Contextual Education – Information for Internship Committees
What are Internship Committees?
Some Contextual Education sites provide their student interns with an Internship Committee in addition to their on-site supervisor. This is a small group of people affiliated with the site in some way – members, volunteers, other staff – anyone who knows the site and its history well and who is willing to provide the student this additional learning support. The group should be made up of kind and engaging people who can keep confidential anything shared by the student and the conversation within the Internship Committee meetings themselves.
For example, an Internship Committee in a religious congregation could include a few beloved members of the congregation who agree to attend gatherings where the student is leading and provide feedback. Similarly, in a non-profit organization an Internship Committee could include other members of the staff and/or long-time volunteers who have the chance to witness the student’s leadership and can provide feedback.
The role of an Internship Committee is not supervision – they are not meant to be overseeing a student’s work because that is done by the on-site supervisor. They instead provide learning support, offer insights into how the site is receiving the student’s leadership, and help the student manage any pitfalls or quirks of the organization or its people. They can also provide constructive feedback as to how their intern can continue to grow professionally at their site.
Is my site required to have an Internship Committee?
While it is not required for a site to have an Internship Committee, those that do are among our most successful learning placements. This is not only because the student gains access to a wider conversation circle about their internship, but because more people involved in the institution are committing themselves to supporting the student’s learning. This often deepens the experience of the internship not only for the student but also within the institution as a whole.
How many people should be on an Internship Committee?
Internship Committees typically consist of three or four trusted members of the organization. It is important to choose people who attend regular events and can witness the student doing their internship tasks.
How often should an Internship Committee meet with its student?
Internship Committees typically meet with their student once per month throughout the length of the placement. These formal gatherings should include all committee members and are led by a chosen Internship Committee Chairperson rather than the student intern. (See the bottom of this page for a sample agenda.)
It is a best practice for the student’s on-site supervisor not to be present at Internship Committee meetings, in case the student wants to process any issues they are having with their on-site supervisor. Often an Internship Committee can help a student navigate tricky supervision dynamics, or can provide a confidential space in which to process any concerns they might have. If the trouble is more than perfunctory, the School of Theology’s Contextual Education Office can be consulted for support. Just email our office at sthope@bu.edu to request a meeting.
What is a sample agenda for an Internship Committee meeting?
Please see the Sample Internship Committee Agenda here. This can be adapted for each site context but just gives a helpful starting point for Internship Committees just starting to gather.
