Rachaele Andrews

Acuho-I Intern
Summer 2015

HED 690: Internship in Higher Education

Student Personnel Internship Prospectus
STUDENT INFORMATION
Students Name: Rachaele Andrews
Students Address: 2995 Campus Box Elon, NC 27244
Phone (Internship Site): 757-594-7527 Cell: 817-235-0265
E-mail: reandrew@uncg.edu
INTERNSHIP INFORMATION
Internship Site (i.e., Agency, University Office, or department):Christopher Newport University
Internship Supervisors Name: Gwen Gorski
Internship Supervisors Job Title: Area Coordinator, Office of Residence Life
Address: 1 Avenue of the Arts Newport News, VA 23606
Highest Degree Attained: Master of Arts in Student Affairs in Higher Education
Telephone: 757-594-8160
E-Mail: gwen.gorski@cnu.edu
Please provide a description of the following:
1. Description and overview of the internship site
Christopher Newport University, a 260-acre campus, is located in Newport News, Virginia, the geographically fourth
largest city in the state. Newport News was settled in 1621, not long after the Jamestown Colony, and is named after our
own Captain Christopher Newport. CNU became a full university in 1992, after starting out in 1960 as a two-year branch
of the College of William & Mary. Forty-one percent of CNU's 4,800 students are male; 59 percent are female. Students
come to CNU from every region in Virginia, more than 25 other states and several foreign nations. With an average class
size of just 25 students, CNU has much smaller classes than most state universities. More than 90 percent of classes are
seminars, and all classes are taught by professors - not graduate teaching assistants.
Residence Life is dedicated to serving residential students and developing a safe and inclusive living-learning
community that supports the academic mission of the University. CNU Residence Life seeks to enhance the co-curricular
experience and to facilitate the holistic growth of students to prepare them to pursue lives with meaning and purpose and
to become responsible and contributing members of society.
With 5 main campus residence halls, 2 upperclassman apartment complexes, and Greek Housing CNU is rated "best in
the state" by students and have won rave reviews nationwide. Every residential room has high-speed Internet, basic
satellite cable TV, digital local phone service and electronic room access. All rooms are equipped with a microwave and
mini-refrigerator or have kitchen access.

Rachaele Andrews
Acuho-I Intern
Summer 2015

Each main campus residence hall front desk is staffed 24/7 by Front Desk Attendants, Resident Assistants, and Police
Aides. From more traditional rooms to suite style, our freshman and sophomores experience progressive living options
throughout their residential experience on main campus. Our upperclassman areas are comprised of both 11 and a half
and 10 month contracts. These areas remain open for all breaks and create a strong sense of independent living for our
upperclassman students.

2.
a.
b.
c.
d.

Expectations for completing this internship experience.

8-12 Weeks of Internship
Co-Supervision of 24 Summer Resident and Desk Assistants
25 hours per week
Weekly Reflective Journal

3. Job description/responsibilities you will have at this site

Administrative:
Attend and participate in weekly or bi-monthly Residence Life staff meetings.
Meet regularly with direct supervisor.
Assist with reviewing summer staff schedules and leave requests; plan and conduct
weekly staff meetings and on-going training.
Help conduct one-on-one supervisor meetings with summer RA staff. Advising/Development
of Residents:
Assume an active and visible role among the apartment buildings for summer residents
and student staff.
Aid residents in obtaining assistance from other student services if needed.
Assist with communications and publications to residents about Residence Life policies
and regulations.
Operations:
Assist with the organization and audits of Room Condition Forms and all summer
paperwork.
Aid with the opening and closing of East Campus and Rappahannock on June 15th, June
30th, & July 1st
Assist with the system of inspection and the assessment of damages of all student rooms
in the area.
Personnel:
Contribute to the professional and personal development of Residence Life staff.
Serve as a role model to the staff and students.
Work closely with other members of Residence Life, Student Affairs and the Division of
Student Services including participation in office, division and university-wide
committees as appointed.
4. Learning objectives/outcomes for this experience; learning objectives/outcomes should address the
ACPA/NASPA Competencies areas:
Using the ACPA & NASPA competencies I have selected six learning objectives and listed the goal
outcomes below:
Advising & Helping
-Build rapport with colleagues and students
-Actively listen and mentor students
Assessment, Evaluation, and Research
-Understand where the office of residence life stands within the strategic plan of CNU

Rachaele Andrews
Acuho-I Intern
Summer 2015
-Based on that assessment learn and implement the organizational outcomes for the office
throughout the summer
-Help evaluate current needs for the student population
Ethical Professional Practice
-Undergo enough training to handle ethical decision making practice throughout the
internship
-Work with student staff to help them make ethical decisions and when decisions seem
over their head be able to refer them to the best possible professional

History, Philosophy and Values

-Work to understand the value of student placement and housing operations on the
campus of CNU
- Historically learn about residence life on the campus, learning the ins and outs of
multiple residential halls all across the campus
-Explore new approaches and reinvigorate traditions based on the needs of the institution
Leadership
-Focus on team morale and assess the needs of the team on a biweekly basis.
-Lead the staff in developmental programs or workshops that benefit work life balance
and team dynamic
Personal Foundations
- Understand the campus outside of residence life and feel connected with the campus as a
whole
-Shadow or seek opportunities outside of office time to develop a better institutional
understanding
5. How will your learning objectives and/or outcomes be assessed?
Attached you will find an internship learning contract will lists bullet points on specific learning
objectives and how they will be accomplished. These outcomes will be assessed based on overall
completion of the objective.
6. Proof of Professional Liability Insurance (PLI) coverage (submit certificate you received when you signed up for coverage)
Students Signature

Date

Supervisors Signature

Date

Instructors Signature

Date

Rachaele Andrews
Acuho-I Intern
Summer 2015

Internship Learning Contract

Christopher Newport University, Office of Residence Life
1. Hold a 1-on-1 with each CNU Summer Residence Life Student Staff Member at least twice and learn about
them personally & professionally. (Advising and Helping Competency)
Design a 1-on-1 schedule within the first week of working.
Be available to meet outside of official office times.
2. Learn more about CNUs Residential Curriculum and mission, and help with implementing a community
plan. (Assessment, Evaluation, & Research Competency)
Understand the strategic plan and how residence life is implemented.
Learn about outcomes that CNU wants for their students.
Be innovative in designing traditions, themes, and programming that work with the culture of CNU.
3. Gain an understanding of housing operations and student placement. (History, Philosophy, & Values)
Shadow housing operations staff members.
Have hands on experience working with housing operations and administrative tasks that coincide.
4. Peer to Peer Staff Development with live in . (Leadership Competency)
Get to know the staff and what they like to do outside of the office.
Program plan with budgets in mind for the summer.
Plan at least one staff development program.
5. Shadow one student affairs office outside of Residence Life at CNU that does not correlate with any offices
I have worked in before. (Personal Foundations)
Decide on an office outside of student activities, residence life, Greek life, & student conduct to shadow.
Arrange time outside of my designated office times to meet with staff within the office.
Read a recommended reading from the office.

_____________________________

_______________________

Intern Signature

Date

______________________________

________________________

Site Supervisor Signature

Date

Rachaele Andrews
Acuho-I Intern
Summer 2015