WCU Internship Guidelines and Affiliation Agreements
- WCU Internship Guidelines (2015), linked from the CAPC website.
- PASSHE Academic Affiliations, Student Internships and Placements: Includes the Handbook for Academic Affiliation Agreements and Templates of a range of Affiliation Agreements.
- Disney Internships Checklist - Guidelines for students pursuing Disney Internships; things they should do IN ADVANCE to maintain student status, financial aid, eligibility for housing, etc.
Resources for Internship Coordinators
- National Society for Experiential Education (NSEE) is a nonprofit membership association of educators, businesses, and community leaders. Founded in 1971, NSEE also serves as a national resource center for the development and improvement of experiential education programs nationwide.
- Cooperative Education & Internship Association (CEIA) remains the leader in providing professional development and resources to practitioners in the fields of cooperative education and internship program management.
Liability Insurance Coverage for Students
West Chester University does not provide nor purchase liability insurance coverage for students serving in an intern program or fieldwork experience. Because many host organizations require that interns have liability or malpractice insurance, students need to personally purchase intern liability insurance when required to do so by the cooperating institution/agency/company.
In addition, the University should NOT be listed as a named insured on the student's personal policy. This is between the student and the host site only. University personnel must be careful not to designate or appear to endorse a particular insurance policy or carrier.
While the University does not (and cannot) purchase malpractice insurance for students, WCU can require internship students to purchase insurance to participate in a certain program or field experience. Each Dean has the ability to review and determine whether the time is right to require students to have malpractice insurance in place for programs or fieldwork within their academic purview.
The Dean, Chairs, and/or faculty should make students aware of the potential liability they may incur while completing an internship or field experience, reiterating that the University does not insure student interns, and the exposure each student may incur if they do not have obtain such liability coverage.
WCU Affiliation Agreement Information