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Please read this carefully as it will answer many common questions about the Internship Course.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS: Why an internship?The internship course was developed in response to specific requests from both students and area librarians who serve on the Cuesta College Library/Information Technology Advisory Committee, as well as advisors for our newer Web Development Technologies track. The internship rounds out the core curriculum for both Library/Information Technology and Web Development Technologies by offering practical, on-site work experience for students at the end of their coursework. This course gives students the opportunity to apply classroom-acquired skills and faculty to assess student learning outcomes. How do I apply for the LIBT 14 class?The process is more complex than enrolling in a regular LIBT course.
How do I register for the course?This is a Restricted Status course. Once you have submitted your application and it has been approved, and after your internship site has been approved, the instructor will give you a registration code. Who may enroll in the LIBT 14 class?Candidate interns must have successfully completed (or be concurrently enrolled) in a minimum of 10 units of core Library/Information Technology courses (for the Library/Information Technology curriculum) or 10 units of core Web Development Technologies courses (for the Web Development Technologies curriculum) with a "C" grade or better during the past two years. If a student has completed a core course and has earned a "D" or "F" grade, that course must be re-taken and a grade of "C" earned before the student can enroll in the internship class. In addition to meeting these prerequisites, the instructor's permission to enroll in the course is required. A student's overall readiness for a successful internship will be reviewed by the department.Can I count my hours at my current place of work for the internship?No. The idea of the internship is to have students work in a new and different environment in order to be exposed to fresh ideas, workplace policies and office culture. Library/Information Technology students who already work in a library must complete their field hours in a different library. Web Development Technologies students who already work for a business or agency must complete their field hours in a different business or agency. Working in an unpaid status at your current place of employment can subject the employer to sanctions from the Department of Labor and to union grievances. Working in a different environment will allow you to widen your professional contacts and (if you perform well) will provide you with an additional professional reference should you need one in the future.My schedule is very busy; how can I fit in the 5 weekly field hours (a total of 81 hours) required?The internship course lasts 16 weeks (about 4 months); many students have found that they are able to re-arrange their normal work schedule with their regular employer temporarily in order to complete the internship requirements. Keep in mind that most libraries and most businesses that host student interns will only have staff available to mentor and work with interns weekdays, during daytime hours.Can I work at home and count the hours toward my internship?No. Again, the idea of the internship is to have students work directly under the supervision and mentoring of a professional and to interact with library or business staff to gain exposure to that organization and their workplace culture.When will the internship start?The internship site must be cleared with the instructor and the required Cuesta College District contract must be completed by the host library or business by Mon. Dec. 10, 2007. Notice that this is in advance of the actual semester that the course is offered. The required mandatory class meeting is Sat., Jan. 26, 2008, Spring Semester at the San Luis Obispo campus of Cuesta College. All enrolled students must attend. After that meeting, on-site hours as arranged by the intern with their site can begin.How many units is it?Students will receive 2 units of college credit for successful completion of the course. This is an unpaid internship.How many hours of on-site work are required?81 hours of supervised field work are required. This is 5+ hours per week for the 16-week semester. The exact schedule for the semester is to be arranged by the site and the intern. All field hours must be completed and time cards turned in to the instructor by Weds. May 14, 2008. In addition to the on-site hours, there is an accompanying course web site with class activities and some required assignments.How many times a week do I need to access e-mail and the online course web site?You will need a modern computer with reliable Internet access and a current e-mail account that is accessible to you at least three times a week. You will also need to be able to subscribe to and to use a class listserv, a class discussion board, and the web-based course site on a regular basis.How do I know what my internship site will be?Students will need to complete an application form and submit it to the department by Mon. Nov. 12, 2007. Applications are reviewed by Cuesta faculty to make sure the minimum requirements have been met. Then, for those qualifying students, applications will be screened and internship placements will be made by Cuesta faculty. Students will be placed at an available library, archive, business or agency. Please note, that interns need to be very flexible about their placements. Not every library can or is able to host Cuesta interns each year. We ask that interns be prepared to travel to a neighboring city, just as with an actual job site.What internship sites may participate?Libraries, archives, businesses, or agencies within San Luis Obispo County or the Santa Maria Valley that have been approved by the instructor are eligible to host Cuesta interns for LIBT 14. All approved sites must complete a formal liability contract with our College District, which is kept on file at Cuesta. For approved Library/Information Technology students outside the local area, the instructor will work with you directly during the month of Nov. regarding a placement in your geographical area. Host organizations must have a supervisor on site who would qualify to be an adjunct faculty member at Cuesta College. In the case of libraries this would be a librarian holding an MLS degree.When do students and sites receive their assignments?Students and participating sites will be notified of their respective assignments in Dec. 2007.Who will be the coordinator?Denise Fourie, Library/Information Technology instructor, will serve as coordinator of the internship, will manage the course web site and assignments, and will conduct assessment interviews with each intern and their supervisor. These interviews may take the form of on-site visits, telephone calls, or e-mail correspondence.Where do I get an application form?For the internship application form, email Instructor Denise Fourie at dfourie@cuesta.edu after Oct. 15, 2007.For general information call the Learning Resources Director's Office at 546-3190. Libinf14FAQs.rtf rev. 9/25/07 Certificate in Web Development Technologies | |
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