Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Event Planning Internship




Event Planning Internship
WMU Parent and Family Programs
1903 West Michigan
Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5348
(269) 387-4820
www.wmich.edu/parents


*Internship objective:

Assist with the planning and successful execution of all aspects of Family Weekend 2012, scheduled for Oct. 26-28, 2012. Primary events will include:

  • pre-football game event
  • designated seating at the football game
  • Sunday brunch
  • Potential additional events include a Friday night reception, student contest, and resource showcase
  • Additionally, there will be a pre-game event on Oct. 6 before the Homecoming game
*About the interning organization:
Western Michigan University is committed to parents and families as valued partners in their student’s educational progress. Parent and Family Programs provides a touchstone to our prospective and current WMU families; a point of contact into WMU. Our services and programs are designed to assist families as together we support student growth, personal development, and overall success, beginning as a prospective student and continuing throughout the years to graduation.
Parent and Family Programs provides information and resources relevant to the student college experience, as well as sponsors educational and social events for students and families. We are active within the University community and readily accessible to help with questions or concerns.
*Interning organization’s mission:
WMU Parent and Family Programs partners with parents and families to promote and encourage student learning, responsible independence, and personal development. We provide comprehensive information, advice, and reassurance for parents and guardians to better understand the University experience and effectively support student success. Through responsive communication and active engagement within the University community, this partnership is beneficial and enduring.
*Semesters interns are needed:  Summer II and Fall Semester 2012
*Number of interns needed: Two students to work together as a team

Start date:  June 28, 2012 preferred or sometime in July

End date:  November 30, 2012 with required post-event evaluation

Hours per week: 5-10 hours per week/depending upon the number of weeks scheduled to intern.  

Academic qualifications: Declared major or minor in the School of Communication

*Desired skills and qualifications: Student interns should (list any specific skills or qualifications)

The ideal candidate is self-motivated, organized and exceptionally detail-oriented, with a sincere interest in event planning. This internship will require building cordial relationships across campus and within the Kalamazoo community to achieve desired objectives. The intern must possess outstanding communication skills – verbal and written – and be able to effectively work independently. The intern must keep accurate records of event planning details to follow up as needed.

*Description of intern responsibilities:Assist in designing marketing materials and ways to promote the weekend to students and families during the late summer and fall semester
  • Assist in creating a schedule of weekend events, both on campus and in the local community
  • Effectively network with various constituents to offer free and discounted activities to our families Coordinate and organize the various details for each planned event.
  • Track each event’s RSVP’s and attendance figures.
  • Be on-site and available throughout the weekend to assist as needed.
  • Launch a post-event survey to determine satisfaction with the weekend.
  • Provide supervisor with a written evaluation of the planning process and weekend with lessons learned and suggestions for improvement.

Location:  Parent and Family Programs, 2415 Faunce Student Services

Intern sponsor (at the interning organization): Shari Glaser

  • Please note that all letters of offer, internship applications, position descriptions, verification of hours worked and intern evaluations shall be signed by a full-time employee or campus advisor. A student may not be supervised for internship credit by a graduate or undergraduate student.
Credit:  College credit toward communication major, minor or general electives.  One hour of college credit is earned for 40 hours of work up to 6 credit hours.

Credit:  College credit toward communication major, minor or general electives.  One hour of college credit is earned for a minimum of 40 hours of internship work.  A maximum of six credit hours may be earned for a single internship.

Students shall declare the number of credits they plan to earn during their internship when they apply.    Once the semester or internship begins, the credit hours cannot be altered without financial penalty for the student.   Please speak with the faculty advisor about this if you have questions. 

Credit hours registered for during internship
Minimum number of hours worked to earn internship credit


One
40
Two
80
Three
120
Four
160
Five
200
Six
240

*Interested students should contact:     Shari Glaser  (269) 387-4820 or shari.glaser@wmich.edu

 
Evaluation:   The evaluation and grade will be completed by Internship Coordinator Marilyn Kritzman and will be based upon the following: 
v The student’s learning objectives and progress made toward the learning objectives
v The student’s journal/log/observation of all intern activities 
v The student’s copy of all work produced
v Verification of hours worked
v Final paper/portfolio

Calendar:
  • E-mail updates to faculty sponsor every month.
  • Additional communication via email, phone or in person as needed
  • All materials are to be submitted to Marilyn Kritzman on the Wednesday prior to final weeks of the semester/session registered.
  • Internship sponsor evaluation due half way through the internship.
  • Internship sponsor final evaluation due the Wednesday of finals week with the rest of the material.  The evaluation may be submitted with the student’s materials in a sealed envelope, or the sponsor may submit it separately by the due date.



Student’s signature


Intern sponsor’s (at internship site) signature


Coordinator of Undergraduate Internship’s (Marilyn S. Kritzman) signature