Virginia Department of Correctional Education
Summer Student Internship Program Guidelines

It’s been said that the best way to learn about the ins and outs of a job is to experience it first-hand. And, there’s no better way to do that than an internship.

The Virginia Department of Correctional Education (DCE) offers an internship to individuals who are currently enrolled in an accredited college or university pursuing a four-year undergraduate/trade school or graduate degree. Interns may be placed in any office. Every effort is made to place an intern in the specific job field that is directly related to the major field of study. Interns carry out a wide range of duties under the direction of school principals and senior staff members.

DCE strongly encourages education majors and those looking to make a difference in student's education to apply for an internship.

Areas of Work

Interns are encouraged and expected to inquire into important issues, initiative improvements, and suggest new approaches and directions. They serve in the Occupational Families; Administrative Services and Educational and Media Services during their internship.

The internship is designed to attract, develop, and retain innovative people in DCE’s youth and adult schools and serve in administrative areas in the central office. Internships may be paid or unpaid. Internships may be for Credit Hours. Paid internship salary is $15.00 per hour.

Background

The first internship program was offered in the summer 2005. DCE supported 6 internships. From the summer 2005, 2 interns were hired as P-14 (wage employees.) Currently, one serves as an Instructional Assistant, working with teachers and one serves as Administrative Office Specialist, working in a guidance office. Both of the individuals are working in Youth Operations at the school site. The four remaining interns returned to their university/college for the fall semester. No interns were given the opportunity to work during their winter break.

During the summer 2005 internships, students performed work in:

Data entry for supply inventory, created a data base for monitoring supplies, organized student records, assisted in public relations, and policy and procedures.

From the summer 2005 internship program, one intern has been hired as a full time employee serving in the Information Technology Division, while attending graduate school.

In the summer of 2006, DCE expanded and supported 9 internships. At the end of the internship, seven students were hired as P-14 (wage employees.) Two returned during their winter break in December 2006. During the summer of 2006 internship program, students were utilized in a variety of areas that included:

Curriculum design (music); organizing student record’s; assisting academics in reports, scheduling, and other clerical duties; provided clerical support to Reception and Diagnostic Center in assessments; receptionists and front desk clerical support.

The 2007 summer internship once again supported 8 internships. This was the first year the program was utilized in another area than the Central Region (Richmond area). The intern was very supportive and was utilized in the Dillwyn/Buckingham Correctional Center, located in Buckingham County. This turned out to be very successful. In the future, if funded, the program will be extended to areas outside of the Central Region. This will allow for more areas to take advantage of the program.

What’s great about an internship at DCE?

Students working as an intern with DCE will gain valuable experience in a variety of disciplines while getting paid, non-paid, or for credit hours. Students can gain valuable work experience in their field of study and learn more about career opportunities at DCE and state government. Upon graduation students may apply for a full-time position at DCE.

Students have the opportunity to work in varied diciplines such as:

• Instructional Assistant [teacher assistant]
• Administrative and Office Specialist [clerical support, data entry]
• Curriculum design

Applying for an internship position with DCE is easy.

All internship opportunities require that the student:

• become acquainted with the mission and work of the Virginia Department of Correctional Education
• intern must be enrolled in any accredited University or College with a GPA of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale
• intern must be registered at the University or College during the year of the internship
• intern must submit a statement of 2-3 pages, which includes the following:
  • The internship opportunity for which he/she is applying and why.
  • Their career goals and any relevant academic or work experience.
  • What he/she would like to accomplish through this intern experience.
• intern must also submit a letter of recommendation from a member of their University or College faculty or advisor.
• a copy of the intern's University or College transcript must accompany the state application or resume with non-paid or students working for credit hours.
• an on-line application for the posted Paid INTERN position must be completed. Go to our web site www.dce.virginia.gov and submit an application online.
• a resume for Unpaid or for Credit Hours MUST be completed and submitted to include the following:
  • ALL work experience
  • ALL telephone numbers of current and previous supervisors for work experience
  • ALL required paperwork from the college/university with contact information
  • ALL other information pertaining to Unpaid or Credit Hours requirements from the college/university
• intern will participate in orientation before job placement. [May 15]
• intern will complete an internship report upon completion of the job placement.

Computers are available for applying for internships in public libraries, Virginia Employment Commission offices, and the Department of Human Resource Management's Career Center located in the James Monroe Building. DCE will provide, if requested, reasonable accommodation to applicants in need of accommodation in order to provide access to the application and/or interview process. If any assistance is needed when applying online, please contact DCE at 804-225-3310 or at www.dce.virginia.gov.

Fingerprint-based criminal history check required. Subject to random drug screening.

Internship Program DCE Divisions/Schools Requirements and Intern's Requirements

DCE DIVISIONS/SCHOOLS

1. Human Resources must begin in January contacting schools and divisions in central office who are interested in having interns working in their school/office for the summer.
2. February 1 is deadline for summer internship placement from schools and central office divisions.

INTERESTED INTERNS

1. Human Resources must begin in March contacting potential students at universities and colleges.
2. April 30 is the deadline for summer internship placement of students.
3. All interns will participate in an orientation in May
4. Internships will begin the first of June and continue through August.

The internship will vary per staff and the number of days per week will be determined by the school principal or central office division head.

Timelines for Summer Internship Program:

Anyone interested in the DCE Summer Student Internship Program should contact:

E. Florence Powers, Human Resource Generalist
Recruiter/Trainer
Virginia Department of Correctional Education
Human Resource Division
101 N. 14th Street, 7th Floor
Richmond, Virginia 23219
Telephone: 804-786-6353
FAX: 804-786-3308
E-mail: florence.powers@dce.virginia.gov