For Mentors and Host Organizations

HTHI 2021 Internship Overview (Internships impacted by Covid 19 )

Descripción general de la pasantía de HTHI para estudiantes y familias

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This document is intended to give you an overview of the HTHI Internship program for the 2020-2021 school year. Most, if not all, of the information you’ll need about internships is in this document. 

 

What is the HTH Internship Program?

Our internship program is a one month immersive experience with the goal of providing the intern (your student) a brief glimpse into what it would mean to work in that field. During the internship, students complete one major project that is both interesting to them and of value to the organization. In 2021, the focus of our internship program will be on “digital” internships, but traditional in person internships are also allowed. Please note, internships replace the students’ current academic classes. 

 

Can internships take place in person?

Yes, as long as both the mentor and the intern are comfortable with this arrangement.  It is also possible for an internship to be both in person part time and digital part time.  

 

When do these take place?

Internships take place from May 24 - June 17. While the goal is for the interns to work 20 - 40 hours per week, the specific hours that the intern works each day should be decided by the intern and the mentor (with parent and teacher approval). The specific number of hours an intern works should be determined by the number of hours necessary to have a high quality experience.

 

Can internships take place in groups?

Yes. One thing we’ve tried to keep in mind as we’ve shifted to digital internships is the collaborative or social atmosphere of many workplaces. While wanting to be clear that a mentor should feel no pressure to work with more than one intern, we are encouraging both interns and mentors to consider working in groups of 2 or 3 interns in an attempt to mitigate what is lost due to social distancing. To be clear, if interns are in a group they would be working together on one project.

 

What does an internship look like?

The end goal of an HTH internship is for the student to work in a field that interests them AND complete a project. To meet these goals, we suggest a strategic use of zoom meetings paired with multiple other forms of communication, or a traditional in-person internship.  We expect that achieving both goals will take some creativity and flexibility so we have created the following documents to help you think through this process:

• Internship Pathways Overview

  • Provides a breakdown of the different “pathways” interns and mentors might follow

• Project Planning Template and example

  • Intended to help mentors and interns organize and plan the project for the month

• One week Schedule Template and example

  • Intended to help mentors and interns organize on a weekly basis

• Different Forms of Communication (Digital Internships Only)

 

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What information might be helpful to mentors?

• This document contains an overview of the internship program with language specific to mentors

  • It is very similar to this document

  • Ultimately, the only way our school can confirm that a student has an internship is if a mentor has filled out the Mentor Interest Form, linked in that document.

 

Who do I contact with questions or ideas?

Please reach out to the 11th grade teachers first with any questions, concerns or ideas. Every question or idea you share helps us to refine the program and ensure that we produce the best results possible.  ​

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• Internships are unpaid and provide students with practical experience and academic credit. Interning in a field of choice provides students with the opportunity to pursue their passions and helps guide their college and career choices after graduation. Students gain knowledge that integrates real-world learning experiences, career development, and public service, while Host Organizations benefit from the contributions of creative and innovative students.   After building relationships, gaining experience, and learning to network, many students find ways to continue to pursue their passions and develop their future career paths.

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• Mentors are employees of the Host Organizations that are paired with students during the Internships. Mentors gain an opportunity to guide a high school student in discovering their passions and career interests. Students provide new ideas and viewpoints while energizing the Host Organization with their enthusiasm and desire to learn. Mentors and students work together to define and execute projects that benefit the Host Organization.​

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• Mentors communicate regularly with HTHI teachers about the students’ progress, attendance, and project development.

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• HTHI teachers maintain regular contact with the students and mentors, including site visits and other support.

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• The Internship is supported by classes taught at the HTH schools, during which students prepare for and reflect on their experiences.  

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• In order to make the Internship meaningful, the expectation is for the mentor and student to develop a substantive project. It is important to develop a project proposal prior to or during the first two weeks of the Internship, to ensure that both the mentor and student have clear goals. During the Internship, students may participate on projects that include supporting a specific marketing event, product launch, website design, personnel outreach, client networking, software and hardware support, and public relations, including presentations in public forums and in the community.

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• HTH and the Host Organization are required to maintain general liability insurance or equivalent programs of self-insurance during any periods when students are on an Internship site. In the event of an accident or sudden illness, students and their parents/guardians understand and agree that any medical treatment will be provided at their expense (or that of their insurer) and that neither HTH and its affiliates or the Host Organization will be responsible or liable for costs and fees related to such medical treatment. All mentors and host organizations will be asked to fill out a MOU (memorandum of understanding) form.

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• To determine if hosting an Internship is the right choice, potential mentors should ask themselves the following questions: Do you have a specific project or assignment that provides a quality professional learning opportunity for a high school student? Can you commit time to teach and guide a student? Can you benefit from the unique perspective and skills that a student would bring to your organization? If you answered yes to all of these questions, then you are ready to host an Internship! 

 

MENTORS’ RESPONSIBILITIES

 

• The mentor is responsible for providing supervision and guidance to the student during the Internship. The mentor should be available to the student on a regular basis.

 

• Mentors hold a minimum of a bachelor's degree, professional degree, and/or license in the field/industry on which the Internship was mutually developed and work in a professional setting (not from home). 

 

• Mentors may not be related to the student. 

 

• If the student will rotate through various departments in order to gain broad-based experience, the mentor serves as the primary contact overseeing the Internship.

 

• It is important that the mentor is interested in working with high school students; has the time to invest in the Internship, especially during the first two weeks; and possesses qualities such as leadership, strong communication skills, and patience.

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• Because the Internship is defined as a learning experience, proper supervision is essential. The mentor serves as a teacher, mentor, critic, and supervisor. Ongoing supervision is the key to a successful Internship. This is especially true for a student who does not have prior experience in a professional setting. Acknowledging and identifying the different expectations between the workplace and school can help students make a successful transition to the world of work. 

 

• Mentors help guide students through their Internship experience. This may mean allowing or encouraging the student to participate in events that may not normally be open to entry level professionals, such as certain staff meetings, client consultations, or other related events. Even though these events may not be directly tied to the project that the student is supporting, they help provide a broad overview of the business or organization. The mentor can pass on a wealth of experience and knowledge while also benefiting from a fresh viewpoint and new ways of thinking from interacting with students.

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• An effective method of mentoring is to have a set time (twice a week is recommended) to meet with the student to review progress on projects, touch base, and provide feedback. The mentor oversees and assigns the student’s tasks toward fulfilling the project. 

 

• Evaluation is important to the student’s development and is an opportunity to identify strengths and weaknesses. It is helpful if the mentor evaluates the student throughout the Internship, not just at the end. The evaluation should be planned as a learning experience and an opportunity for dialogue and mutual feedback. Regularly scheduled evaluations help avoid common problems with Internships, including miscommunication, misunderstanding of job roles, and lack of specific goals and objectives. Mentors may find it helpful to schedule a preliminary evaluation early in the Internship (for example, in the second week). This helps the mentor understand whether the student understands the role and responsibilities of the Internship tasks or if there are specific areas in which the student has questions or needs further help.

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STUDENTS’ RESPONSIBILITIES

 

• Students are required to secure an internship with a Host Organization in a professional setting (not a work from home arrangement) by the deadline set by the school.
• Students and their parent/guardian must complete, sign, and submit to the HTH teacher the Parent/Guardian Internship Consent Form (see pages 10-12) before the Internship may begin. 
• Students seeking to fulfill the internship requirement outside of San Diego County must meet with the school director for approval, which may result in completing an Independent Study Contract. The school director has sole discretion to approve or deny the request.
• Students design, with their mentor, and complete a project that benefits the Host Organization.

• Internships fulfill a graduation requirement. Students must complete their Internship assignments, which may include creation of an Internship portfolio, photo essays, and a blog to reflect on growth and progress.

• Students lead a Presentation of Learning (“POL”) to a panel

• Students should:

  • Be punctual, polite, and professional.

  • Dress appropriately (if unsure, ask the mentor and/or HTH teacher).

  • Attend the Internship for the scheduled number of days and hours.

  • Notify the mentor and HTH teacher of any absences or schedule changes.

  • Respect the confidentiality of the Host Organization’s clients, staff, activities, communications, information, and operations.

  • If things are slow, take the initiative and volunteer for different tasks.

  • Discuss questions, concerns, or problems regarding the Internship, Host Organization, and/or mentor with the HTH teacher. 

  • Adhere to the Host Organization’s policies and procedures, rules, and regulations governing professional behavior. 

 

• In order to take attendance during the Internship, students are responsible for keeping track of their time using the INTERNSHIP ATTENDANCE & TIMESHEET FORM (see page 15). If students are absent for any reason, they must contact their mentor and school.

• Students are responsible for transportation to and from their Internship sites, which may be via their own vehicle, parent/guardian driving, or mass transit. The Host Organization is not responsible for transportation of the student. The mentor shall not transport a student unless the parent/guardian has given prior written consent for the mentor to transport their student for purposes of the Internship only. Please see HTH teacher to complete the “Annual Driver & Volunteer Application and Waiver” form. 

• Students are required to remain in their original internship from start to finish unless they receive prior written approval by the HTH teacher and school director.

 

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