Obtaining administrative support varies on the general consensus about internships within your department. Use caution if you have vehemently opposed faculty or leaders or if internships seem to be a hotspot in your department.
To Obtain Administrative Support...
Compile semester number reports to show the University growth of internship participation and your department's part in that growth. Locate studies that have been conducted on internship involvement in other universities that offer similar programs as yours. Determine the stance of professional organizations within your department's discipline(s) on internships. Develop a department internship website with specific information on how internships benefit faculty members and how your office is encouraging participation among students. Obtain student testimonials with specifics about how the internship and classes worked together to enhance learning. Issue pre- and post-tests gauging how prepared a student feels about transitioning into the professional field, how applicable he or she feels the internship was to his or her academic study, or how the internship helped him or her to see the connection between learning and life. Consider issuing the same test to students who haven't interned and compare the results to those that have. Make sure both groups are at the same level of study (E.g. seniors about to complete the program). Position yourself as a potential resource and be willing to head up the efforts.
Adapted from Brigham Young University’s Encourage Internship Involvement.
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