Internships Supervised During Fall, Winter, and Spring Semesters

Departments, schools and programs are encouraged to offer internships on a course-basis with the faculty sponsor compensated as part of their standard teaching load. Actual faculty load for course-based internships is generally determined using the following ranges of internship hours supervised.

10 – 23 hours of student internship = 1 faculty load hour

24 – 35 hours of student internship = 2 faculty load hours

36 – 47 hours of student internship = 3 faculty load hours

48 – 60 hours of student internship = 4 faculty load hour

Schools, departments, and programs using the course-based approach should pay close attention to the quality of the experience for the individual student. As a general rule, 12 students per course is the recommended upper limit for a single faculty supervisor to ensure high quality experiences for all students. Faculty supervising more than 12 students should consult with their Department Chairs to discuss their course and supervision methodology.

Internships may be offered on an individual basis with a faculty member receiving compensation above their annual contracted salary, particularly in situations where the number of student intern credit hours is low. The amount of compensation will be computed as overload pay when internship supervision causes a faculty member’s annual load to exceed the standard load. Overload pay is calculated using current overload pay rates and the formula of 10 hours of student internship equals one faculty load hour. Faculty should supervise no more than 20 student intern credit hours (or 5 students) in any given semester. During winter term, faculty should supervise no more than 12 student intern credit hours (or three students) if they are also teaching a course. Faculty will receive overload pay in the spring semester for all internship hours supervised as overload during the academic year.

When internships are offered on an individual basis, faculty may elect to accrue internship supervision hours for a future course release. The course release is determined using the formula of 10 student internship hours equals one faculty load hour. Faculty may bank intern credit hours over a two-year period; if they have not accumulated sufficient credit hours for a course release in the second year, they will be compensated with overload pay. Faculty should work with their Department Chairs in determining the appropriate time for the course release.

In schools with an internship coordinator, faculty members are not compensated for internship supervision.