Student Involvement
I would like to...
Locate students to help me with a community project
Contact Undergraduate Internship Offices
Advertise an internship opening
Find students for a project that calls for teamwork
See examples of Undergraduate Internships
See examples of Gradute Interships
I need volunteers
I am not sure
How do I locate students to help me with a community project?
First, write one paragraph that tells what ought to be accomplished. This should include student tasks, responsibilities, and the time frame.
Before contacting campus be able to answer questions:
- What skills/expertise will be required of students?
- Are undergraduates/graduates better suited for your needs?
- Can I provide a stiped/material support?
- What is the time frame?
Does this project fall within a particular academic field?
If so, then your first call should probably be to that department. If skills or qualifications are less specific then you should think about calling Off Campus College, the Discovery Program, or the Scholars Program. You could also post a listing with the Career Development Center.
Some things to remember:
- Students work best with projects that are time limited.
- Students work on a semester schedule, and often leave the area for holidays and school breaks.
- Students are busy with school work and other commitments.
Undergraduate Internship Offices
(For internships that count toward student graduation)
Off Campus College (OCC) provides an opportunity for undergraduate students to obtain credit bearing internships within a field that may be different from their major. It is used by students, faculty and organizatoins to develop internship experiences. Academic counselors and departments often refer students to OCC for semester, summer and winter internships.
| Contact Person | Tanya Robinson |
| Contact Info | Ph: (607) 777-4273 Fax: (607) 777-6486 Email: robinson@binghamton.edu |
| Contact Person | Brenda Holcomb |
| Contact Info | Ph: (607) 777-4273 Email: bholcomb@binghamton.edu |
| Number of Hours | 10-12 hours a week; usually not more than 12 hours a week |
| Forms Required | The Agency Site Description form and the Fact Sheet |
| Other Information | Plan on starting the process one semester before and review OCC deadlines What can interns do for your agency? Requirements of OCC internship sponsors: |
| To learn more | Becoming an Internship Agency Fact Sheet |
The Discovery Program has been designed to help students reflect upon themselves, their environment and their career goals. In doing so, the Discovery Program values experiential education, and encourages students and faculty to engage in service-learning experiences. Through service-learning, students are able to take a real life experience as a method of learning course material.
| Contact Person | Maria Carra, Service Learning Associate |
| Contact Info | Ph: (607)777-3868 Email: mcarra@binghamton.edu |
| Suggested Forms | Agency and Position Description Agreement Form Agency Evaluation of Student Mutual Expectations Agreement Form Site Confirmation Form |
| To learn more | Go to BU's Service-Learning website |
How can I advertise an internship opening?
What if I have a project that calls for teamwork?
You could be a host organization for a service learning project!
The Binghamton Scholars Program is always looking for one semester projects that can be completed by a group of students. If you tell the Scholars Program what your needs are, they will help you create a semester long project to be completed by some of Binghamton University's best students.
| Contact Person | George Catalano, Director of BU Scholars |
| Contact Info | Ph: (607) 777-4881 Email: catalano@binghamton.edu |
| Time frame | One semester project |
| To learn more | Go to the Scholars Program Website |
The Discovery Program is always looking for ways to engage students in the community. Students involved with the Discovery Program are especially interested in career exploration and experiential education. Call them to arrange student help for one time events, short term commitments, or semester long projects.
| Contact Person | Maria Carra, Service Learning Associate |
| Contact Info | Ph: (607) 777-3868 Email: mcarra@binghamton.edu |
| Suggested Form | Agreement form for group project |
| To learn more | Visit the Discovery Progam's Website |
Also, you can post your organization's projects to a list of requested projects: http://servicelearning.binghamton.edu/project.html
Examples of Undergraduate Level Academic Department Internships
In addition to OCC, here are some departments that are identified as having a number of students engaged in internship experiences. However, your organizations needs may be better met by a department that has not been included in this list. You may want to view a list of all degreed programs.
| Department Name | Watson School of Engineering |
| Contact Person | Watson Advising |
| Contact Info | Ph: (607)777-6203 Email: wtsnadv@binghamton.edu |
| Other Information | Internships through the Engineering Department are not for credit |
| Forms Required | Student's Internship Descpription Form Student's Internship Evaluation Form |
| To Learn More | Check out the different engineering departments |
| Department Name | Political Science |
| Contact Person | Jennifer Jensen |
| Contact Info | Ph: (607) 777-6787 Fax: (607) 777-2675 Email: jensen@binghamton.edu |
| Number of Hours | 100 hours (usually about 8 hours a week) |
| Forms Required | Students must complete the PLSC 395 application form, including contact information for the internship supervisor and the signature of the sponsoring professor. |
| Other Information | - Internships are unpaid - Internships must be related to politics or government - Students must have a GPA of 3.0 or better - Students will be asked to keep a journal, and write a paper about their internship experience. This is how they will be graded. - The deadline for completion of paperwork is the drop/add deadline for that semester. |
| To learn more | Information about Political Science Major Internships Internship Requirements |
| Department Name | School of Management |
| Contact Person | Brian Perry, Undergraduate Advisor |
| Contact Info | Ph: (607) 777-2316 Email: bperry@binghamton.edu |
| Number of Hours | 12 hours per week, for four credits |
| Forms Required | Internship Contract |
| Other Information | - Internships must be unpaid - Faculty sponsor will provide academic ayllabus to coincide with internship - Students are advised to utilize the Career Development Center as a way of locating an internship |
| To learn more | Requirements and Instructions for School of Management Internship |
| Department Name | Human Development |
| Contact Person | Peer Advising Office |
| Contact Info | Ph: (607) 777-9204 Email: peeradv@binghamton.edu |
| Forms Required | - Site supervisor will need to complete a midsemester and final evaluation - Internship Coversheet |
| Other Information | - Internships must be unpaid, related to student's career interests, and with an established business/organization. Internships cannot be part of a family organization. - Student and field supervisor will define objectives of internship and submit proposal to faculty sponsor for approval. |
| To learn more | Information on internship requirements and procedures |
| Department Name | English |
| Contact Person | Christine Gelineau |
| Contact Info | Email: gelineau@binghamton.edu (best way to contact) Ph: (607) 777-2713 |
| Number of Hours | 14-16 hours a week for 15 week semester, or 200 hours for summer semester |
| Forms Required | Email Prof Gelineau with a description of the position. The position will be posted on regular and electronic bulletin boards. Lists of tentative placings are made in November (for the spring semester) and April (for the fall semester). |
| Other Information | - Students are only eligible for internships if they have demonstrated effective writing skills, and have good grades. - Generally, internships are unpaid. However, in some circumstances, students can recieve a modest stipend for expenses, like bus fares. |
| To learn more | Information for intern sponsors |
Examples of Graduate Level Academic Department Internships
Here are some departments that are identified as having a number of graduate students engaged in internship experiences.
However, your organizations needs may be better met by a department that has not been included in this list. You may want to view a list of all degreed programs.
| Department Name | Public Administration |
| Contact Person | Allison Alden |
| Contact Info | Ph: (607) 777-9182 Email: aalden@binghamton.edu |
| Number of Hours | 300 Hours, within approximately 15 weeks |
| Forms Required | - A Memo of Understanding that outlines scope of work, goals, expectations, outcomes, conditions, etc. (Must be completed before internship can become) - A midsemester review |
| Other Information | - Internships should provide students with an opportunity to apply classroom experience within a real-world setting. - Students are expected to engage in professional task and projects like: development, planning, implementation and analysis/evaluation of policy, finance, management, supervision, strategy, program and other administrative functions. - This program focuses on preparing students for careers in local and state public and nonprofit agencies through a curriculum that emphasizes community-based practice. - Students are prepared to provide leadership within public and nonprofit settings. - Students often use their internship experience as an opportunity to begin their Capstones. Capstone requires that students analyze a specific problemor issue within the organization and recommend a course of action. |
| To learn more | Information and Guidelines for Site Supervisors MPA Internship Requirements |
| Department Name | School of Management |
| Contact Person | Alesia Wheeler-Wade |
| Contact Info | Ph: (607) 777-4236 Fax: (607) 777-4872 Email: awheeler@binghamton.edu |
| Number of Hours | 12-15 hours per week, or 25 hours per week for summer session |
| Forms Required | Internship Contract Graduate Internship Guidelines Intern Evaluation |
| Other Information | - Internships must be unpaid - Cannot be student's place of employment |
| To learn more | Internship guidelines and process |
| Department Name | Social Work |
| Contact Person | Jennifer Marshall, Director of Field Education |
| Contact Info | Ph: (607) 777-9163 |
| Number of Hours | A total of 465 hours in the field to earn 8 academic credits by participating 15 hours per week for 31 weeks over two semesters. Students are expected to fulfill their field hours over the course of two weekdays, during regular agency hours, under the supervision of an MSW level field instructor who works at the agency. |
| Forms Required | Contact Jennifer Marshall if your agency is interested |
| To learn more | Information on student placements |
What if I need volunteers?
| Department Name | Off Campus College (OCC) |
| Contact Person | Mary Beth Willis |
| Contact Info | Ph: (607) 777-4273 Email: mbwillis@binghamton.edu |
| Required Forms | Requesting volunteer help |
| To learn more | Visit the OCC Website |
Still not sure what to do? We can help!
The following individuals are responsible for the design, development and implementation of the service-learning initiatives at Binghamton University.
Ms. Tanya Robinson |
Ms. Mary Daly Discovery Special Project Coordinator mdaly@binghamton.edu |
| Ms. Maria Carra Service-learning Associate mcarra@binghamton.edu |
Ms. Meg Mitzel |
Dr. Elizabeth Carter Discovery Center ecarter@binghamton.edu |
Ms. Mary Beth Willis Staff Associate, Volunteer Programs Off Campus College |
Dr. George D. Catalano Faculty Consultant Catalano@binghamton.edu |
Joe Picalila AmeriCorps VISTA (until Sept 2008) picalila@binghamton.edu |