
Employers participating in internship programs have access to short-term workers and also have the opportunity, through this working relationship, to shape the professionalization of students in ways that support industry needs. Furthermore, serving as internship sites offers employers access to emergent knowledge, training, innovation, and design practices developed in a collegiate setting.
Interns are not free labor but instead are emergent professionals who already have foundational knowledge and skills in their respective fields. Potential internship site employers are encouraged to view college students as short-term employees and provide compensation accordingly, when possible.