Mast Academy
Summer Internship - General Information
CREDITS * ATTENDANCE * GRADES * ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
• To receive full credit for the MAST Summer Internship Program course, students must spend the required hours at their internship site and must complete all required assignments. Students must complete a minimum of 175 hours by the end of the program.
• The internship student confers with his/her mentor to establish a convenient time schedule. Mentors and students are asked to be flexible. As situations change, schedules may need to be adjusted. The schedule must indicate the days of the week and the hours that the student will be at their internship site. All Internship students must submit their Time Schedule of Proposed Internship Activities to the MAST Academy Internship Coordinator on or before the deadline stated in the Program Calendar. Students are expected to adhere to the schedule that they have developed throughout the summer. If it becomes necessary to change the scheduled days or hours because of the student’s or the mentor’s schedule, the student must submit a revised schedule to the MAST Academy Summer Internship Instructor.
• Students may not remain at their internship site after sundown unless they have express permission from their mentor and parent/guardian. Students usually complete their hours during weekdays.
• Regular attendance and punctuality are critical. Students should not miss scheduled days at their internship site, and should always arrive on time. If a scheduled day must be missed due to a Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) excused absence*, the student must inform the mentor and mutually determine an appropriate time to make up the missed hours. For example, making up missed hours may be done by students attending their internship on any day not regularly scheduled as an internship day or by staying longer on days that are regularly scheduled. All make-up hours must be scheduled with the approval of the mentor. The student must notify the mentor prior to any absence or late arrival to their internship site. Failure to do so will affect the student’s grade.
• Students are not required to attend their scheduled internship day if it falls on a holiday. However, the student may attend his/her placement on that day if prior arrangements have been made with the mentor.
• During an extended illness or absence, the student and mentor may make alternative arrangements. Students must notify program advisors of any changes in their schedule and/or outline of proposed internship activities.
• For the student, experience, knowledge and course credit are benefits of the MAST Summer Internship Program. Monetary compensation is allowed, but should not be expected. Time spent at the internship site may not be counted as volunteer or community service hours, unless special arrangements are made to acquire those hours after the internship requirement is fulfilled.
*M-DCPS excused absences: Student illness, death in the family, observance of religious holiday, school-sponsored event with prior approval by mentor.
• Successful completion of all requirements on or before deadlines is imperative. Requirement deadlines are listed in the Program Calendar.
• A final internship grade is based on a combination of the student’s performance at their placement site and completion of required assignments. Fifty percent of the grade is determined by the mentor and is based on criteria such as student attendance, interest level, motivation, reliability, thoroughness, and progress made towards the development of projects. The remaining fifty percent is determined by the MAST Academy Summer Internship Instructor and is based on in-class and on-site assignments.
• Twice during the summer, mentors will submit a Grade Report to the MAST Academy Summer Internship Instructor. A sample grade report is included in this handbook. Mentors are asked to indicate the student’s grade, effort and conduct, based on the criteria listed on the Grade Report. Information about the Miami-Dade County Public Schools grading criteria is provided below. Please return the completed Grade Report to the MAST Academy Summer Internship Instructor by the deadline indicated on the form.
• If a student is not fulfilling his/her responsibilities or is not attending regularly, please notify the MAST Academy Summer Internship Instructor at once so that the situation can be rectified. It is vital that the Internship Instructor be advised of any breach of student responsibility. Miami-Dade County Public Schools is required to inform parents/guardians at any time that a student’s grade falls below acceptable. Therefore, if a student is in danger of receiving a failing grade (a grade of “D” or “F”), it is imperative to notify the MAST Academy Summer Internship Instructor IMMEDIATELY so the parent/guardian of the student can be contacted. Please contact Jennifer Fernandez at jenniferfernandez@dadeschools.net
• The following information may be useful in relating to the M-DCPS reporting criteria:
ACADEMIC GRADE: This grade reflects the student’s performance at the internship site. Does he/she complete required tasks? What is the quality of the work produced? Use a letter grade from “A” to “F”
(A = Excellent, B = Good, C = Satisfactory, D = Needs improvement, F = Unsatisfactory).
EFFORT GRADE: This grade reflects the student’s effort corresponding to the student’s potential. Does he/she appear to be working to the best of his/her ability? Number ”1” indicates that the student is working up to potential; “2” indicates that the student is making an effort but could do more; “3” indicates that the student is making virtually no effort.
CONDUCT GRADE: This grade reflects the student’s behavior at the internship site. Does the student’s manner reflect the accepted standard at your site? Use a letter grade from “A” to “F”
(A = Excellent, B = Good, C = Satisfactory, D = Needs improvement, F = Unsatisfactory).
INTERIM PROGRESS REPORTS: Due to the academic structure of the MAST Academy Summer Internship Program, interim progress reports will not be given.
• Students should give their mentor the names and telephone numbers of their parent(s)/guardian(s) in case of emergency. Parent/guardian home, work and cellular phone numbers should be provided.
• Students are to ensure that the mentor or designated person at the placement site knows where they are during their attendance each day at the internship.
• Students should ask their mentor whether there are any clothing requirements and/or limitations. At many placement sites, it is important to wear appropriate and/or specific clothing.
• Students should refer to their Program Calendar often. Additional instructions and information are found there. Students are responsible for all information in this handbook and on the Program Calendar, as well as any information found in any other document sent or given to them regarding the MAST Academy Summer Internship Program. Students are also responsible for any information given to them by their mentor, and for following internship site regulations.
• To receive credit for the internship course, in addition to satisfying the required hours, students must complete all assignments relating to the program. Refer to the Internship Program Requirements/Assignments for further details.