Category Archives: Advising

Having Trouble Registering for Internship Credits?

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Have you been given permission to register for internship credits and/or the internship seminar but are still having trouble registering via My Schedule Planner? Here are some tips:

First, ensure you have selected “Open and Full” because the college sets internships as “FULL” to compel students to get their internships approved and be granted permission to register.

Next, you can only register for the section for which you were granted permission — You must disable all the other sections. REGISTER BY CRN! Watch this: https://youtu.be/9bIxZYyLgXs 

If you haven’t been given permission to register for internship credits then you may NOT register for internship credits. You must have your internship placement approved before registering, but don’t worry, internship registration is separate from your time assignment! Read this for more information.

What to do once you’ve been APPROVED!

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Once you’ve been certified eligible to intern you may find an internship. When you do this there are a few steps you have to take. First, when you are approved you will be sent a congrats email/text, make sure you not only read the email but also to save it, you will need to reference it later the congrats email has all the steps and resources you need to find and secure an internship.  Here are a few resources for where to go from here.

  1. What to do – https://youtu.be/qfh8lAfwcEQ?si=e7_clxLh_PEeNoyt
  2. Where to look – https://youtu.be/P22Epg1O0yE?si=o0LIvpY_Qpbhqxp_
  3. Follow us on Instagram & Search through opportunities: https://www.instagram.com/npcommedia/   
  4. Use The Big List (of Past Internships) with Contacts to send your resume/cover letter:  tinyurl.com/npbiglist
  5. Consider an internship at The Legislative Gazette. All majors are welcome! There are scholarships available for qualified students for travel to Albany.

Attached in the congrats email is the Agreement Form for you/your site supervisor to fill out, sign and submit via the Internship Seminar Brightspace by the first week of classes

  2. Now you have all the resources you need to find, register, and secure an internship. Remember, you don’t need to secure an internship until the first day of the semester you are interning, so don’t panic! If you still have questions after reading this blog and checking your congrats, email you can ask Nancy Heiz, the internship coordinator, for help!

    If you’re not certified yet, read this!

 

Eligible But Haven’t Found an Internship? Don’t Worry! Internship Registration is Separate from Class Registration

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Once you have been approved for internship eligibility you have until the first day of the semester that you are interning to find an internship. There is no need to rush and find an internship by class registration. If you are worried about not being considered a full-time student, you can add a class into your schedule and then drop it once you have secured an internship. Our department grants students permission to register for internship credits once you have found a placement and that placement has been approved… If this is your first internship, you will register for internship credits and the Internship Seminar, both of which are restricted to Permission of Instructor and listed on the schedule as “FULL” because our department protects the seats, so students go through the required approval process. To register for an internship, follow the steps in the “Congrats Email” that has been, or will be, sent to you once you’ve been approved for internship eligibility.

Here are other guidelines:

  • You may NOT register until you have actually secured an internship that has been approved by the Internship Coordinator.
  • The deadline to find, get approval, and register for internship credits is the FIRST DAY OF CLASSES. NO LATE REGISTRATIONS ALLOWED.
  • You must be aware of the number of credits and hours required to earn the credits. The Seminar (DMJ or CMM491) is a 1-credit course. Legislative Gazette interns must take the Seminar. 
  • If your internship falls through, you will need to find an alternate placement. Contact the Internship Coordinator immediately if this happens. (If you remain registered for the internship credits but don’t complete it, you will earn an “F” for the credits, which will affect your GPA.)

Have any questions that are not answered in the “Congrats Email” or in the Internship Eligibility folder? Then see Nancy Heiz, Internship Coordinator. Need help finding an internship? Check out this video here!

No Retroactive Credit – You Must Have Internship Placement Approved Before You Intern, Not After!

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In order to earn credits for your internship you must be certified eligible to intern before you actually find a placement and intern there. The college does not grant credit retroactively for internships. There are a few reasons for this. First, registration for internship credits is just like registration for a class: there’s an add/drop period and no changes can be made after that period. Adding the internship to your schedule also requires permission of instructor, which you won’t receive until you are certified and have your placement approved. Next, our Internship Coordinator must have oversight over every internship our students complete in order to ensure that students are getting a valuable learning experience that is in line with the major requirements and to facilitate any problems that may arise in an internship. This is SUNY policy. Before you complete an internship that will count for credit towards your SUNY New Paltz degree, you must be approved to represent our department and our university in the work world. 

There are also certain steps that must be taken during your internship, including participating in the 1-credit online internship seminar and securing a mid-semester evaluation from your supervisor. That is why it is necessary to follow all department internship procedures before you start your internship. **Remember, even BEFORE you look for an internship placement, you must get certified eligible by having:

  • 60 total credits
  • 30 credits at New Paltz
  • 18 credits in your major
  • 2.5 GPA

If you take everything step by step, in the proper order, it isn’t as daunting as it seems. We are always here to help you if you need anything. To read more about the application process visit: tinyurl.com/npinternpacket.

Transfers: Register for Internship Eligibility Once You Have 30 New Paltz Credits

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Transfer students, you should apply for internship eligibility once you have 30 New Paltz credits. Applying for internship eligibility means you must be approved to earn credits for any internship you complete, before you complete it. In order to do a required internship for credits you must be certified eligible. Although you only have to be certified one semester before, we recommend you get certified ASAP. Once you are eligible you remain eligible until you graduate (unless your GPA drops below a 2.5). Here are the minimum requirements to be certified as eligible to earn internship credits.

  • 2.5 GPA
  • 18 credits in your major (can be in progress)
  • 60 total credits
  • 30 credits at SUNY New Paltz (can be in progress)

To start officially applying, read the Internship Information Packet here! It may seem like a lot of information, but don’t be alarmed, most of the information is probably stuff you already know so just make sure you refresh yourself with the info before you apply. Once you have read and understood the Info Packet you can fill out the application here. In this application you will, answer some simple questions about your understanding of the process and preferences you may have for your internship. You will submit a resume and progress report. Read the linked articles to ensure you have properly formatted your resume and progress report. The last question on the application will ask if you want to receive SMS texts about your status of eligibility. We highly encourage you to add your number so you can be the most up to date on your status and new information.

 

If any part of this application is confusing or you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Nancy Heiz at heizn@newpaltz.edu (please make sure to include your Banner number in your correspondence). We do ask that you read the information packet in its entirety before reaching out as your question most likely will be answered there.

Remember, all DMJ majors and journalism minors are required to complete an internship. CMM majors are not required, but if they want to earn credits for an internship, they must follow this process.

Summer Internship Caveat: Pay Out of Pocket for Academic Credits

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Communication students are encouraged to do internships, but they are not required for the major. When applying for internship eligibility and finding for-credit internship placement, you have a choice of interning during the fall or spring semester, or summer session.

Summer can be a popular time to complete an internship, however, what is often overlooked is that summer credits are not part of your annual tuition charges. You are earning academic credits for working at an internship. Therefore, you will have to pay for these credits out of your own pocket, and payment is per credit. 

INTERNSHIP CREDITS FOR COMM STUDENTS:

  • Earn 3-6 academic credits for work in the professional setting. More than 6 credits requires justification and more oversight (see Nancy Heiz)
  • Work 40 hours per credit (i.e., 120 total hours for 3-credit internship = 8hrs/week during spring or fall semester)
  • Because you must take the 1-credit Internship Seminar concurrently with first internship, that internship must be 3 credits minimum

Be sure to ask Student Accounts and the Financial Aid Office how much it will cost to earn internship credits during the summer. Remember to count the 1-credit Internship Seminar plus the Internship Credits.

Then, make an informed decision that is right for you.

To learn more, please visit https://www.newpaltz.edu/summer/ for more information on tuition & fees. For information on receiving summer financial aid, visit https://www.newpaltz.edu/financialaid/summer.html.

Did You Know? If you are considering doing your internship in summer, you will have to pay out of pocket. Credits earned during the summer are not part of your fall or spring tuition, and are not guaranteed to be paid for by your financial aid package. Know the $$ cost before you commit!

Remember to Submit your Application for Internship Eligibility!

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The application for internship eligibility is easier and better than ever before! First, before you apply, make sure you are qualified to apply for eligibility. Here is the check list:

  • 60+ total credits
  • 30+ credits at New Paltz (1 year residency)
  • 18+ credits in the major
  • Minimum 2.5 GPA

 

Once you are qualified you can begin the application. Remember, this application is a one-time deal, which means once you are approved you can intern any semester thereafter (as long as your GPA doesn’t drop below a 2.5). 

 

To start officially applying, read the Internship Information Packet here: tinyurl.com/npinternpacket! Then fill out the application at the end – submit a resume and progress report. Read the linked articles to ensure you have properly formatted your resume and progress report. The last question on the application will ask if you want to receive SMS texts about your status of eligibility. We highly encourage you to add your number so you can be the most up to date on your status and new information.

 

If any part of this application is confusing or you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Nancy Heiz at heizn@newpaltz.edu (please make sure to include your Banner (N) number in your correspondence). We do ask that you read the information packet in its entirety before reaching out as your question most likely will be answered there.

 

Good luck! This is the first step of a new and exciting opportunity to truly step into the field you desire to work in. 

Is Your Resume Ready?

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If you’re planning to apply for internship eligibility this semester, one of the key requirements for approval is a well-crafted resume. We review each resume to ensure it meets professional standards and represents both you and our program in the best possible light. Your resume should be..

  • 1-page
  • Single sided
  • Have no listed home street address

If your resume doesn’t include relevant information or it needs a bit of work, your application could be held for review. Some tips for a successful resume are..

  • Include ONLY relevant information – education, experience, skills, coursework, etc.
  • In education, order schools reverse-chronologically (College, then High School)
  • Don’t clutter – leave white space
  • Make it well organized

If you are still having trouble putting together a resume or want someone to look it over, the Career Resource Center offers great resume help. Look out for Resumania on Monday, October 20, 2025 at the CRC from 9am-4pm! 

If you are unsure of how to get started with your resume, take a look at some templates from the CRC: https://www.newpaltz.edu/careers/ResumesMajor.html 

Get Started NOW on a Master’s Degree in Strategic Communication!

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You can start earning credits towards your Master’s Degree in Strategic Communication right now, as an undergraduate! The Accelerated Pathway allows qualified Communication majors to take graduate level classes that still count towards your undergraduate degree, but which also allow you to progress towards your Master’s Degree. Get started now! Ask your advisor about this opportunity.

Undergraduate students can enroll by completing 12 graduate-level credits during their senior year. These credits are offered at a reduced undergraduate tuition rate and fulfill both undergraduate and graduate program requirements! Even if you choose not to pursue an MA in Strategic Communication, these graduate credits might be transferable to other graduate programs. Undergraduate seniors also have the opportunity to replace major electives with graduate courses. You do not need to apply to the program to take these courses in replacement of an elective as long as you meet the requirements.

A minimum GPA of 3.0 is recommended for taking these courses.

To apply, visit MA in Strategic Communication

The following requirements for applying to the program:

  • One official transcript providing evidence of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution with at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA.
  • Contact information for three references who can provide a letter of recommendation.
  • Admission essay
  • Optional application for teaching assistantship.

Any inquiries regarding the MA in Strategic Communication can be directed to the graduate program coordinator, Dr. Jason Wrench, at wrenchj@newpaltz.edu.