Student Internships
Overview
An internship with our office allows students to apply and expand the knowledge and skills they have developed through coursework as well as prior professional experience. Each intern is given the opportunity to engage in a variety of projects related to the office’s mission while receiving mentorship from senior institutional effectiveness professionals. The timing and length of an internship experience is flexible; however, most students choose to complete a 3-credit hour internship during the summer semester. If you are interested in learning more, please visit the Q&A section below or fill out the Inquiry Form
Q&A
What will I learn?
The knowledge and skills emphasized during an internship experience will depend upon the projects assigned, but generally include at least 3-4 of the following:
- Program assessment methods and practice
- Data analysis
- Written and visual communication
- Consultation and training
- Measurement theory
- Assessment and statistics software
- Accreditation requirements
- Research methods
What will I be working on?
The specific projects each student will engage with depends on a variety of factors including the semester and needs of the office and the student’s prior coursework and experience. Projects are agreed upon mutually between the student and the OSPIE team to ensure the work aligns with the student’s interests and goals. For examples of recent projects in which interns have participated, visit the Past Intern Projects page.
Do I have to do an internship for course credit?
No. Most students do choose to receive course credit as the internship experience can generally fulfill an elective requirement in the student’s degree program. However, some students have completed an internship on a voluntary basis.
Who can do an internship with OSPIE?
Although most of our interns are from the College of Education, students from other disciplines may also be eligible depending upon their prior coursework and experience. If you are interested in learning more, consider filling out the Inquiry Form and we will contact you to discuss our internship program further.
When can I do an internship?
Students can complete their internship throughout one semester or over multiple semesters. We are open to interns working with us in any semester – summer, fall, or spring.
How do I get started?
The first step is to fill out the Inquiry Form to share your name and contact information and a bit about your background and interests. We will follow up with you within 1-2 business days to schedule a time to meet in person or virtually to learn more about you, share additional information about our internship program, and answer any questions you may have.
Will I need to work in a physical office space during my internship?
No. We have some office space available if you would like to utilize a physical workspace; however, we do not expect interns to complete their work on site. Most of our interns have completed their entire internship remotely, including several who resided outside of Kentucky.
