Internships

Southpointe boasts two premier University satellite campuses, California University and Waynesburg College who offer highly successful Intern Programs.

California University	Waynesburg College

Joseph Graff, MS, CPA, Dean of Graduate & Professional Sudies at Waynesburg College says, "Student Interns are a popular way for employers to gain the services of energetic and enthusiastic temporary employees who can meet short-term goals while providing graduate students with career-related work expierience. In the last academic year, 209 students of Waynesburg College participated in internships".

Some popular areas for Interns are:
>Accounting
>Business Administration
>Computers
>Communication
>Human Services
>Sciences

There are advantages that some employers may not be aware of, for instance, internship programs give employers the chance to judge the performance of potential full-time permanent employees. Students may be able to handle assignments that require talent and education, but not a full-time commitment. Interns who become permanent employees ten to have better retention rates. Interns who "pass the word" about your company can provide free PR to other students you may want to hire, or may become "ambassadors" for your company, it's programs and/or products during their career.

Dr. Stephanie Urchick, Executive Director of the Southpointe Center and Workforce Development Center of Cal U notes that the University also has a paid Cooperative Education Program (Co-op) for interns which differs from the traditional internship program in that Cal U Career Services Department handles all the details on-line to simplify the process. Co-op positions are always paid positions, and Co-op students do not receive University credit for their internship expierience.

Are Interns exempt from the wage and salary requirements of the FLSA? The DOL outlined a six-point test for defining a Trainee/Internship Program in an opion letter: Training is similar to that which would be given in a vocational school. Activity is primarily for the benefit of the trainees/interns. Participants do no displace regular employees, but work under close supervision. Employers derive no immediate benefit from the activities. Participants are not promised a job at the completion of the internship. Participants are not paid. While the DOL's opion letters are not binding on the courts, courts have used this six-point test in determining when Internship Programs are exempt from the Fair Labor Standards Act.

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