The Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management Program (RPTM) at Penn State is committed to providing students with extensive practical learning experiences under the direct supervision of practitioners and University faculty members.
The Internship Assignment tabs and forms will introduce you to the RPTM Internship assignments for the successful completion of this professional experience. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Internship Coordinator.
Assignments
Initial Report (due 2 days after starting internship)
During the first few days of Internship, the student must complete and submit an Initial Report. This report (see Internship Assignments Tab) provides the faculty supervisor with information for contacting the student and his or her agency supervisor.
Assignment Calendar (due 2 days after starting internship)
This form (see Internship Assignments Tab) is completed at the beginning of Internship and identifies the due dates for all written assignments and forms.
Internship Agreement/Signatory Page (due 2 days after starting internship)
This form is completed at the beginning of Internship and, with the student’s signature, indicates that he/she has read the syllabus and is familiar with course policies and the internship handbook.
Weekly Time and Activity Log (Due every week)
This form is completed each week and identifies the number of hours worked and a summary of duties. In addition, the weekly time log offers students a site to list special trainings or on-site opportunities as well as any missed days, sick time, etc.
Weekly Analysis (due on Tuesday of weeks 2-7 of internship)
Throughout the first half of the Internship, the student is required to submit weekly analysis to his or her faculty supervisor. These reports contain an analysis of one or more events (or issues) that occurred during the week.
The analysis is generally two typewritten pages (double spaced) and should conform to the Weekly Analysis Guidelines (see Internship Assignments Tab).
Revised Internship Goals (due in the second week of internship)
During the first few weeks of Internship, the student must revise his/her Internship goals (developed in RPtm 394) to reflect the learning opportunities available at the agency. These revisions should be done in cooperation with the agency supervisor, who should sign the revised goals prior to their submission.
Professional e-Portfolio (due in the 7th week of internship)
Each student is expected to update their Professional e-Portfolio. An on-line presence provides the student with a method for communicating to colleagues and prospective employers a working understanding of the Recreation, Park and Tourism profession. This should be an updated version of your eportfolio that as submitted in RPTM 101 and revised in other RPTM classes.
Special Project (proposal due in the 3rd week of internship)
Each Internship student, in cooperation with his or her agency supervisor, is expected to design and complete a special project of significance and lasting value to the agency. The nature and scope of the special project should be consistent with the student’s educational background and career goals; however, the primary purpose of this project is to make a professional contribution to the Internship agency. Prior to starting the project, the Internship Special Project Proposal form (see Internship Assignments tab) must be submitted to the faculty supervisor.
The student will receive one grade related to the Special Project. The student’s agency supervisor will assign the grade for the Special Project itself and recommend that grade to the faculty supervisor.
Visitations to Additional Agencies (due in weeks 8 and 9 of internship)
In order to gain a broader understanding of services within the Recreation, Park and Tourism field, each student is required to visit at least two additional agencies during Internship. The student should select agencies that correspond with his or her own professional interests, but visited agencies do not have to be similar to the student’s Internship agency. Agencies which the student has previously visited, volunteered or worked may not be used to fulfill this assignment. Since these visitations are included as a part of the student’s Internship responsibilities, it is essential to plan each visit in cooperation with his or her agency supervisor.
Visits must be arranged well in advance of the visitation date, and should include a tour of the grounds/facilities and a follow-up meeting with at least one staff member. Generally, an agency visitation lasts 1 to 2 hours. Following the visit, the student is required to complete and submit a Visitation Form. This form documents the visit and requires a typewritten reaction to the agency and its services. Students must also submit a picture of themselves at the agency, preferably with the agency representative.
Mid Internship and Final Evaluations
The agency supervisor is expected to conduct formal evaluations of the student’s performance at least twice during Internship. The mid Internship evaluation conference is especially important because (1) it provides structured feedback to the student on his or her performance to date, and (2) it offers an opportunity for the student and supervisor to reestablish goals for the second half of Internship. The final evaluation allows the student to assess his or her progress during Internship, and should assist the agency supervisor to determine his or her grade recommendation for the student.
The agency supervisor may use the evaluation link supplied by the University (see Internship Assignments Tab), or an agency personnel evaluation form may be substituted, if desired. Regardless of what form is selected, it is important that the mid Internship and final evaluations be conducted using identical forms. (Due: Mid Internship one week following mid point; Final one week after Internship, but no later than the last day of classes).
Grade Recommendation (due at the conclusion of the internship)
At the conclusion of the RPTM Internship, the agency supervisor is expected to submit a Grade Recommendation Form (see Internship Assignments Tab) to the faculty supervisor. This form enables the agency supervisor to recommend a letter grade that reflects the total progress and level of achievement attained by the student during Internship. This form also requests that the agency supervisor recommend a letter grade for the student’s special project. (Due: one week after Internship, but no later than the last day of classes). It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that the grade recommendation is submitted to the University.
Senior Exit Survey (due at the conclusion of the internship)
Students are asked to complete the RPTM Senior Exit survey at the conclusion of their internship to provide the department feedback on the RPTM experience. Students will upload a screenshot of the last page of the survey (anonymous) to provide documentation of completion of the survey.