Resources
for Sponsors
An internship experience
can help you determine your
career path, focus your degree
program, and ease your
transition from the workplace
to the classroom.
Resources For Sponsors
Why Sponsor an Intern?
The Northern Illinois University Department of English can help your organization arrange internships. Many of our students have experience in technical writing, editing, and training, and they are ready to help you with your communication needs.
Would your organization like help developing material such as the following:
- documentation for products and services
- policies and procedures (e.g., ISO 9000)
- specifications
- flow charts and forms
- manuals and instructions
- training materials
- job descriptions
- brochures
- newsletters
- press releases
- promotional materials
- correspondence
- homepages on the World Wide Web
If you have such needs, but lack the time or resources to devote to projects like these, then you might be interested in having a student (or students) serve an internship with your organization.
Why Use Interns?
In today's workplace, good communication is vital to good business. Our students have excellent writing skills, and they recognize the importance of language and communication in business. Interns can help you create or revise documents, develop training materials, or provide tutorials or workshops on writing.
Through internships, your organization benefits by obtaining temporary workers who are highly motivated, dedicated, and cost effective. You are also able to facilitate your entry-level recruitment and preview each intern's potential. Furthermore, internships benefit the students by giving them practical, professional experience before they graduate.
What Does An Internship Involve?
Length. Internships typically last for one semester or summer term. However, other arrangements are possible. Every attempt is made to offer flexible scheduling in order to accommodate both your organization's time frame and the student's academic schedule.
Supervising. Students serving credit internships are co-supervised by a faculty member and a person from your organization. During the internship, your organization participates in the intern's evaluation.
Pay. As the sponsoring organization, you decide whether the internship is paid or unpaid.
How Does Your Organization Set Up an Internship?
Internships in writing, editing, and training are easy to arrange.
Describe the internship you would like to set up, including the following:
- the intern's responsibilities
- the duration of the internship
- name(s) of those who will supervise the intern
- pay
Call Jan Knudsen, Assistant Coordinator of Internships, Department of English, at (815) 753-6618.
Although some internships can be filled immediatly, we ask that you allow about a month's lead time for placement.
If you would like more information about internships in general, contact the Cooperative Education/Internship Program at (815) 753-7138.
Previous Sponsors of Internships in English Include:
- Amoco Corporation
- Andersen Consulting
- Art Institute of Chicago
- Baxter Health Care Corporation
- DAI Technologies, Inc.
- Emergency Nurses Association
- Enterprise Rent-A-Car
- Fitch & Gerard, Inc.
- Free Street Theater
- Holt, Rinehard, and Winston, Inc.
- International Studies Center of Illinois
- Kishwaukee Community College
- Motorola, Inc.
- NBC
- Nestle, Inc.
- Northern Illinois Gas
- Packer Engineering
- Prevent Blindness America
- Revere Healthcare, Ltd.
- Rich, Inc.
- Rockford Art Museum
- R.R. Donnelley & Sons
- Sherman Hospital
- Sherman Hospital
- Skelgas Propane, Inc.
- St. Charles Historical Society
- Sundstrand Corporation
- Sylvan Learning Center
- Tandy Corporation, Radio Shack
- Tellabs, Inc.
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
- U.S. Robotics, Inc.
- Vern Kiebler Electronics, Inc.
- Walt Disney World College
- WIFR-TV
- ...and several Northern Illinois University Departments