOPICS as you engage or observe them. These topics will assist you in selecting the INTERSHIP TECHNICAL REPORT topic.

The intent of the INTERNSHIP TECHNICAL REPORT is to allow you to showcase your skills and abilities as a TECHNICAL WRITER. The INTERNSHIP TECHNICAL REPORT is to be written in third person (3rd) person, past tense about a topic or topics to which you were exposed during your Internship. You will format the INTERNSHIP TECHNICAL REPORT following the style manual of the American Psychological Association (APA format). There will be a title page and a page for the REFERENCES (not included in the seven to ten (7-10) or three (3) page requirement). The INTERNSHIP TECHNICAL REPORT should be submitted electronically for evaluation during the 7th or 10thweek of your Internship. It will be reviewed, evaluated, and returned to you for corrections. It will be revised and re-written until deemed acceptable by your assigned Internship Coordinator.

Final Self Evaluation Report

The Internship final self evaluation report (2-3 pages) [Final Self Evaluation Report Packet] must be a self-analysis containing the following items:

  1. A summary of what you learned during the internship.
  2. Any special highlights of your internship.
  3. Areas in which you believe you need improvement.
  4. What area of study at Western might (or did) help you in your career.
  5. Suggestions on improving the internship.
  6. Suggestions on improving the Engineering Technology Program.
  7. Overall strengths and/or weaknesses of the internship program.
  8. Overall strengths and/or weaknesses of the Engineering Technology Program.

The final self evaluation report must be received by the Internship Coordinator no later than one week following completion of your final week of internship. Final reports received late may result in an unsatisfactory grade for your entire internship. This self evaluation report is the culmination of your Internship.

V.Faculty Visitation

Each intern will receive a visit through one of the following: a site visit by your assigned University Internship Coordinator; a conference telephone call among the site supervisor, you, and your assigned Internship Coordinator; or a video conference among the site supervisor, you, and your assigned Internship Coordinator before the end of the internship period. There will be no unannounced visits. The intern will receive a letter, phone call, or email to arrange the time and date of the visit. The purpose is to request a brief conference with your supervisor and any other personnel the company or intern believes the Internship Coordinator should visit. When the intern receives this communication, he/she must set up the conference with the supervisor and confirm the date with the assigned Internship Coordinator. It is expected that you will confirm the visit with your company supervisor no later than one day following receipt of the visit notice with an electronic confirmation letter.

If the visit is a video conference or a telephone call, a date and time will be set for that type of communication. These typically are 30-45 minutes in length. Pertinent questions about your performance, strengths, weaknesses, areas for improvement, etc. will be discussed (Visitation Packet).

If the visit is a site visit, the Internship Coordinator will spend about an hour or so at the sited and the following are encouraged as part of the visit: A short tour of the company facilities, an interview with your supervisor, and a short visit with you, Sometimes this part of the visit is done concurrently. If there is a conflict with the proposed visit by the Internship Coordinator, please call the Engineering Technology office immediately, and we will reschedule the visit. Please prepare an Itinerary as shown in the Visitation Packet.

VI.Evaluation

The intern will be graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis. There will be two evaluations by your supervisor: one at the end of the 4th week and a final evaluation at the end of the Internship. A grade of incomplete will only be given if your internship is not completed by the end of the school term. The following criteria will be used in determining the intern’s final grade.

1.Accuracy, quality, and promptness of your weekly reports.

2.The recommendation of your company supervisor; based on mid-term and final evaluations (Supervisor Fourth Week and Final Evaluation Packet).

  1. The recommendation of the university coordinator.

Please review the company supervisor’s evaluation forms with your supervisor!!

A formal letter requesting your supervisor's evaluation of your work and a formal thank you letter for providing and supervising your internship should be sent.

VII.Additional Course Work

Your internship is a time and energy demanding experience. Be advised NOT to take another course concurrently with the internship. Under extremely unusual circumstances, another course may be taken, but only with written permission of the company supervisor and the university coordinator.

VIII.University Housing Contracts

If you currently have a university residence hall room contract and will not be completing the contract due to your off-campus internship, it is your responsibility to review that contract with the University Housing and Dining Office in order to avoid payment of a penalty.

IX.Registration For Your Next Semester

Interns need not return to campus to complete the pre-registration process. In lieu of a campus visit, you may call the Engineering Technology advising office, 298-2100, and set up a telephone advising/registration appointment with your academic advisor. You must be free of all university encumbrances before the advisor can register you.

X.Payment of Fees

You may pay your fees by mail during the term you are doing your internship. The due date when fees must be paid varies from term to term. If you have any questions, call the Billing & Receivables Office at 309-298-1831. When paying by mail, be sure that you send the correct amount due.

MAKE ALL CHECKS PAYABLE TO WESTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY AND MAIL TO:

BILLING AND RECEIVABLES OFFICE

WESTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY

SHERMAN HALL 106

MACOMB, IL 61455.

Be sure to include the following information with your payment:

  1. Sequence number
  2. Name
  3. Amount due
  4. Reason for paying by mail
  5. Type of scholarship

XI.Dropping The Internship

In the event that an internship is not obtained, please consult the class schedule book for the last day to process a drop. It is the intern’s responsibility to drop the internship prior to this date in order to avoid being assessed tuition for the class and receiving an unsatisfactory grade. CONTACT YOUR INTERNSHIP COORDINATOR AND ACADEMIC ADVISOR PRIOR TO DROPPING THE CLASS.