For Employers & Internship Sites

The Office of Internships & International Programs focuses on developing and maintaining student learning-partnerships with business, industry, government, and non-profit organizations, primarily in the local Whittier community and the greater Los Angeles/Orange County region. Once your organization/business becomes a partner with Whittier College, our office will serve as a centralized contact point between you and our students seeking internships (academically-related paid or unpaid experience).

Internships are semester-long or summer-long academically-related hands-on learning experiences that allow a student to utilize academic knowledge and skills in a real world setting. Student internships are jointly supervised by an academic advisor or instructor and a professional staff person at the internship site (company or organization). Non-profit organizations are invited to submit Service Project/Volunteer opportunities as well as internships.

ABOUT THE INTERNSHIP PARTNERSHIP

Internships are a three-part relationship between a company or an organization, Whittier College, and a student. Internships involve the cooperative efforts of both faculty and employers in the creation of learning opportunities for students that fulfill both academic and professional needs.

Internships are supervised by professionals in the field, who function as co-educators with Whittier College staff and faculty to insure that learning is taking place. They are also monitored by select faculty, who provide guidance and reflective learning assignments, and who oversee the academic integrity of the student experience.

BENEFITS TO EMPLOYER

  • The opportunity to complete projects and functions that would otherwise be set aside or done more slowly if not for the efforts of a student intern.
  • The opportunity to maintain contact with Whittier College staff and faculty to promote good will, increase company/organizational visibility, and contribute to the organization's community involvement goals.
  • The opportunity to participate in a cost-effective recruitment program for highly qualified and motivated future additions to the company or organization.
  • And the opportunity to experience the effects of fresh insights from Whittier College students, as well as the chance to mentor and guide a current Whittier College student.

SPONSORING EMPLOYER'S ROLE

  • Adequately plan ahead for interns before offering the internship opportunity.
  • Identify the important professional staff person who will supervise the intern.
  • Create complete, well-designed internship position descriptions that will market well.
  • Design and implement a well-planned application review and interview process.
  • Plan an appropriate orientation for new interns.
  • Provide a consistent and planned program for supervising interns (goal setting, discussion time and valuation points).

WHITTIER COLLEGE'S ROLE

The Office of Internships & International Programs will work closely with a sponsoring company or organization to:

  • Develop well-designed internship opportunities and selection procedures;
  • Promote the internship positions to qualified Whittier College students;
  • Facilitate college and corporate or community linkages as well as to advance corporate/organizational visibility;
  • Prepare students to be successful at all stages of their intern-ship experience: application, interview and selection and placement; and
  • Pre-screen candidates (as necessary) for appropriate internship positions.