Internships
Internships offer students an opportunity to learn and expand their practical experience. It can provide students with a basis for linking their course work to their future careers as public service professionals. Students will work under the supervision of a public or not-for-profit agency official. Internships may be substituted as an elective for their concentration with prior approval from the MPA director.
Requirements & Procedures
1. Application: The student should complete an Internship Application and consult with the intern coordinator and faculty advisor prior to registration. A tentative agency placement will be agreed upon at that time.
2. Time commitment: For three hours credit, the student should expect to work approximately 12-15 hours per week either directly in the internship placement, or in attending meetings, workshops, conferences, etc., related to the placement.
3. Internship responsibilities: After the student has had an opportunity to visit the designated agency and to consult with the field supervisor, the latter will be asked to complete a Memorandum of Understanding of the intern's responsibilities for the semester. This form will then be signed by the supervisor, the student, and the NKU intern coordinator. The supervisor and the student will be provided with copies for their records.
4. Statement of goals: Either before or shortly after entering the placement, the student should complete a statement of goals or objectives expected to be obtained by participation in the internship. A copy should be given to the intern coordinator. Realistic goal clarification at the outset should assist the student in examining benefits from the internship and in evaluating the internship experience at the end of placement.
5. Daily journal: The student is expected to maintain a daily journal, briefly indicating duties performed and/or commenting on them. The student is not expected to spend more than a few minutes each work day on the journal. It is not intended to be "busy work", but rather it is a means of encouraging the student to reflect on his/her experiences and any implications of these experiences.
6. Meetings with the faculty advisor: The student is expected to maintain periodic contact with the faculty advisor throughout the semester and to contact the faculty advisor or the intern coordinator at once should any problems or difficulties be experienced. A tentative schedule of meetings should be agreed upon within the first two weeks of the semester.
7. Contact with field supervisor: The faculty advisor or intern coordinator will be in periodic contact with the field supervisor either in person or by phone to discuss the student’s progress. If a problem arises at any time during the term of the internship the field supervisor can contact the faculty advisor or intern coordinator.
8. Agency Evaluation: Near the end of the semester the student will be evaluated by the agency supervisor. The supervisory evaluation form should be mailed to the intern coordinator no later than the week preceding final examinations. The evaluation form will serve as a key factor in the final evaluation of the student's performance.
9.Student Evaluation: The student is expected to fully answer the questions on the student evaluation form and complete the student evaluation of internship placement form .Both forms should be submitted to the intern coordinator no later than the week preceding final examinations.
Internship Placements
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Northern Kentucky Area Development District
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Kenton County Detention Center
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Kenton County Homeland Security
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Seasongood Foundation, City of Cincinnati, Dept. of City Planning
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United Way/Northern Kentucky Success by 6
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City of Ludlow, KY
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American Society for Public Administration ( ASPA) Greater Cincinnati Chapter
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Campbell County Office of Emergency Management
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United States Government Accountability Office (GAO)
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City of Cincinnati, Mayor’s Office
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Scripps Howard Center
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Children Inc.
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Boone & Gallatin Counties Commonwealth Attorney's Office