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UVM Plant and Soil Science Internship Program


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UVM Plant and Soil Science Internship Program Back to top of page

Why do an Internship?

  • Hands-on Learning—Take what you’ve learned in the classroom and test it in the real world.
  • Self-Directed Learning—In collaboration with your host and advisor, you decide what to learn, how to learn it, and how you’ll demonstrate your learning.
  • Be Part of the Solution—Help farmers discover ways to make the food or ornamental horticulture system more environmentally sound, economically viable, and socially just.
  • Earn Money and Credit—Internship hosts may pay a wage or stipend or offer free room and board.

Applying for an Internship

  1. Confirm with your advisor that doing an internship for credit earned in the fall or spring will fit into your course plan and/or major.
  2. Complete an application--the "Student Request for a Plant and Soil Science Internship."
  3. Read and sign the "UVM Plant and Soil Science Intern Memorandum of Understanding," which outlines the minimum requirements of being an intern.
  4. Have an interview with the internship program coordinator.

Student Role and Responsibilities

Students are responsible for working with the internship program coordinator to identify suitable internship hosts, interviewing with and choosing a host, selecting an internship advisor (who may be different from their regular academic advisor), developing a learning contract with their internship host and internship advisor, and completing the internship.  Once a student begins an internship, he/she may not drop the internship for credit after 15 calendar days. Internships are self-directed, meaning that interns take responsibility for their own learning by asking questions, getting help and guidance when needed, and monitoring their progress on goals and deadlines. The quality of each internship is determined by the amount of time, creativity, and energy interns invest in their experience. Examples of Internship Positions/Projects
  • Growing vegetables organically.
  • Exploring integrated pest management for an apple orchard.
  • Intercropping to enhance soil health and reduce weed and pest problems.
  • Designing rotations for a dairy farmer who uses intensive pasture management.
  • Designing and building a farm stand or hoop house.
  • Developing a composting system.

Credits and Products
Students may earn 3 to 6 credits in the summer, fall or spring sessions based on the scope of their internships.  Credits are earned through Plant and Soil Science 197/198. Interns work with their host and academic advisor to complete a "Learning Contract," which outlines the interns’ goals, products, resources and deadlines. Credit may be earned both for hands-on work and for an academic project. The optional academic project is designed to embrace the interests of the intern and to address a question, concern or need of the host.

While presentations and papers are the most common ways to demonstrate learning, interns are encouraged to determine how they can best and most creatively demonstrate their learning (with the help of their host or faculty advisor, and/or the internship coordinator), like publishing an article in a journal or newsletter, producing a video, or developing a tool for use by farmers. Following are general requirements of all interns regardless of the number of credits earned.
  1. Pre-Internship Meeting—one-one-one with the host, faculty advisor, and internship coordinator to review internship projects, goals, products, conduct, and responsibilities as a UVM intern.
  2. Journal--for academic reflection and keeping a log of what you have done. About 1-2 pages per week on your learning, a log of  your project work, how your academic knowledge is being applied, questions you've had about sustainability, and thoughts about educational or career goals.
  3.  Mid-Internship Meeting— A one-hour meeting with your host, faculty advisor, and the internship coordinator to review the status of the internship and do any needed problem-solving.
  4. Make a Final Presentation (or other means of public education)--on campus within a month of completing the internship, the length of which is determined by the number of credits earned.
  5. Submit a Final Paper or Product to your host and academic advisor within a month of completing the internship, the length of which is determined by the number of credits earned.

Credits
Earned

On-Site
Minimum
Total Hrs

Approx.
On-Site
Hrs/Week
(For 13 Weeks)


 

Products*

1

50

4

 5-8 page paper, 10-minute presentation

2

100

8

 

3

150

12

 8-12 page paper, 15-minute presentation

4

200

15

 13-18 page paper, 20-minute presentation

5

250

20

 

6

300

23

 19-25 page paper, 25-minute presentation
*The above product lengths are approximate and may be increased or decreased depending on the type of product.  For example, a report that will be published in a newsletter may be shorter but require more thorough citations than a typical college paper.

Grading Guidelines

The general guide for establishing grades is:
  ●  journal 15%
  ●  evaluation by host 30%
  ●  final product/paper 30%
  ●  presentation or other form of public education 25%
   

Approximate Deadlines by Semester of Internship

Activity Spring Interns Summer Interns Fall Interns
Student Applications October 15 February 5 September 10
Student Interviews  October 22 February 12 September 13
Student Letters, Resumes to Hosts November 5 February 19 September 15
Student-Host Interviews November 22 March 5 September 20
Internship Placements November 30 March 12 September 25
Learning Contracts December 15 April 15 October 1
Internships Start January 15 May 15 October 1
Drop Deadline February 1 June 1 October 15
Internships End May 1 August 20 December 18
Products Due May 15 September 30 TBD

 

Direct all Questions and Comments to Internship Program Coordinators:

Yolanda Chen 656-2627 Yolanda.Chen@uvm.edu
Mark Starrett 656-0467 Mark.Starrett@uvm.edu

Click here for an application form
 

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Last modified August 28 2009 10:44 AM

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