Internship Policies

Employers must ensure the internship description is an accurate reflection of the duties and responsibilities of an intern.

*Internships may include research assistantships and arts apprenticeships.

Just as with your regular staff, performance management practices are key to the success of the internship both for you and the student.

• You should clearly discuss goals and expectations prior to and at the start of the internship as part of a formal training and orientation process.
• Dedicated supervisors should continually review performance against those goals. We are happy to guide you in the development of these standards. For family-owned businesses, the supervisor cannot be a family member.
• While all entry-level positions involve clerical work, you should limit such tasks to 35% of the total workload.
• Internships are also learning experiences; tasks should be varied, involve decision-making and engage and develop the intern’s abilities.

Substantive tasks may include:

• Research
• Copyediting and writing
• Creating a website
• Designing publications
• Developing procedures
• Performing lab tests
• Interviewing patients
• Conducting surveys
• Writing marketing plans
• Facilitating workshops
• Performing software/hardware revisions
• Community outreach
• Preparing legal briefs
• Creating financial forecasts and cost recovery reports

 

*Political lobbying or campaigning may not occur during internship hours. Student-run organizations, charters, or student club activities will not qualify as internships.

Employers must provide students with materials required to complete tasks, including, but not limited to:  work space, computer, and phone.

An employer’s private home is not considered appropriate for internships.

If students complete work primarily from an outside location or virtual/remote space, intern and supervisor should meet in-person/virtually once a week.

Please contact csm@macaulay.cuny.edu to ask any questions or discuss any arrangements.

We will not post positions requiring students to pay special fees, purchase training materials, or participate in multi-level marketing as a preliminary condition of employment.

In addition, employers should provide students with funds to cover any additional expenses related to the internship (e.g. travel to other sites, materials).

Fall/Spring Semester internships: 10-12 weeks during academic year, 10-20 hours a week.

Any internships that begin during Winter Break must meet the hourly requirements listed above.

Summer internships: Part-time, 6-10 weeks, 15-30 hours a week; Full-time, 6-8 weeks, 31+ hours per week.

Federal laws prohibit job discrimination based on race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, equal pay and disability. These guidelines are available from The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. In addition, The New York City Human Rights Law prohibits discrimination based on gender (including gender identity and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, marital status, and partnership status. As part of CUNY, Macaulay Honors College also adheres to The City University of New York Non-Discrimination Policy, which “is committed to engendering values and implementing policies that will enhance respect for individuals and their cultures.”

Employers will not engage in sexual harassment as prohibited by the Policy Against Sexual Harassment of the City University of New York.

Employers should allow students at least 24 hours to decide on whether to accept an internship.

Employers will pay wages to students as agreed upon and as stipulated by the New York State Department of Labor.

There are some circumstances under which individuals who participate in “for-profit” private sector internships or training programs may do so without compensation. Please refer to The Fair Labor Standards Act for the six criteria that must be met in order to determine whether an internship meets this exclusion.

After receiving an internship offer, students must arrange to receive academic credit through the relevant academic department at one of the campuses (e.g. Baruch, Brooklyn, City, College of Staten Island, Hunter, John Jay, Lehman, and Queens).

If students request to use an internship to satisfy a graduation requirement or the use of their Opportunities Fund, employers will be asked to approve an online Internship Learning Agreement with the student (detailing the start and end date, tasks, learning goals, and salary) and Internship Evaluation form at the end of the experience to ensure continued growth.

Students must submit the Internship Learning Agreement before the first date of employment.