Externship
For Students |
For Hosts/Employers
|
General Information
An externship is a short term job shadowing experience that provides students the opportunity to observe an alumnus, parent or friend of Kutztown University during a typical work day. The primary purpose of the externship is career exploration. During an externship you may:
- Observe one or more professionals
- Attend meetings and presentations
- Tour the work site
- Conduct informational interviews with professionals in various departments and/or at various levels
- Participate in daily operations that will provide you with hands-on exposure to the career field/industry
The exact itinerary for the externship is determined by the host.
What are the benefits of an externship?
An externship is a great way to test your interest in a specific career but there are other benefits as well. Through an externship you will:
- Learn more about a job or occupation
- Understand what a particular job is like on a daily basis
- Expand your network of professional contacts
- Experience the culture of an organization
- Have your questions about a job or occupation answered by professionals in the field
Who is eligible for an externship?
Externships are open to all freshmen and sophomore science, computer technology and mathematics majors with a cumulative GPA of 2.25 or higher.
Students who do not meet the criteria listed above but wish to participate should contact the Career Development Center to learn more about other job shadowing experiences.
When do externships take place?
Externships take place immediately following the end of the spring semester (second/third week of May). The exact dates and duration of the externship are determined by the host.
How can I apply for an externship?
The externship application is available online each February along with a list of externship opportunities.
Who can I contact with questions?
Contact Linda Lantaff at lantaff@kutztown.edu or 610-683-4067 with any questions about the program.
Frequently Asked Questions for Students
How long is an externship?
Externships range in duration but generally run 1-3 days. The length of the externship is at the discretion of the externship host.
How are externship placements determined?
Externship placement decisions are made by Career Development Center staff based upon information provided by students and the externship hosts. To increase the likelihood of placement in an externship, students are encouraged to apply for more than one.
Where are externship placements located?
Externships are located in cities across the Pennsylvania and surrounding states.
Who serves as externship hosts?
Externships are hosted by alumni, parents, or friends of Kutztown University.
Do I need to be available during the entire externship period to be eligible to participate in the externship program?
The externship program runs for a 1-week period in May following the end of the spring semester. You do not need to be available every day during that week, but we ask you to be flexible during that period of time for scheduling purposes. The exact dates and duration of your externship are at the discretion of the externship host.
Who pays for externship expenses?
All costs for the externship program including any travel, meals or lodging are the responsibility of the student. Costs can be minimized by selecting externship sites in close proximity to the student’s home.
Externship Requirements for Students
Students who are matched for an externship are required to:
- Attend mandatory orientation sessions and complete a Contract of Responsibility.
- Review literature and research the company or organization of the externship host.
- Contact the externship host by phone or email to confirm exact dates and times for the externship experience.
- Complete an externship plan that notes all arrangements between the student and host and submit it to the Career Development Center.
- Participate in the externship experience in May.
- Act and dress professionally during the externship and represent Kutztown University, the Career Development Center and the academic department in a positive manner.
- Write and send a thank-you note to the host and submit a copy to the Career Development Center.
- Complete an evaluation of the externship program.
Additional Notes
Any costs for the externship program including any travel, meals or lodging are the student’s responsibility. Students can minimize their costs by selecting externship sites in close proximity to their home.
Externships are not awarded academic credit and students receive no compensation for participation.
The externship program is an educational resource for exploration of careers and is not a job interview nor will it guarantee a job or internship.
Externship Timeline
FEBRUARY
- Externship application materials are posted online for student review.
- Application process takes place. Completing an application for an externship is a commitment to this experience. Once assigned to an externship, participation is mandatory.
MARCH
- Students are notified of their match.
- Hosts receive names of matched students.
- Students attend mandatory orientation sessions.
- Students research and read articles, literature, and websites about externship host company/organization.
APRIL
- Students contact hosts to confirm externship details.
- Students submit externship plan (dates and arrangements) to the Career Development Center.
- Students and hosts continue communications and planning.
MAY
- Externships take place.
- Students send thank you letters to hosts upon conclusion of the externship.
- Students submit copy of thank you letter and evaluation to the Career Development Center.
Frequently Asked Questions for Externship Hosts
What is an externship?
An externship is a 1-3 day shadowing experience. It gives students the opportunity to test out a career path of interest by observing the day to day activities of a professional working in the field.
Who may host an extern?
Externs may be hosted by alumni, parents, or friends of Kutztown University who are in a position to assemble an itinerary of experiences that provides a “real world” look at a career area. We currently seek hosts in the science, technology and mathematics industries.
If you are interested in hosting an extern, but work in an industry other than science, technology, or math, please contact the Career Development Center for information on other job shadowing experiences.
What are the benefits of hosting an extern?
The time commitment for hosting an extern is small, but the benefits are great.
Hosting an extern is a great way to connect or reconnect with Kutztown University and to share your knowledge and expertise with someone who is following in your footsteps. Through the externship experience, students are able to explore career options for a major, gain a realistic understanding of the career field, ask questions, and seek advice.
Please note. Externships are not required and are not awarded academic credit. Students receive no compensation for participation.
What activities should I plan for an extern?
To give students a sense of the work environment and allow them to explore career interests and goals, we recommend the following activities and experiences:
- Observe one or more professionals
- Attend meetings and presentations
- Tour the work site
- Conduct informational interviews with professionals in various departments and/or at various levels
- Participate in daily operations that will provide the student with hands-on exposure to the career field/industry
What is the difference between an externship and an internship?
An externship is brief and offers no pay or academic credit while an internship is usually 3-6 months in duration and can be paid and/or awarded credit. If you would like more information about the Internship Program, please click here.
What students are eligible to participate in an externship?
Externships are open to freshmen and sophomore science, technology and mathematics majors with a cumulative GPA of 2.25 or higher.
How is the externship assignment made?
Students are provided with a list describing all the available externships. Students then complete an online application listing their top two to three externship choices. The Career Development Center matches the students to externships using the information provided by students and the externship hosts.
Once I am assigned an extern, what happens next?
It is the student’s responsibility to contact you to decide on the specific dates and times you will spend together. You should provide directions and guidelines for appropriate dress. Student contact information will be provided to you by the Career Development Center.
What are my rights and responsibilities as a host?
You have the right not to answer any questions or requests you feel are inappropriate or confidential. You also have the right to address, with the student, any behavior that is unacceptable in your workplace.
You have the responsibility to spend time with the student or arrange for the student to meet with colleagues, attend related meetings, tour your facility, or work on a project throughout the day. We ask that you provide an opportunity for the student to ask questions and discuss your organization and career field/industry.
How structured should the externship experience be?
This depends on you and the student. Because the students are also responsible for making this externship successful, they should communicate their interests and expectations to you. As a host, you should have a planned itinerary in place a month prior to the visit and provide the student with a written copy.
If you have questions about what kinds of activities to include in your externship, please contact Linda Lantaff in the Career Development Center at lantaff@kutztown.edu or 610-683-4067.
How much time does an externship involve?
Kutztown University’s externship program is intended to last for one day to three days. If you feel as though you can host a student for a longer period, please feel free to let us know.
Who pays for externship expenses?
All costs for the externship program including any travel, meals or lodging are the responsibility of the student. Students can minimize their costs by selecting an externship site closer to their home.
What if I need to cancel my externship?
If some unforeseen event occurs that requires you to cancel your externship, notify your student immediately. Also, contact Linda Lantaff in the Career Development Center as soon as possible at 610-683-4067.
What happens after the externship is completed?
It is our hope that the externship experience is a positive one for you. A formal evaluation will be emailed to you in late May so you can provide feedback and suggestions.
2011 Externship Hosts
Yuasa Battery, Inc.
Description: Manufacturer of power-sports and motorcycle batteries
Pennje Lab Services,
Description: An independent lab for analysis of fluid and tissue biopsies of human beings for final diagnosis of the disease. Emphasis on “rule in/out cancer"
Center for Humanistic Change
Description: CHC is a drug/alcohol & violence prevention agency, facilitating prevention education programs in schools and community.
Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission
Description: DVRPC is the Philadelphia region's Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO).
Lehigh Valley Food Coop
Description: A Food Co-op supporting the Lehigh Valley and beyond with a local food network. We have a community run grocery store that supports an online farmers market that members can pick up at store or have delivery to their home or community.Â
Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
Description: Air Products is a Fortune 500 company manufacturing and distributing industrial gases to global markets with over 18,000 employees globally. Application Solutions and Delivery provides IT services to Air Products to create new applications as well as provide support for existing IT applications.
Lancaster Laboratories, Inc
Description: Environmental and Pharmaceutical Analytical Laboratory
Gateway Ticketing Systems, Inc.
Description: Gateway Ticketing Systems, Inc, is the world leader in high-speed, access control, admission control, and ticketing software for the attraction, amusement, and intercity bus transportation industries. Located in Boyertown, Pennsylvania, Gateway Ticketing Systems provides sales, service, and support for point of sale and ticketing systems throughout North America and worldwide.
Pathways Holistic Center, Inc.
Description: A comprehensive holistic center offering services that are life transformative via nutrition, detoxificantion, colon hydrotherapy, aromatherapy, cooking with living foods, emtnal emotional spiritual services, massage therapy, creative expression through art- pottery, sprouting- wheatgrass juicing for in-depth cellular healing and much more.
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of AgricultureÂ
Description: The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture protects and promotes agriculture and related industries throughout the commonwealth. It also protects services that impact health and financial security of the citizens of Pennsylvania through inspection services. The department also fosters the security and safety of exported and imported agricultural commodities and seeks to create new markets for the state's produce and its products. At the forefront of ensuring food security and safety, is prevention of the introduction into the US of invasive agricultural pests and plant species. The Entomology Program within the Plant Industry of the department collaborates with cooperating agencies to foster prevention of the introduction of invasive species into the US.
East Penn Manufacturing Company
Description: Since 1946, East Penn has been producing high-quality lead-acid batteries and battery accessories for the automotive, industrial, commercial, marine, stationary and specialty markets. A progressive company committed to the future.
Sustainable Solutions Corporation
Description: An Environmental Engineering firm specializing in Green Building Design and Certifications, Sustainable Buildings and Operations, Training and Life cycle Assessments of products and services.
