INTERNSHIP HANDBOOK - Revision 5/2021 - Guide for Students and Supervisors

Sep 16, 2026

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INTERNSHIP HANDBOOK provides a structured guide for student interns, internship placement site supervisors, and Polk State College faculty and staff throughout the internship process. It explains how to use the Handshake Career Platform for account setup and to access internship and job postings, and clarifies roles and responsibilities across participants. The handbook also outlines institutional equal access and anti-discrimination commitments, provides contact points for equity and internship coordination, and presents a detailed table of contents covering steps, professional guidelines, international internships, supervision, required forms, and support resources.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryGeneral

FormatPDF

Pages49

Reading Time17 min

AccessFree to download

Internship Handbook Table of Contents

I. Introduction

II. Internship Overview

III. Steps in the Internship Process

IV. Professional Guidelines and Safeguards

V. Overview of International Internships

VI. Supervisory Responsibilities

VII. Appendix - Annotated Index of Required Forms

VIII. Support and Resources

INTERNSHIP HANDBOOK Revision : 5/2021 MW This Handbook is intended for students, internship Placement Site Supervisors, and Polk State faculty and staff members as a guide and resource regarding the internship process. 􀁛 Students, alumni, employers, and interns are encouraged to enroll in the Handshake Career Platform ([www.joinhandshake.com](www.joinhandshake.com) ) to facilitate the internship and job placement process. The Handshake service is provided by Polk State College; it requires only an ( .edu ) email address to set up and manage an account. The student should use the ([my.polk.edu](my.polk.edu) ) email address accessible through Passport at [www.polk.edu. Alumni](www.polk.edu. Alumni) can continue to use their Polk State email addresses. Handshake includes internship and job postings from international, national, and local businesses and organizations. The Coordinator of Internships and Experiential Learning or the Polk State Career Service Coordinators can aid in exploring the internship process. 􀁛 Polk State College is an equal access/equal opportunity institution committed to excellence through diversity in education and employment. The College complies with all state and federal laws granting rights to students, employees, and applicants for employment or admission to the College. The College prohibits unlawful discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, creed, ethnicity, sex, age, religion, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, genetic information, or disability in any of its employment policies or practices, educational programs, or activities. Inquiries can be directed to: Valparisa Baker, Director of the Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Polk State College 999 Avenue H, NE Winter Haven, FL 33881 863.297.1095 [vbaker@polk.edu](vbaker@polk.edu) 􀁛 This Polk State College Internship Handbook and the Internship Course Modules are maintained by the Coordinator of Internships and Experiential Learning. Any inquiries, corrections, or feedback should be directed to the Coordinator (email: [internships@polk.edu](internships@polk.edu) or phone: 863 .298.6897) . INTERNSHIP HANDBOOK TABLE OF CONTENTS | Section | Information Included | Page | | --- | --- | --- | | I. Introduction | • Handbook Overview for Students and Supervisors
• Program and Course Information
(For students and supervisors) | 4 | | II. Internship Overview | • Career-Based Experience Options and Key Definitions
• Student guide to identifying best options
(Primarily for students and staff) | 7 | | III. Steps in the
Internship Process | • Step-by-Step Checklist for Before, During, and After the Internship
• Links to Forms, including the Internship Form Checklist
(Primarily for students and staff) | 10 | | IV. Professional Guidelines and
Safeguards | • Intern Guidelines for Professional Conduct • Safeguards for Intern Protection
(For students and supervisors) | 12 | | V. Overview of International
Internships | • Overview of the International Internship Process (cf. Institute for Global Initiatives site and International Internships section for details) .
(For students, faculty, and staff) | 15 | | VI. Supervisory Responsibilities | • The Supervisory Relationship
• Program Site Supervisor and Program Director Responsibilities
(For students, staff, and supervisors) | 17 | | VII. Appendix – Annotated Index
of Required
Forms | • Forms required for the Polk State College Internship Process
(Note: Some programs also have program-specific materials.) | 19 | | VIII. Support and Resources | • Information for Veterans
• Information for Students with Disabilities | 43 | I. INTRODUCTION This handbook has been developed as the primary resource for the Student Intern, the Internship Placement Site Supervisor, and College Staff Members (e.g. , the Program Director, involved faculty members, and the Coordinator of Internships and Experiential Learning

FAQs

Who is this internship handbook intended for?

The handbook is designed for student interns, internship placement site supervisors, and Polk State College faculty and staff members involved in the internship process.

How does Handshake Career Platform support the internship and job placement process?

Students and alumni use Handshake to set up and manage accounts and to access internship and job postings from businesses and organizations. The platform helps facilitate internship and job placement through postings and pairing based on position requirements.

What responsibilities does a placement site supervisor have?

A placement site supervisor supports the student’s academic and career goals by providing guidance and experiences that help the student progress toward career potential. The supervisor also reviews resumes via Handshake, participates in interviews and intern selection, and reads and signs the Memorandum of Understanding.

Sep 16, 2026

Upload by Mimi