Internship Program Guide for Building Science Students REVISED AUGUST 2018
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Appalachian State University
Department of Sustainable Technology and the Built Environment
Course(s) TEC 4900 / 4901
Internship
Coordinator D Jason Miller, AIA
Office KHH 166
Phone 828 262 3038
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
INTERNSHIP GUIDE
Internship Program Guide for Building Science Students REVISED AUGUST 2018
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00
TABLE OF CONTENTS
01 Program Information for Students page 03
01 Purpose and Objectives 03
02 Academic Credit and Assessment 03
03 Internship Compensation 03
04 Internship Enrollment 03
05 Internship Enrollment Process 04
06 Internship Enrollment Schedule 06
07 Internship Insurance 06
08 Internship Policies 06
02 Program Information for Employers page 07
01 Purpose and Objectives 07
02 Internship Duration 07
03 Internship Compensation 07
04 Intern / Employer Relationship 07
05 Internship Contract 08
06 Internship Evaluation 08
07 Internship Visitation 08
03 Course Components for Students page 09
01 TEC 4900 Internship 10
02 TEC 4901 Internship Portfolio 11
03 Sample Schedule of Deliverables 13
Internship Program Guide for Building Science Students REVISED AUGUST 2018
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01
PROGRAM INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS
01.01
Purpose and Objectives
The purpose of an undergraduate internship is to provide practical experience applying the theory and content of relevant coursework from
the program of study in a professional setting.
The learning objectives for students in the internship include:
TEC 4900 Internship
1. To apply relevant and practical educational experience in a professional setting
2. To develop professional qualifications
3. To evaluate the professional responsibilities and requirements in the field or discipline
4. To integrate reviews of professional performance into advanced academic work
TEC 4901 Internship Portfolio
1. To analyze relevant and practical educational experience in a professional setting
2. To collect professional certifications in construction safety
3. To evaluate the internship experience via written work logs, weekly summaries, and a final report
4. To assemble a portfolio that documents the internship experience
01.02
Academic Credit and Assessment
In the Building Science program, students receive six (6) total credit hours for a professional internship. TEC 4900 Internship (3 sh) and
TEC 4901 Internship Portfolio (3 sh) are corequisite courses administered by a member of the Building Science faculty.
TEC 4900 Internship is evaluated on a S / U (Satisfactory / Unsatisfactory) scale based on the quality of the field experience. TEC 4901
Internship Portfolio is evaluated on an A F scale based on the documentation of the field experience. Refer to course syllabi for
information on course components evaluated.
To receive academic credit, students enrolled in TEC 4900 Internship and TEC 4901 Internship Portfolio must work a minimum of forty (40)
hours in a professional position for every one (1) semester hour of internship credit (240 hours total). Internships must be completed and
documentation submitted prior to the last day of the academic semester.
01.03
Internship Compensation
Students are required to pay tuition for six (6) total credit hours to enroll in the internship courses. While no monetary value may be placed
on the educational value of a professional experience with an employer, many interns are compensated during their internship. Salary
negotiations and structures are a personal matter between the student intern and the internship employer.
01.04
Internship Enrollment
In the Building Science program, students are responsible for securing a professional internship position with an employer in a field related
to the program of study. Internship resources are available at https://internships.appstate.edu/
and on the Building Science Student
Resources ASULearn site.
Internship placements that are unrelated to the program of study, that include family member supervisors, or that are completed from home
are not permitted for this capstone experience. The Building Science Internship Coordinator must approve and prepare the Contract for the
internship placement. An internship position may not begin until the enrollment process through the University is complete. Refer to section
01.05 Internship Enrollment Process of this document to review the steps required for enrolling in an internship.
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01.05
Internship Enrollment Process
The requirements listed below outline a step-by-step process for successfully securing, applying, and enrolling in the internship
experience. Students are strongly encouraged to begin the process for securing an internship at the start of the academic semester prior to
the intended internship semester (ie, a summer internship should be identified in the previous spring semester).
01.05.01
Review the Internship Requirements
Internships for students concentrating in Architectural Technology and Design (577B) must include design-related activities,
such as site assessments, precedent analysis, feasibility studies, programming and planning, architectural design, construction
documentation, specifications, building performance models, and field observation.
Internships for students concentrating in Construction Management (577C) must include management-related activities, such
as estimating, planning and scheduling, code review and inspections, subcontractor coordination, construction administration,
building performance reviews, and safety supervision.
Internships for students concentrating in Sustainable Building Systems (577D) must include design- and engineering-related
activities, such as system design and specifications, energy models and analysis, subcontractor consultation and coordination,
and building performance assessments.
Students pursuing a dual concentration in the Building Sciences degrees program are not required to complete two internships.
The student may select either concentration area for the internship experience.
Manual labor such as carpentry, site clean-up, or other physical construction activities shall not count toward the required
internship hours.
01.05.02
Complete the Internship Search
Canvas and identify potential internship opportunities with employers in a field related to the program of study. Refer to section
01.04 Internship Enrollment for resources available to assist the search process.
01.05.03
Confirm the Internship Credit
Students seeking internships outside the State of North Carolina need to contact the Internship Coordinator. Internships are not
allowed in certain states, due to inter-state agreements regarding the granting of academic credit.
International internships must be certified by the Office of International Education and Development
(OIED) at Appalachian State
University.
01.05.04
Complete the Internship Form
Upon confirmation of a professional internship position with an employer meeting the criteria outlined in section 01.05.01 above,
submit the Building Science Internship Form
. The information requested on this form is required to prepare the Internship
Contract.
The Internship Contract will not be prepared until the Internship Form is received, reviewed, and approved by the Internship
Coordinator. Allow one (1) week for Internship Form review and processing.
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01.05.05
Prepare the Internship Proposal
Compose a formal written proposal for the professional internship experience. The Internship Proposal should be two (2) double-
spaced pages (500 words maximum) long and contain the following information:
Description of employer (ie, company or firm type, size, and scope of services)
Location and setting of the internship
Anticipated duration of the internship (ie, 6 weeks at 40 hours/week)
Overview of roles and responsibilities during the internship as negotiated with the employer
List of professional learning objectives and outcomes desired from the internship
Review the Internship Proposal with the employer to ensure a complete understanding of expectations for the internship. In
addition, proofread the document carefully to ensure that it meets the standards of an academic writing assignment (ie, complete
sentences, appropriate use of grammar, and correct spelling).
01.05.06
Submit the Internship Proposal
Once agreement between intern and employer has been reached, submit the Internship Proposal to the Internship Coordinator
via @appstate.edu email address.
The email must follow business email
format and include the following title in the subject line:
YOURLASTNAME Internship Proposal
The submitted Internship Proposal must be a PDF file and named following the file naming convention provided:
YOURLASTNAMEyourfirstname_InternshipProposal_YYMMDD.pdf
The Internship Contract will not be prepared until the Internship Proposal is received, reviewed, and approved by the Internship
Coordinator. Allow one (1) week for Internship Proposal review and processing.
01.05.07
Review the Internship Contract
Upon preparation and submission by the Internship Coordinator, the University Internship Contract will be sent to the student by
email. Review the contents of this document carefully. An Internship Contract requires both student and employer signatures.
Send the completed Internship Contract form with certified electronic signatures or scanned written signatures to the Building
Science Internship Coordinator via @appstate.edu email address.
The email must follow business email
format and include the following title in the subject line:
YOURLASTNAME Internship Contract
The submitted Internship Contract must be a PDF file and named following the file naming convention provided:
YOURLASTNAMEyourfirstname_InternshipContract_YYMMDD.pdf
The Internship Contract will not be completed until all enrollment application materials are received, reviewed, and approved by
the Internship Coordinator. Allow two (2) weeks for Internship Contract review and processing.
01.05.08
Save the Internship Contract
Upon completion of the Internship Enrollment Process, save a copy of the completed Internship Proposal and forms to include in
the Internship Portfolio.
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01.06
Internship Enrollment Schedule
The table below outlines the schedule of deadlines associated with enrolling in a full-time 2019 SUMMER internship. Students should use
this table to manage their SPRING semester enrollment workflow in consultation with the Internship Coordinator.
Dates listed in bold text are non-negotiable deadlines set by the University and the Building Science program for enrolling in a SUMMER
internship. Students failing to meet these deadlines risk forfeiting academic credit for the internship obtained.
Month
Week
Date
Step ID
Jan
01
02
01/21
01.05.01
03
Feb
04
05
06
07
Mar
08
09
10
03/18
01.05.02
11
01.05.03
Apr
12
01.05.04
13
01.05.05
14
04/15
01.05.06
15
May
16
05/13
01.05.07
05/27
01.05.08
05/29
01.07
Internship Insurance
Appalachian State University participates in a student insurance program with other constituent institutions of the University of North
Carolina system. Appalachian requires professional liability insurance coverage for all students enrolled in internship, field experience, and
practicum courses. These liability insurance costs are negligible approximately $10-20 per semester and are added to the student
account when the Internship Enrollment Process is complete.
For more information, visit https://internships.appstate.edu/insurance
.
01.08
Internship Policies
Building Science students enrolled in a professional internship are ambassadors of the program, the Department of Sustainable
Technology and the Built Environment, and Appalachian State University. Personal and professional responsibility are qualities of utmost
importance. The internship affords a unique educational opportunity to gain professional experience through academic engagement.
Students enrolled in an internship must respect both the requirements of their professional workplace and the policies of the University.
Please review important University statements regarding topics of Academic Integrity, Disability Services, Attendance Policy (including
religious observances), and Student Engagement with Courses.
For more information, visit: https://academicaffairs.appstate.edu/resources/syllabi-policy-and-statement-information
.
It is the responsibility of each student to access or acquire the resources necessary to complete work associated with the course content
and objectives of the internship experience.
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02
PROGRAM INFORMATION FOR EMPLOYERS
02.01
Purpose and Objectives
The purpose of an undergraduate internship is to provide practical experience applying the theory and content of relevant coursework from
the program of study in a professional setting.
We, the Building Science Faculty, thank you for considering to hire an intern from the Building Science program at Appalachian State
University. The Internship Program provides qualified students with invaluable professional experience in their chosen field of the building
industry.
In addition, the internship fulfills the University General Education (GEN ED) Capstone (CAP) course requirement for the BS in Building
Sciences degree. Within this degree, concentration areas are offered in Architectural Technology and Design, Construction Management,
and Sustainable Building Systems.
In the Building Science program, students receive six (6) total credit hours for a professional internship. TEC 4900 Internship (3 sh) and
TEC 4900 Internship Portfolio (3 sh) are corequisite courses administered by a member of the Building Science faculty.
The professional objectives of the internship include:
1. To present the intern with a practical and relevant professional experience
2. To provide the building industry with qualified, experienced graduates
3. To expose the intern to the academic, personal, and professional requirements of his / her chosen field
4. To offer the intern opportunities for professional networking relative to employment
02.02
Internship Duration
To receive academic credit, students enrolled in TEC 4900 Internship and TEC 4901 Internship Portfolio must work a minimum of forty (40)
hours in a professional position for every one (1) semester hour of internship credit (240 hours total). A typical internship period lasts six
to eight weeks.
Students who participate in the Internship Program are under no obligation to accept permanent employment with the sponsoring agency,
nor is the sponsoring agency obligated to offer full-time employment to the intern beyond the internship period.
02.03
Internship Compensation
Students are required to pay tuition for six (6) total credit hours to enroll in the internship courses. In addition, students are required to
enroll in and complete a certified OSHA 30 hour Construction Safety course during their internship.
While no monetary value may be placed on the educational value of a professional experience with an employer, many interns are
compensated during their internship. Salary negotiations and structures are a personal matter between the student intern and the
internship employer. The Building Science Faculty appreciate and expect your consideration with respect to compensation for intern
employees.
02.04
Intern / Employer Relationship
Without exception, the student intern is considered to be an employee and should be held responsible for performing his / her assigned
responsibilities in a timely, satisfactory, and professional manner. All company regulations, conditions for health and safety, and legal
requirements apply to the student intern. Any violations of company policy by the student should be handled in the usual manner of the
company. Accordingly, remuneration should be comparable to other employees of similar experience and seniority.
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During the internship experience, the intern retains standing classified as a student of Appalachian State University and is subject to all
applicable University regulations and policies. As a result, there exists a student-teacher relationship with the University and an employee-
employer relationship with the agency, company, or firm.
The greater the variety of work experiences afforded the intern, the greater the opportunity for applied and engaged learning. Scheduled
job rotations and involvement in special projects are a means to expose the intern to various experiences during a limited employment
window. An intern may gain much by conferring with persons responsible for some of the major functions of the company, thus increasing
their understanding of the “bigger picture” in their desired field.
02.05
Internship Contract
In order to enroll in the Internship Program, students must complete a University Internship Contract. This document requires signatures
from both the student and the employer before it may be processed by the Internship Coordinator. Prior to signing the Internship Contract,
the student shall review with the employer their understanding of roles and responsibilities to confirm that the internship experience aligns
with internship objectives.
The Building Science Internship Coordinator must approve and prepare the Contract for the internship placement. An internship position
may not begin until the enrollment process through the University is complete. Refer to section 01.05 Internship Enrollment Process of
this document to review the steps required for enrolling in an internship. Allow two (2) weeks for Internship Contract review and processing.
02.06
Internship Evaluation
Performance reviews and evaluations of interns by professionals in the field are critically important to the relevance and progress of the
Building Science program. The Building Science Faculty request that the employer / intern supervisor complete two (2) evaluations
assessing intern performance. These evaluations should be submitted at (1) the midterm and (2) the conclusion of the student’s internship
experience.
02.07
Internship Visitation
Whenever possible, the Building Science faculty member supervising the internship shall visit at the employer’s convenience the
internship work site. When site visits are not possible, a conference call between the intern, employer, and faculty supervisor will be
convened. The student intern is responsible for scheduling and managing this site visit or conference call.
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03
COURSE COMPONENTS FOR STUDENTS
03.01
TEC 4900 Internship
The components listed below outline the content, organization, and formatting requirements to complete the Internship. Graded S / U.
03.01.00
Internship Requirements
The Internship is a professional experience providing professional evaluation of both the student intern and the Building Science
program. Professional conduct and periodic communication with your faculty supervisor by all parties involved is expected.
Students enrolled in the Internship Program shall treat the internship experience as professional employment. Employers shall
treat the intern as an employee.
03.01.01
Internship Evaluations
Evaluations are employer-provided performance reviews of the intern completed during the internship experience. The
performance reviews are recorded on an evaluation form and discussed in a meeting with supervisors. Evaluation forms are
available for download on the course ASULearn
site. The intern is responsible for scheduling these reviews.
The submitted Internship Evaluation(s) must be a PDF file and named following the file naming convention provided:
YOURLASTNAMEyourfirstname_InternshipEvaluation_YYMMDD.pdf
To preserve authentication of the Internship Evaluations, the Building Science Faculty request that employers provide the intern’s
faculty supervisor (ie, n[email protected]
) a signed electronic copy of each evaluation form via email. The intern is responsible
for ensuring this procedure occurs in a timely and professional manner.
Submit the Internship Evaluation to ASULearn as specified by your faculty supervisor and save the PDF files for inclusion in the
packaged Internship Portfolio.
03.01.02
Internship Conference
Conferences are scheduled calls or site visits between the intern, the employer / supervisor(s), and the faculty supervisor of the
internship course. The intern is responsible for scheduling and managing arrangements for this meeting. The Internship
Conference should occur between the midterm and final intern evaluations / performance reviews by the employer. Refer to
section 02.07 Internship Visitation for additional information.
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03.02
TEC 4901 Internship Portfolio
The components listed below outline the content, organization, and formatting requirements to prepare the Internship Portfolio.
03.02.00
Internship Portfolio Requirements
The Internship Portfolio is a professional package of all relevant documentation and work associated with the internship
experience. The final electronic document shall be well-formatted, well-written, and well-presented. Organize the Internship
Portfolio according to the outline below to include (component point / percentage values in parentheses):
Cover Page
Table of Contents
Internship Proposal (05%)
Daily Log (10%)
Weekly Review (30%)
Final Report (20%)
Thank You Letter (05%)
Safety Certification (10%)
Work Samples (20%)
Evaluation Forms (TEC 4900 course component)
The submitted Internship Portfolio must be a combined PDF file and named following the file naming convention provided:
YOURLASTNAMEyourfirstname_InternshipPortfolio_YYMMDD.pdf
Proofread the entire document carefully to ensure that it meets the standards of an academic writing assignment (ie, complete
sentences, appropriate use of grammar, and correct spelling). Submit the Internship Portfolio to ASULearn as specified by your
faculty supervisor and in accordance with the Internship Contract.
03.02.01
Internship Proposal
The Internship Proposal includes all documents recording the process to secure a position related to the program of study. Refer
to section 01.05 Internship Enrollment Process of this document for more detailed information.
03.02.02
Daily Log
Daily Logs are concise records of each work day during the internship experience, including the number of hours worked and the
professional activities completed. Maintain the work log each day to record and reflect upon the learning experience. Identify
problems, solutions, and opportunities. Use the Daily Logs as the “research”’ for the Weekly Review and save them as a PDF file
for inclusion in the packaged Internship Portfolio
03.02.03
Weekly Review
Weekly Reviews are complete summaries of each work week, including relevant images and responses to prompts provided in
this document. At the end of each internship week, submit a Weekly Review to the course ASULearn site by 08:00 AM on
Mondayunless specified otherwise by your faculty supervisor of the following internship week. Organize the Weekly Review
according to the outline below to include:
YOURLASTNAME, YourFirstName
Employer
City, STATE
Hours Worked to Date (ie, 40 / 240 40 hours completed of 240 hours required)
Content of Weekly Review
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The submitted Weekly Review must be provided as a PDF file and named following the file naming convention provided:
YOURLASTNAMEyourfirstname_WeeklyReview_##.pdf
Proofread the entire document carefully to ensure that it meets the standards of an academic writing assignment (ie, complete
sentences, appropriate use of grammar, and correct spelling).
Weekly Review Prompts
For each week of the internship experience, provide a considered and developed written response to the prompts provided
below.
Week 1
What are your first impressions of this workplace environment? Describe the workplace environment and include a
picture of yourself at work.
Week 2
What you have you learned about this company and its history? How has the company changed to reflect changes in
the economy?
Week 3
Who at your workplace do you admire or respect? What attributes does this individual, or individuals, exhibit that you
appreciate or aspire to professionally?
Week 4
What kinds of marketing strategies does this company employ? Do you feel these strategies are effective? What
strategies might prove more effective for the company?
Week 5
In what ways does your employer motivate and manage employees effectively? Are there strategies used that seem
particularly helpful? What strategies might you suggest to develop employee morale or company productivity?
Week 6
What have you learned about interacting with customers, clients, or consultants? What strategies might lead to more
effective customer / client / consultant relations?
Week 7 (as required)
Based on your experience to date with this internship, have you determined whether this field is a good professional fit
for you? Why or why not?
Week 8 (as required)
What external influences impact your employer’s business model? For example, are there licensing issues, state
statutes, economic concerns, or other pressures that affect the success of the business? What are these influences?
How do they impact the business?
03.02.04
Final Report
Final Reports are comprehensive essays reflecting on the internship experience as a whole. The Final Report shall be eight to
ten (8-10) double-spaced pages (2,000 2,500 words) long and contain responses to the following prompts:
Explain the way(s) in which this internship experience has helped prepare you for advanced undergraduate
coursework and/or professional employment following graduation.
Reflect on the way(s) in which this internship experience connected to your coursework in the Building Science
program, including suggestions for how courses might be modified to better prepare students for work in professional
settings.
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Assess the degree to which you have met the internship objectives of the course(s), as well as the objectives you
outlined in your Internship Proposal.
Describe your short-term and long-term professional goals, and how they may have changed as a result of this
internship experience.
Provide a considered and objective opinion regarding whether this company offers an appropriate location for future
Building Science Internship Program students.
Proofread the entire document carefully to ensure that it meets the standards of an academic writing assignment (ie, complete
sentences, appropriate use of grammar, and correct spelling). The Final Report should be saved as a PDF file for inclusion in the
packaged Internship Portfolio.
03.02.05
Thank You Letter
Thank You Letters are professional communications to the internship employer and supervisor(s) expressing written appreciation
for the internship opportunity. This formal letter should be provided to the employer / internship supervisor(s) on the final day of
the internship experience and saved as a PDF file for inclusion in the packaged Internship Portfolio.
03.02.06
Safety Certification
Safety Certifications are accredited electronic certificates attesting to completion of OSHA 30 hour construction industry safety
training. The OSHA 30 Hour Construction certification is to be completed at YOUR OWN PACE and at YOUR OWN COST
during the internship, unless otherwise negotiated with the internship employer. This certificate should be obtained from an
OSHA approved provider and saved as a PDF file for inclusion in the packaged Internship Portfolio.
The OSHA Education Center
is a strongly recommended platform to complete this component of the course; however, any
OSHA certified training is acceptable. Additional OSHA Approved Training Providers include (click on the hyperlinks to navigate
to provider websites):
AdvanceOnline
ClickSafety
PureSafety
Redvector
Summit Training Source
360Training
Turner Construction
03.02.07
Work Samples
Work Samples are well-formatted examples of work illustrating skills applied during the internship, including figure citations and
descriptive annotation. Combine and save these samples as a PDF file for inclusion in the packaged Internship Portfolio.
Examples of acceptable Work Samples include:
Architectural or Engineering Drawings
Building Information Models and Images
Energy Modeling Analysis
Field Observation Logs
Photographs
Project Bid Documents
Project Budgets and Estimates
Project Schedules
Project Specifications
Project Submittals and Transmittals
Requests for Information or Qualification
Safety Inspection Checklists or Surveys
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03.03
Sample Schedule of Deliverables
The table below outlines a general schedule of deliverables for the internship courses based upon a full-time (40 hours/week) position for a
six-week internship experience. Students should use this table to manage their academic workflow coordinated with (1) course information
provided by the faculty supervisor for the internship and (2) the terms of the specific Internship Contract.
Week
Day
TEC 4900 Internship
TEC 4901 Internship Portfolio
01
M
Daily Log
T
Daily Log
W
Daily Log
R
Daily Log
F
Daily Log // Begin OSHA 30
02
M
Weekly Review 01 due @ 08:00 AM // Daily Log
T
Daily Log
W
Daily Log
R
Daily Log
F
Daily Log
03
M
Begin Schedule Site Visit / Conference (Wks 4-6)
Weekly Review 02 due @ 08:00 AM // Daily Log
T
Daily Log
W
Provide Mid-Term Evaluation form to Employer
Daily Log
R
Confirm Schedule for Site Visit / Conference (Wks 4-6)
Daily Log
F
Mid-Term Performance Review with Employer
Daily Log
04
M
Mid-Term Evaluation Form due @ 08:00 AM
Weekly Review 03 due @ 08:00 AM // Daily Log
T
Daily Log
W
Daily Log
R
Daily Log
F
Daily Log
05
M
Weekly Review 04 due @ 08:00 AM // Daily Log
T
Daily Log
W
Daily Log
R
Daily Log
F
Daily Log // Complete OSHA 30
06
M
Weekly Review 05 due @ 08:00 AM // Daily Log
T
Daily Log
W
Provide Final Evaluation Form to Employer
Daily Log
R
Complete Schedule for Site Visit / Conference (Wks 4-6)
Daily Log
F
Final Performance Review with Employer
Daily Log // Thank You Letter // Work Samples
07
M
Final Evaluation Form due @ 08:00 AM
Weekly Review 06 due @ 08:00 AM
T
W
R
Complete Final Report
F
Final Internship Portfolio due @ 08:00 AM
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______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
This guide is provided for student, employer, and faculty use to fulfill the requirements of the Building Science Internship Program.