Benefits of Participation in the Internship Program:
The RPTS Internship is intended to provide a practical, on-the-job learning experience which provides the opportunity to integrate classroom theory with the “real world” of recreation, park and tourism service delivery. This experiential learning has proven to be successful in helping undergraduates move from being students to being new professionals in the field. The agency and the agency supervisor are key ingredients for a good internship and we appreciate your interest!
Benefits to the Student:
- Achieve integration between classroom theory and actual practice.
- Acquire needed skills and competencies.
- Discover one’s strengths and limitations within the recreation, park and tourism field.
- Develop a greater awareness of the field of practice (i.e., methods, activities, settings) and gain a better understanding of the day-to-day operations of a specific agency.
Benefits to the Organization/Internship Site:
- Assist in the preparation of future professionals.
- Provide the opportunity for exchange of ideas between professionals and students.
- Help shape the future of the industry or field.
- Work with young, enthusiastic people.
- Provide your organization with fresh, new ideas.
- Evaluate prospective staff candidates for later employment.
- Foster close working relationships with Texas A&M University.
Responsibilities of Organizations and Supervisors
Organization Must Be Willing To:
- Provide a minimum of 400 hours of work experience to the student.
- Allow intern to be exposed to a variety of roles and operations within the organization.
- Provide the student with a description of their main duties.
- Have the direct supervisor meet with the student on a regular basis to discuss problems, give constructive criticism, reinforce good work, and to allow the intern to ask questions.
Responsibilities of the Agency Supervisor:
- Provide a thorough orientation and any necessary training.
- Inform the intern of all personnel policies and procedures.
- Provide supervision and instruction during the internship.
- Serve as a mentor in preparing the student for full-time employment.
- Provide the student intern with reasonable opportunities to participate in staff meetings, activities, projects, programs, and key elements of service at the agency so as to provide a broad and relevant experience as a pre-professional.
- Provide appropriate office space and/or resources to carry out their assigned duties.
- Evaluate and review with the student intern his/her performance. Complete a Mid-Internship Performance Evaluation and a Final Evaluation to the student intern and submit these web-based evaluation forms to the RPTS Department.
- Discuss each evaluation with the student.
- Communicate any concerns and suggestions to the Texas A&M University RPTS Internship Coordinator.