An Internship…

and other related work experience can provide a student with valuable insights into the hospitality industry. For this reason, the Kemmons Wilson School of Hospitality & Resort Management (KWS) requires each student to fulfill a minimum 1,000 hours of related employment before graduation.

The KWS Internship Coordinator is available to assist you in your quest to find an appropriate assignment. The Coordinator is located in the KWS, Room 141. Since the hospitality industry is vast, the following categories may provide you with a starting point in your search.

• Lodging -- hotels, resorts, inns, motels, bed & breakfasts, etc.
• Food & Beverage -- restaurants, bars, clubs, institutional foodservice, catering, etc.
• Transportation -- airlines, car rental firms, rail, boat or ferry, etc.
• Tourism -- tour operators, travel agencies, tourist information offices, etc.
• Entertainment and Recreation -- casinos, theme parks, national parks, ski areas, golf courses, marinas, sport organizations, etc.

To help you to be effective in your search, please consider the following;

• Complete the Hospitality Internship Interest Form.  The form is available in the KWS office, or on the KWS website. Return the form to the KWS office.

• Arrange an appointment with Kevin Bennett, Internship Coordinator, to discuss information on the internship interest form.  He can be reached at kbnnett1@memphis.edu, or stop by the KWS office. At this initial meeting, please bring a draft copy of your resume.  

• After your background information and interests are discussed you will be asked to arrange a brief weekly meeting with the Internship Coordinator to discuss progress leading to an approved internship assignment. These meetings should last 5-10 minutes.

Once an internship has been secured…

• Contact the Internship Coordinator immediately with details of the assignment; location, duties and pay.

• The Internship Coordinator will arrange a visit to meet with you and your supervisors at your work about half-way into the internship. If you are having problems or concerns on the internship, contact the Coordinator immediately.

• Have your employer complete and return the Employer Evaluation Form to the KWS TWO WEEKS before the completion of employment. A return address and fax number are located at the bottom of the form.

• Submit a three page summary report to the KWS Internship Coordinator at the completion of your employment. Report guidelines are available here,  or  in the KWS office.

• Schedule a meeting with the KWS Internship Coordinator to discuss your experience.

NOTE!  A student may apply to have previous employment counted for part or all of the required hours. To do so, submit a three page report detailing the past assignment. Please refer to the Hospitality Experience Report Guidelines.  Have the past employer submit an Employer Evaluation Form to the KWS. Arrange to meet with the KWS Internship Coordinator to discuss the report and employer verification/evaluation.

All work and community service must be approved by the Internship Coordinator prior to the start of any assignment

INTERNSHIP PROGRAM RESPONSIBILITIES

Kemmons Wilson School will:

• Discuss all internship opportunities with KWS students and advise them of appropriate options that meet their interests.
• Notify the internship provider of interested students.
• Reinforce the principles of the Internship Agreement with the student.
• KWS faculty or Internship Coordinator will monitor and track an intern’s performance, and make site visits when/where appropriate.
• Discuss any issues that arise during the internship with both the student and the internship provider.

The Internship Provider will:

• Provide an on-site supervisor who will coordinate training and coaching needed by the intern to perform the responsibilities of the internship.
• Provide a safe environment in compliance with all federal, state and local laws and inform KWS of any hazardous or unusual circumstances that may create unsafe working conditions for the intern.
• Contact KWS faculty regarding any issues that arise or are expected to occur during the internship period.
• Pay the intern a competitive hourly wage during the internship period.
• Complete an evaluation of the intern and forward to KWS Internship Coordinator one week prior to the end of the assignment.

The Intern will:

• Perform the designated responsibilities of the internship to the best of their abilities.
• Agree to follow all safety requirements, security guidelines and general employment policies and procedures of the internship provider and of the Kemmons Wilson School.
• Understand the company is under no obligation to continue the internship should any of the items above not be met.
• Understand the company is under no obligation to continue employment following the internship period.

Complete all required reports and documentation of the internship and submit it to KWS for review upon conclusion of the internship period.