Welcome to the Senior Experience Portal

The Senior Experience internship is an interactive learning partnership through which students increase, in depth and scope, their knowledge and abilities in a selected area of study under the guidance of a mentor(s).

The essential component of a successful internship is that the student actively participate in an area of interest under the guidance of a mentor. Different mentors approach this in different ways. Some mentors design a special project specifically designed for the student to develop his/her skills. Others bring the student into an ongoing project which may require the student to either work in collaboration with other colleagues or to work independently on one aspect of the project which the student is capable of undertaking with minimal supervision. In general, internships in the business community include the intern’s participation in professionally related activities. The internship may be in any discipline or involve any profession; however, it is mandatory that the student be an active participant in activities related to the field of study.

It is just as important to define what an internship is not, as well as what it is. Internship is not meant to provide workers for laboratory assistance or office help. While students will certainly be exposed to career and work information, this is not the focus of their participation in the Senior Experience program. The purpose of the internship is active participation in a selected area of study. Students, however, are expected to perform all relevant duties, including such tasks as record keeping, filing, etc., since they are expected to be integral members of the team.