Internship Packet – Sport & Event Management (SEM 381)
Revised: February 2015
Introduction
As an upper level student majoring in Sport and Event Management, you are about to undertake a valuable component of your formal education program. That component is the practical internship, SEM 381 (6 Semester Hours).
Many students report internships as one of the most relevant and helpful experiences in their entire educational process. Skills, knowledge and the ability to apply concepts learned in the classroom are considered critical to any service profession-especially sport and event management.
Students have an individual responsibility to become the best professional possible. In addition, a responsibility is due the internship agency to work with diligence, exhibit enthusiasm, and always be inquisitive, flexible and ethical.
A third academic responsibility is owed Elon University and the Department of Sport and Event Management. The bottom line should be an excellent learning and experiential opportunity for students as well as an enhanced agency service to its constituency.
Student conduct and performance will be supervised and evaluated throughout the internship. Please do not approach this task lightly or with lack of commitment.
The following are the criteria for successful completion of SEM 381 and suggestions for student preparation and conduct. Please read carefully and ask your Sport and Event Management Internship Supervisor about any unclear directions/requirements.
Good luck and good learning.
General Information
Format
The following information is divided into three (3) sections:
Part I – Agency Guidelines...... Pages 3-5
Part II – Student Guidelines...... Pages6-8
Part III – Required Written Materials...... Pages 9-13
Agency supervisors and students are urged to review all sections for a thorough understanding of Elon University’s Sport and Event Management internship.
Objectives
SEM 381 is intended to provide a practical, experiential exposure for Elon University students in their professed vocational interest area. Among desired outcomes, students should show evidence of knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as competencies in the following areas:
A.Sport organization and administration
B.Sport leadership techniques
C. Sport program planning and implementation
D.Fiscal administration including revenue generation strategies
E.Marketing
F.Personnel development and supervision including interpersonal relationship techniques
G.Public and political relations
- Area/facility planning, development, and risk management.
Contract
Written commitment to the purpose of SEM 381 and willingness to abide by Elon University criteria for successful fulfillment of the internship will be provided by the agency as part of the student application process.
Part I
Agency Guidelines
Agency support of student internship is considered a component of comprehensive professional development and is appreciated by Elon University and the Department of Sport and Event Management (SEM). It is imperative that all participants in an internship understand that student interns are surrogate employees and are therefore subject to all personnel policies and procedures of the sponsoring agency.
It is incumbent upon the agency that interns not be considered supplemental sources of inexpensive labor. Acceptance of student interns encompasses the supervising and teaching responsibility necessary for meaningful learning.
Agency leaders and Internship Supervisors are asked to review the following prior to the formal internship:
A.Expect official student placement in correspondence from the Elon University SEM Department Chair prior to internship commencement. Onlythe SEM Department Chair may commit an Elon student to internship. Please attend to this process in a timely manner.
B. Currently, Elon University SEM internship requires a minimum of four hundred (400) hours onsite experience and registration in 6 hours of academic credit (SEM 381). Actual work schedule is arranged between the agency and student.
C. Financial remuneration or other benefits are the decision of the agency and have no direct relationship with internship. Benefits are appreciated by all parties, but are not required as part of internship. It is advisable to have a written understanding on any perks or compensation.
D.Student attendance of appropriate staff meetings, orientation sessions, board meetings, applicable workshops/seminars, etc. is encouraged.
E.Supervision and counsel are necessary during internship. Discuss informal and required formal performance evaluation criteria and schedules.
F.Discuss Elon University’s written assignments/requirements of the internship (See page 13 for graded components).
G.Acquire a student intern evaluation at least ten (10) days prior to conclusion of internship.TheAgency Supervisor should discuss this evaluation with the student intern and return the completed form DIRECTLY to the Faculty Supervisor.
Agency-University Guidelines
The SEM Department Chair is the official contact person for the department. Confirmation of student placement and other correspondence will be conducted by a designated SEM faculty member.
- A designated university SEM faculty member will work with the agency supervisor to make the internship as productive and meaningful as possible.
- Scheduled visits are considered a desirable part of student supervision and evaluation. Additional onsite contact may be made by the SEM faculty supervisor, or the university.
- Student performance will be jointly determined by the agency and university SEM faculty supervisor. Disciplinary dismissal will result in a final grade of “F” for SEM 381.
D.Financial assistance or related benefits (e.g., housing) is the sole prerogative of the internship agency. Such assistance is encouraged but NOT required by Elon.
Elon University maintains comprehensive liability insurance coverage for student interns and faculty advisors when they are discharging official duties of internship.
Note: Sample Letter below that is sent by the SEM Department to the Internship Agency along with a short contract for signature by the Agency representative. This contract must be signed and returned to the SEM Department along with full payment for 6 credit hours of SEM 381 before a student will be permitted to accrue internship hours.
Dear Internship Supervisor:
The Sport and Event Management Department of Elon University is looking forward to working with you and your agency thus enhancing the professional and intellectual development of an intern student. We greatly appreciate your professional concern and willingness to help this young person and to supplement academic efforts at Elon University.
Our interns are primarily responsible for three categories of written assignments
1)Application for Professional Internship (and associated documentation regarding the planned experience);
2)Internship Reports and varied written correspondence with a faculty supervisor;
3)Culminating Project.
You may also require additional assignments or projects, which prove useful to your agency. Please discuss these requirements and any other student intern expectations, prior to the initiation of this internship and throughout their time spent with your organization.
Internship is considered a significant component of the student's academic preparation. Students are paying registration fees for 6 hours of academic credit (SEM 381). Please provide work assignments and direction in all phases of your agency operation. In return, expect a receptive, congenial, enthusiastic and professional attitude from the student. Our faculty attempt visits (when possible) in order to counsel with you and the intern on progress achieved. Feel free to call for any additional information or assistance at any time.
Please complete and return directly to me the attached form indicating your formal acceptance of the student(s) listed below.
Sincerely,
Hal J. Walker, Ph.D.
Chair, Department of Sport and Event Management
Intern(s):
Semester:
Part II
Student Guidelines
Application Requirements
(1) Completion of internship orientation
(2) Completion of at least 90 semester hours prior to the start of the internship
(3) Cumulative Elon GPA of 2.0 and 2.0 GPA in major coursework (verified by advisor)
(4) Completion of the following classes prior to commencing internship:
SEM 212Contemporary Sport Management
SEM 226Facility and Venue Management
SEM 232Research Methods in Sport
SEM 305Sport Law
SEM 351Sport Marketing
SEM 352Sport Sales and Promotion
BUS 202Business Communications
MGT 323Principles of Managing
(5) Completion of application form (found on page 11 of this packet)
-Supplemental materials requested on application form should be included with application when submitted
-STUDENTS ARE TO INITIATE NO FORMS WITH THE AGENCY
(6) FULL PAYMENT OF 6 HOURS ACADEMIC CREDIT (SEM 381) PRIOR TO INTERNSHIP INITIATION
(7)Completion of any other requirements designated by the Department of Sport and Event Management
Placement
(1) Students should seek potential internship agencies reflectiveof their vocational interests related to coursework and content covered in the SEM Major Curriculum. All placements must be approved by the SEM Department Chair – prior to the initiation of any internship experiences.
(2) Limitations:
-Students are strongly encouraged to intern during the summer, or during a Fall or Spring semester while enrolled in no other academic classes.
-Students will not be permitted to register for SEM 381 while being subsequently enrolled in more than one class (10 semester hours maximum).
-Students should seek supervision by professionally qualified practitioners.
(3) Final approval for internship placement will be determined by the Sport and Event Management Department Chair reflected in the completion and submission of a signed Application for Professional Internship. Initial conversation regarding internship and the requisite paperwork should take place with the student and his/her faculty advisor. Registration for the 6 credit hours of SEM 381 can only take place after the SEM Department has approved the planned internship experience.
Requirements
(1) STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO PAY UNIVERSITY FEES FOR REGISTRATION IN 6 SEMESTER CREDIT HOURS (SEM 381).
(2)STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE A MINIMUM OF 400 HOURS ONSITE FOR SIX (6) SEMESTER HOURS CREDIT.
(3) Actual time frame should coincide with a university semester (Summer, Fall or Spring).
(4) Work hours shall be designated by the agency.
Work Assignments
(1) A primary consideration in student internship is that a VARIETY of work settings be provided. This variety is intended to provide students with a comprehensive overview of the total agency function.
(2) Interns may be responsible for assisting with special projects, tournaments etc. as determined by the agency supervisor.
Remuneration
Financial assistance or related benefits (e.g. housing) are the sole prerogative of the internship agency. Such assistance is encouraged, but NOT required by the University.
NOTE: Students should remember that the internship is an academic requirement for which 6 credit hours are earned for successful completion. Although important, student convenience is NOT the dominant factor in final internship approval.
DISCIPLINARY DISMISSAL FROM INTERNSHIP WILL RESULT IN A FINAL GRADE OF “F” FOR SEM 381.
STUDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO HAVE A CLEAR WRITTEN UNDERSTANDING WITH THE INTERNSHIP AGENCY REGARDING ALL DUTIES AND ANY SALARY AND/OR OTHER BENEFITS PRIOR TO INTERNSHIP INITIATION. STUDENTS ARE ADVISED AGAINST PLACING BUSINESS EXPENSES ON PERSONAL CREDIT CARDS OR ASSUMING ANY OTHER BUSINESS INDEBTEDNESS.
Part III
Required Written Materials
Required Written Assignments
All work shall be submitted timely, well organized, and legible.
(1) Completion of the Application for Professional Internship
NO APPLICATIONS FOR PROFESSIONAL INTERNSHIP WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER JUNE 1stFOR A SUMMER INTERNSHIP, OR, AFTER THE FIRST DAY OF CLASSES OFANY FALL OR SPRING SEMESTER
(2) Report Form
The purpose of these reports is twofold: (1) to document actual work time, (2) to carefully consider and reflect upon all learning activities. ALL INSIGHTS AND REFLECTIONS SHOULD RELATE BACK TO THE LEARNING OBJECTIVES LISTED IN THE APPLICATION MATERIALS.
-A sample report form can be found in this packet on page12.
-Due dates for the reports should be determined in advance between each student and their faculty supervisor.
-Additional expectations related to regular communication and documentation of the internship experience will be communicated by the faculty supervisor.
(3) Internship Project
At the conclusion of internship, a culminating project is to be submitted to your faculty supervisor. This project is something that you should be thinking about from the beginning of your hours and worked on throughout the experience. The content of your project is meant to be of a practical nature that is IN ADDITION to your basic internship duties and responsibilities.
The project does not necessarily need to be related to your internship. However, if there is a fitting opportunity to work on a project for your agency that will add value to the organization, and go above and beyond their basic expectations of interns, by all means, please pursue it. Please have project conversations with your agency and faculty supervisors early and often during the internship experience. This project can be a small research project (e.g., vendor or customer satisfaction survey); a plan for additional special events or activities to enhance customer or patron satisfaction or attendance; updates or improvements to a policy/procedure manual; the creation of pamphlets or flyers to promote the organization; a database or mechanism to enhance operations, customer retention, ticketing, or something similar.
If you would like to do a project unrelated to your internship, it should still be related to your career pursuits, the sport and event management industry, and/or Elon University in some capacity. Please discuss your project plans with your faculty supervisor as early as possible during the internship; he/she is involved to assist you!
This project is planned to be a substantive professional piece of work that is presented to both the organization AND the SEM Department at the conclusion of your experience, so please be thoughtful about what you do. We may keep these projects on display in the SEM Department or share with future student interns seekingideas.
(5) Internship Summary
To be turned in at the end of the experience, and include the following information (brief and bulleted information is expected):
-Student name
-Name of internship organization
-Contact information for appropriate organization representative (name, complete address, email, phone number)
-Primary duties and responsibilities during internship
-Remuneration? Housing provided?
-2 “favorite things” and 2 “least favorite things” about the internship
-Brief summary of overall feelings about the internship
-Advice to future interns and/or feedback about this internship experience
1
Application for Professional Internship - SEM 381 (6 credits)
Name (First & Last)Phone
Semester of Internship / Semester hours completed
(prior to internship), min. 90sh
Cumulative GPA (min. 2.0) / Major GPA (min. 2.0)
Advisor Signature to Verify
Course / Grade / Course / Grade
SEM 212-Contemporary Sport Management / SEM 351-Sport Marketing
SEM 226-Facility Venue Management / SEM 352-Sport Sales / Promotion
SEM 232-Research Methods in Sport / BUS 202-Business Comm.
SEM 305-Sport Law / MGT 323-Principles of Mgmt.
With this Application for Professional Internship, attach the following information:
Formal internship/job descriptionCareer goals
Reason for internship selection
Goals established for internship
Intern start & completion dates & work schedule
Living arrangements and remuneration (if provided)
Duties/responsibilities (list and describe a minimum of 4)
Copy of current resume
* I have / do not have (circle one) an Elon academic/social honor code violation.
Proposed Internship Agency
Agency Name: ______Intern Agency Supervisor: ______
Agency Address:______
StreetCityStateZip
Telephone: ______Email:______
I have read, understand and agree to comply with all criteria for the SEM Internship prescribed in the SEM 361 Internship Packet. I shall work with diligence, exhibit enthusiasm, and always be inquisitive, flexible and ethical.
______
SIGNATURE (Student) APPROVED (SEM Chair Signature)Date
Internship Report Form - SEM Internship
*This form MUST be completed and e-mailed to your Faculty Supervisor by the date determined between the two of you at the start of your internship
Name (First & Last)Date Submitted
Report Number (e.g., 1)
Current feelings about your experience on a scale from 1-5 (1=poor, 5=excellent)
Hours worked since last report
Total Hours worked to Date
(Including this report)
Please give a comprehensive outline of the work that you have been doing by including details of the hours worked since your last report. These descriptions may be formatted in whatever way you choose (i.e. bulleted, broken down in hourly blocks, paragraph etc.), but they must include a thorough description of your activities. Failure to include thorough information in each report will be considered a failure to complete the report!
Grade Determination
20%On-Site Supervisor’s evaluation of intern
45%Internshipreports and assignments
-Reports, Interactions, and Faculty Supervisor communication
-Attendance at all pre and post internship sessions
25%Culminating Project
10%Faculty supervisor evaluation of intern (includes Exit Interview)
Other Requirements
All students shall attend formal pre-internship orientation classes offered by the SEM Department.
All students shall interact with other interns (as guided by faculty mentor) during the internship experience.
Students will be asked to represent the SEM Department by participating in a post internship forum or speaking in SEM classes.
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