Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Is this a paid internship?
  2. When do you begin accepting resumes for upcoming internship opportunities?
  3. How many interns are accepted into the program each quarter?
  4. How many hours am I required to intern each week?
  5. What are the hours of operation for the department and do they vary throughout the year?
  6. If I am offered a 2 unit internship, how can I arrange my schedule?
  7. What is the procedure if I cannot make it to the internship one day?
  8. How will my BIO 441 (internship) course grade be determined?
  9. When can I make up time missed from the internship?
  10. If chosen to participate as an intern, what is the dress code for the program?
1. Is this a paid internship?
No, this internship is only for course credit.

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2. When do you begin accepting resumes for upcoming internship opportunities?
Resumes are accepted during week 6 of the quarter prior to the student applicant’s interest in interning. For example, if a student is interested in a spring internship, please email the Internship Coordinator, Michael DeSalvio (mjdesalvio@cpp.edu) during week 6 of the winter quarter with the following in PDF format: current resume, application, cover letter, and unofficial transcript. At that time or soon thereafter, the Environmental Health & Safety department will determine if internship vacancies exist. The Internship Coordinator will respond accordingly.

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3. How many interns are accepted into the program each quarter?
It varies. Not everyone who submits a resume will be invited for a panel interview or accepted into the program. The number of interns accepted into the program in any given quarter is determined by how many projects are available from the EH&S department.

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4. How many hours am I required to intern each week?
It depends.  If an intern accepts a 4 unit internship, they are required to complete 40 hours a week. If an intern accepts a 2 unit internship, they are required to complete 20 hours a week.

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5. What are the hours of operation for the department and do they vary throughout the year?
Normal business hours during the academic year are Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm. During the summer, the campus converts to a 4/10 work week and the hours of operation are Monday through Thursday, 7am-6pm. Please note, if a student applicant accepts a 4 unit internship, the intern will be required to intern the hours stated above, no exceptions.

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6. If I am offered a 2 unit internship, how can I arrange my schedule?

Our department is flexible as long as the hourly requirement is met each week. The Internship Coordinator works with the intern to accommodate the intern’s schedule based on availability.

Please note, the schedule will be agreed upon prior to the internship start date. Schedules can be revised up to one week after the quarter begins. Schedules will be finalized at the beginning of week two and should remain consistent for the remainder of the internship. Any schedule revisions requested after that date, must be discussed with the Internship Coordinator and will be contingent upon department needs.

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7. What is the procedure if I cannot make it to the internship one day?
Attendance and punctuality are important and are evaluated on the course performance review.    However, if the intern is sick or out for personal reasons, the intern should notify his/her the Internship Coordinator as soon as possible via phone and/or email.

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8. How will my BIO 441 (internship) course grade be determined?
The course grade is ultimately assigned by the Internship Coordinator and is based, in part, on factors like punctuality, professionalism, the intern’s performance throughout the quarter and the completion of the internship project.

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9. When can I make up time missed from the internship?
The time missed from the internship must be made up. The intern will speak to the Internship Coordinator to arrange the appropriate date(s) and time(s). Typically, finals week is designated as the time to make-up internship hours. However, in some circumstances we can arrange for the hours to be made up during the quarter. 

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10. If chosen to participate as an intern, what is the dress code for the program?
Although there is not a formal dress code, Cal Poly Pomona staff maintains a business casual appearance. It is highly recommended for interns to dress for success and model the business casual appearance.  Please avoid T-shirts, tennis shoes, shorts, torn jeans, flip flops, or clothes that show exposure of midriff or back, and baseball caps

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