Request & Registration Process

Steps to Request Internship Approval and Registration

The Experiences section in Handshake is the official system that most departments at Millersville University use to process internship requests for academic credit. Through this system, the Career Center guides students through the required approval and registration steps so academic departments can review the internship and determine whether it meets the criteria for academic credit.

REQUIRED STEPS IN HANDSHAKE 

If you have been hired for an internship and completing it for academic-credit, you must complete both of the following steps in Handshake:

Step1:   Internship Approval Request - your Internship Coordinator will confirm your academic eligibility.

Step 2:  Registration of Internship - After approved by the academic department, this step ensures the internship appears on your MarAUDIT.

HOW TO ACCESS AND SUBMIT THESE STEPS FROM HANDSHAKE

1. Login to Handshake with your Millersville credentials

2. Click Career Center in the left navigation menu, then select Experiences.

2.  Select Submit an Experience, located in the upper-left corner of the page, or click the blue Submit an Experience button.

3.  Choose your Experience Details by selecting the Experience Type and Term from the dropdown menu. Both of these fields are required.  

 STEP 1:  INTERNSHIP APPROVAL REQUEST

In this step, you are asking your academic department to confirm that you are eligible to move forward with a cedit-bearing internship.  Before completing this step, please speak with your Department Internship Coordinator to understand how internship credits will be applied to your degree requirements.

To begin, select Step 1:  Internship Approval Request from the dropdown menu in Handshake Experience.  Complete all required fields.

  • If you have not yet secured an internship, enter "TBD" for Employer and Job Title.
  • If a question does not apply to you, enter "N/A".

As part of your Step 1, you will be asked to copy a link in a new browser to sign-up for an "Internship Essentials Session".  

You will also need to review the Policies and Procedures for Millersville University's For-Credit Internship Program.

When prompted, list your Department Internship Coordinator as the approver.  Your request will be sent to them for review.  Once approved, you may continue with your internship search or move forward with the reporting and registration process.

INFORMATION FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS (F-1 OR J-1 Visa)

Are you attending Millersville University as an international student and planning to complete an internship for academic credit?  If so, there are additional steps you must complete to remain in compliance with federal visa regulations.

Step1:   Internship Approval Request - your internship coordinator will confirm your academic eligibility.

After you submit Step 1 in Handshake, you will receive an email from The Career Center asking you to complete the form titled:  "Details of Internship - Students on a F-1 or J-1 Visa".  This form must be completed before you internship can be fully approved to move onto the next step.

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) Requirement

Before submitting Step 2:  Registration of Internship in Handshake,  you must contact International Programs and Services (IPS) regarding Curricular Practical Training authorization.

To receive CPT approval, IPS will require:

  • An official offer letter from your internship employer/host site
  • Completion of Step 1 and Details of Internship forms in Handshake
  • Submission of the CPT request form (provided by IPS)

After you receive notice to move forward from IPS, please complete Step 2:  FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS ONLY:  Step 2 Registration of Internship.

Step 2:  Registration of Internship - After your Step 1 is approved, this step is how your internship is reflected on your MarAUDIT.

Please log into Handshake and submit Step 2: Registration of Internship. This step is required for your internship to appear on your MarAUDIT. You will need to provide your start and end dates, your employer supervisor’s information, your job title, and a detailed job description (4–6 specific tasks) that aligns with your degree program.

NOTE:  Your internship hours must be completed within the semester your internship is registrered.  Internship credits will not be awarded retroactively.

 Internship Affiliation Agreement

A fully executed Internship Affiliation Agreement must be in place before your internship can be registered and before your hours begin. This agreement outlines the responsibilities of both Millersville University and your internship host site.  This agreement is inititated by The Career Center once they receive your Step 2 in Handshake.  

If your employer requests changes to the standard agreement or if a different individual needs to sign it, they should contact:

Patty Taggart, Assistant Director of Experiential Learning patricia.taggart@millersville.edu 717‑871‑7658

HOW TO CONDUCT YOUR INTERNSHIP SEARCH 

Use the targeted search tools in Handshake or Careershift by logging in with your Millersville credentials to search for internships.  Use our Resume Writing Guide to create or update your résumé. You may also use the Searching for Internships webpage for links to external job boards or schedule an Internship Seeking appointment with a staff member. Submit applications and employers will contact you directly to schedule an interview.  Employers may conduct in-person, phone, or virtual interviews. 

If you have already found and accepted an internship on your own, the organization must be an established, legitimate business or non‐profit organization, as evidenced by having a physical location, website, and a listed telephone number.  Internships may not be in an in-home business unless approved by the Department Internship Coordinator. 

Once you have secured an internship and have all the pertinent internship information (employer name, address, phone number, website URL, supervisor name, email address, phone number, start and end dates, internship title, job description which includes specific tasks you will be completing aligned to your major/minor, hours/week and pay rate) please complete Step 2: Report/Registration of Internship.
Internship for academic-credit require students to pay tuition as they would for any other credit-bearing course. 

NOTE: If you previously completed a credit-bearing internship and you want to receive credit for a second internship, you must complete Step 2:  Registration of Internship in Handshake.  If your internship is at the same organization, your job description will need to reflect an increase in responsibilities or different responsibilities.