The UCLA Department of Urban Planning invites you to participate in the 2009 Urban Planning Internship Fair. The fair enables first-year Master's students to complete professional fieldwork during the 2010 Winter Quarter.

Student interns provide many benefits to the sponsoring organizations. Students may help the organization to:

• Expand and improve operations.
• Work on special projects.
• Be a source of innovative ideas.
• Help an organization locate future employees.

REGISTER FOR THE INTERNSHIP FAIR

Registration is due by Monday, December 7, 2009.

INTERVIEWING AT THE FAIR/HIRING PROCESS

During the event, each organization's representative(s), preferably the intern's supervisor, will have the opportunity to interview a number of students in 15-20 minute intervals.

After the interviewing period, employers will be asked to rank students. In turn, students will rank employers. These rankings will be matched to place students in appropriate internships. If the employer is unable to find a suitable student, the employer is under no obligation to hire a student at the fair.

Employer representatives must have the authority to hire immediately on the day of the Internship Fair. There is no second level of review or interview after the fair in order for students and employers to secure a internship commitment and to expedite the fieldwork placement and employment process.

Students and participating organizations will be notified of the matching outcome by Wednesday, December 16, 2009. Students will contact their employer to make the necessary arrangements for their internships.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF EMPLOYERS

An internship is an educational experience that enables students to apply theory to practice. Ideally an internship provides students with an arena that enables them to develop new skills, exposes them to the daily operation of the work place, and allows them to contribute to the goals of the sponsoring organization. To have a successful experience, we suggest that you:

• Plan the internship. Internships are successful when the agency has thought about how the internship will address the needs of both the company and the student.
• Orient the student to the work place. The supervisor should provide the student with either a formal or informal orientation to your organization. The student should be made aware of any rules and regulations he or she must follow, be presented with the organization's statement of purpose, and be told what is expected of someone in this particular situation.
• Provide appropriate workspace. The student should have his or her own desk, telephone, and computer so that he or she may complete their tasks in the most efficient manner.
• Supervise and guide the student during the course of the internship. Students should be given continuous feedback regarding work progress and suggestions for improvement.
• Assign meaningful projects. Routine jobs play an important role in any organization. However, a student should not expect that photocopying or stuffing envelopes will be his or her only work assignment.

COMPENSATION

The best way to attract interns is to offer paid compensation ($10-$16 per hour). However, different compensation mechanisms may be more appropriate for your organization. Students may receive a stipend, hourly wage, or a federal work-study grant. Federal work-study money is available to public agencies and non-profit organizations. For information on the work-study program, please contact the UCLA Work Study Office directly at (310) 206-0446 or at www.fao.ucla.edu.

RECENT INTERNSHIP FAIR
PARTICIPATING EMPLOYERS

• A Community of Friends
• Beyond Shelter
• CALTRANS-Office of Environmental Planning
• Campaign for College Opportunity
• Central American Resource Center (CARACEN)
• Center for Regional Employment Strategies
• Chinatown Service Center
• CIPHER/SCOPE
• City of Los Angeles, Community Development Department
• City of Los Angeles, Housing Department
• City of Redondo Beach
• City of San Gabriel
• City of Santa Monica
• City of West Hollywood
• Communities for a Better Environment
• Community Development Technologies Center
• Community Financial Resource Center
• Community Institute for Policy Heuristics Education and Research CIPHER)
• Consilium Associates
• Content Development/Success a New Beginning
• COTTON/BRIDGES/ASSOCIATES
• County of Los Angeles, Community Development Commission
• Culver City Redevelopment Agency
• Economics Research Associates
• Emerging Markets
• Esperanza Community Housing Corporation
• Historic Resources Group
• Housing & Urban Development (HUD)
• Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles
• LA Alliance for a New Economy
• LA County Bicycle Coalition
• LA Family Housing
• Little Tokyo Services Center CDC
• Livable Places
• Los Angeles Commission on Human Relations
• Los Angeles Community Design Center
• Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
• National Farm Workers Service Center
• Office of Eric Garcetti
• Office of Grace Napolitano
• Pacoima Beautiful
• Service Employees International Union (SEIU 660)
• Skid Row Housing Trust
• Southern California Library For Social Studies and Research
• Special Services for Groups
• St. Joseph Center
• Thai Community Development Center
• Venice Community Housing Corporation

CONTACT INFORMATION:
Jennifer Crowe, Internship Fair Coordinator
UCLA Department of Urban Planning
3250 Public Affairs Bldg
Box 951656
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1656
Tel: 310-825-8957
Fax: 310-206-5566
Email: jcrowe@spa.ucla.edu