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ITS Internship Supervisors

ITS Internship Supervisors

Everything you need to partner with ITS. Learn about requesting an intern in through wrap-up in August.

13
Weeks
May–Aug
Active
Hybrid
Format
~$6,800
Program Cost

Sign up to host an intern Onboarding guide

On This Page

The Internship Cycle
Four phases for supervisors, from November through August.
Ready to Host an Intern?
Requests open every November. Here's what to know before you apply.
The Three Supervision Roles
Supervisor, Coach, and Mentor roles explained.
ITS & Supervisor Responsibilities
ITS and supervisor responsibilities side by side.
ITS & Partner Unit Logistics
Logistics that vary between ITS-hosted and partner-unit interns.
Supervisor Resources
Handbook, assignment sheet, evaluations, and contact information.
Bookmark this page. All your tasks, resources, and key dates live here.
Timeline

The Internship Cycle

Four phases for supervisors, from November through August.

November

Request Intern

  • Submit intern request to ITS
  • Complete supervisor application
  • Define role scope and project goals
February–April

Intern Selection

  • Review ITS shortlist by role
  • Conduct Zoom interviews
  • ITS sends offer letters (April)
  • Attend supervisor orientation
May–July

Active Internship

  • In-person orientation lunch
  • Complete Assignment Sheet (Week 1)
  • Weekly 1:1s + bi-weekly timesheet approvals
  • Mid-point evaluation
August

Wrap-Up

  • Final intern evaluation
  • Intern Showcase Presentations
  • Extension form (optional)
  • Return laptop to ITS
Requesting an Intern

Ready to Host an Intern?

Requests open every November. Here's what to know before you apply.

What We're Looking For
  • Broad technical or non-technical projects
  • A team that can offer mentorship and daily support
  • Work that delivers lasting value to the campus community
Setting Expectations
  • Plan for an enthusiastic undergraduate eager to learn. Skills roughly equivalent to an associate-level candidate (6–12 months of experience). Keep expectations reasonable.

Writing a Strong Job Description

1

Keep it short

Lead with what matters most. Skip the jargon and write for a student reader.
2

Show the outcome

Describe the impact behind tasks, not just the tasks themselves.
3

Cover the essentials

Project summary, deliverables, required skills, tools, and location.
4

You can revise later

Submit what you have. Descriptions can be refined after submission.

Program Cost

~$6,800 to your department

Full cost is ~$13,600 which is split 50/50 between ITS and your department.

Auxiliary or Out of ITS?

Not eligible for program funding and full ~$13,600 applies

Requests open late fall

Submit your department's request through the ITS intern request form.

Roles

The Three Supervisor Roles

Required

Supervisor

  • Regular meetings with intern
  • Bi-weekly timesheet approvals
  • Mid-point and final evaluations
  • Attend orientation and monthly check-ins
Supervisor or Delegate

Coach

  • Day-to-day direction and guidance
  • Maintains assignment sheet
  • Intern's primary point of contact
One person can serve as both Supervisor and Coach
Assigned by ITS

Mentor

  • Career and professional development
  • Separate from your day-to-day relationship
ITS handles mentor pairing. No action required from supervisors.
Responsibilities

ITS & Supervisor Responsibilities

Topics ITS Internship Team Supervisor
Recruitment Recruits and screens applicants; provides shortlisted candidates by job category Submits department intern request (November)
Interviews Coordinates interview logistics, including prepared questions for candidates, and guidelines, and note taking template Reviews candidates and conducts Zoom interviews (February–March)
Offer Letters Sends official offer letters to selected interns (April-May) Attends supervisor orientation (April) and in-person orientation lunch (May)
Orientation Coordinates an orientation for interns on their first day, assigns program mentors Serves as supervisor/coach; holds weekly 1:1s all summer
Supervisor Meetings Hosts recurring supervisor support meetings throughout the summer, typically on Friday mornings Attends supervisor support meetings (1x month minimum), approves intern timesheets
Evaluation Form Sends evaluation forms at the right time Completes the final performance evaluation
Internship Showcase Coordinates an intern showcase, manages extension requests Ensures timely return of intern laptop to ITS Support Services
Partner Units

ITS & Partner Unit Logistics

Most guidelines apply equally to all units, a few logistics vary by host.

ITS-Hosted Interns

  • Laptop provisioned by ITS IT
  • Workspace within ITS facilities
  • Accounts set up by ITS IT
  • Laptop returned to ITS Support Services

Partner Unit Interns

  • Laptop provisioned by partner unit IT
  • Workspace within partner unit facilities
  • Accounts set up by partner unit IT
  • Laptop returned to partner unit IT at wrap-up

Supervisor Resources

Supervisor Handbook

Full guide covering expectations, timelines, and best practices.

Open

Assignment Sheet

Template for documenting intern tasks and weekly goals.

Download

Intern Evaluation Forms

Intern evaluation templates guide, sent by ITS at the right time.

TBD

Contact ITS

Have a question? Reach the ITS Internship team directly.

Email

Frequently Asked Questions

Supervisors are required to attend a virtual orientation session in April with the Internship Planning Team. In May, supervisors must attend an in-person luncheon hosted by the Internship Planning Team at intern orientation. Throughout the summer, supervisors should host regular meetings with interns, approve timesheets on a biweekly basis, and conduct a final performance evaluation. All supervisors must also attend at least one virtual supervisor support session per month, which are hosted weekly throughout May, June, and July by the Internship Planning Team.

Let the Internship Planning Team know if you have a candidate in mind. All candidates are required to submit an application.

All supervisors are required to turn in a copy of the assignment sheet, which can be located in the Supervisor Resources.

Intern rates are based on their academic standing, earning anywhere from $20 to $23 an hour. Interns cannot work more than 40 hours per week and are not eligible for overtime. The cost to host an intern will cover their salary.

Yes, intern appointments can be extended beyond the duration of the program. If extended, their appointment will be transferred to the hosting department and their pay will need to be covered 100% by the hosting department (if not already).

Hiring decisions are at the discretion of the hosting department.

There are several important notes as it relates to time off. (All of this information is reiterated in the Supervisor Handbook.)
  • Holidays: Interns do not work holidays and are not eligible for compensation for them. The University observes two holidays during the summer program: Memorial Day and Independence Day.
  • Vacation time: Vacation time requires prior approval from the supervisor and the Internship Planning Team. Vacation time is unpaid and must be limited to no more than seven (7) days for the duration of the summer.
  • ESTA (Expanded Sick Time Accrual): Student employees at the University of Michigan, including interns, accrue paid sick time under the ESTA policy.

Interns cannot, under any circumstances, work remotely outside the State of Michigan. If an intern needs to leave the state at any point during the program, they will need to pause work and may only resume upon returning to Michigan. This pause requires approval from the supervisor and the Internship Planning Team.

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