Rutgers Internship & Co-op Program (RICP) - Employer Information

What is RICP?

A 3 or 6 general elective credit academic course taken concurrently with an internship experience.

Does CES place students in internships?

No. Students must secure their own opportunity. However, our office would love to work with you towards marketing opportunities for our students! Contact recruiting@echo.rutgers.edu with any questions or to help you get started!

What are the student eligibility requirements for RICP?

The 3 credit course option (internship) requires a total of 120 hours of either a paid or unpaid internship for a minimum of 10 weeks (6 during summer session) during the semester taken. The 6 credit course option (co-op) requires a paid experience of 30+ hours a week for a minimum of 20 weeks during the semesters taken.

Why doesn’t RICP accept every internship?

We are committed to ensuring that our students are pursuing paid or FLSA-Compliant opportunities that allow for professional and personal development and growth. While most internship opportunities are great field experiences, we want them to take every chance to learn, grow and assess each experience. We aim for the following:

Carefully monitored and structured work experience in which a student has intentional learning goals and reflects actively on what he/she is learning throughout the experience.
Positions that promote academic, career and/or personal development
Positions supervised by a full-time professional staff member

(Adapted from materials published by the National Society for Experiential Education - NSEE)

Career Exploration and Success does not recognize the following as internships/co-ops:

Volunteer positions with for-profit organizations.
Research positions
Positions involving payment for participation as a research subject.
Positions that are commission only. Positions that have a salary plus commission are acceptable.
Positions performed in private homes, including but not limited to childcare, gardening, housekeeping, and respite care.
Camp counselor positions.
Positions obtained from temporary agencies or third-party recruiters.
Multi-level marketing opportunities.
Positions that require any investment by the student, for instance, having to purchase equipment or products in order to earn a wage or paying for necessary training.
Ongoing part-time or full-time jobs that do not relate to the student’s career goals.
Positions that are in-person that do not adhere to the corresponding state’s COVID-19 safety guidelines and practices
Positions in organizations that have been established for less than six months
Positions that are supervised by other interns or peers, rather than a full-time employee
Unpaid positions that require a schedule of 30+ hours a week for at least 20 weeks

If you have any questions or concerns about whether your internship or co-op would qualify, please contact internships@echo.rutgers.edu

My intern is interested in RICP. What is my role as their supervisor in this course?

First, the student will ask for your assistance in helping them fill out their intended job description form as part of the application process.

You’ll be receiving information from the RICP team upon the intern’s application approval. Employers are asked to do the following:

Familiarize themselves with the information, documents and videos in the welcome email.
Work with the intern to document intended learning goals and course overview via DocuSign
Intentionally supervise the student throughout this process and offer opportunities for learning, growth and professional development
Fill out an appropriate and honest response as part of their Midterm Evaluation via DocuSign
Approve a time sheet approximately halfway through the course via DocuSign, with the course hourly and weekly requirements in consideration
Fill out an appropriate and hornets response as pat of their Final Evaluation via DocuSign
Approve a time sheet towards the end of the course via DocuSign, with the course hourly and weekly requirements in consideration.

All questions can go to the RICP course instructor or rania.plazas@rutgers.edu

How can I recruit students for opportunities?

Post your internship or co-op for FREE through Rutgers Handshake, our on-campus recruiting system. New employers can follow the steps to create a new employer account and contact information. Questions? Email recruiting@echo.rutgers.edu for more information.

What are the recommended deadlines for posting an opportunity to Handshake?

Post opportunities up to ten weeks in advance to allow the interview and decision-making process to occur before the academic registration deadlines are approaching.
Internship academic semesters with recommending posting and offer dates: Spring: Jan to May (post by Oct 1 and extend offers by Jan 10)
Summer: May to Aug. (post by Mar 1 and extend offers by May 10)
Fall: Sept to Dec. (post by July 1 and extend offers by Aug 20)

Co-op academic semesters with recommended posting and offer dates:
Spring: Jan to June (post by Oct 1 and extend offers by Jan 10)
Fall: June to Dec (post by Mar 1 and extend offers by May 10)

We strongly recommend you encourage students to apply for RICP as soon as they are offered the position (ideally several weeks before the first day of class) to allow for ample application processing time, approval, and registration prior to the first day of classes.

How can I start an experiential internship program at my organization?

This process can be daunting, but we are here to help! Contact internships@echo.rutgers.edu with any questions or to get started

How many times can I take RICP?

You can take RICP up to two times. This includes taking any combination of Internship SAS and Co-Op Arts and Sciences. Ensure that you refer to your School to learn the maximum number of experiential learning credits you can take.

What is the Rutgers Internship & Co-Op Program (RICP)?

An academic credit-bearing course for students participating in internships or co-op. It is an opportunity for employers to partner with Rutgers students who want to earn academic credit for their work experience. Students are enrolled in an online course with career-related and reflective assignments due throughout the semester.

Apply to Become an RICP Approved Employer:

Complete and submit a RICP Employer Application to recruiting@echo.rutgers.edu. Once submitted, a member of our Employer Relations Team will contact you within 3-5 business days.

Employer Application

Why partner with us?

Enable students to earn academic credit for their experience
Help students establish clear learning objectives and gain transferable skills while making an impact at their internship/co-op site
Benefit from more focused, motivated and driven students since their experience is part of an academic course
Learn how to enhance your internship or co-op experience through resources provided by Career Exploration and Success
Increase branding opportunities on the Rutgers-New Brunswick campus
Become an integral part of helping students make connections between their academics and career goals
Stand out amongst internship/co-op postings in Rutgers Handshake with a RICP endorsement
Receive acknowledgment at Career & Internship Fairs and other on-campus recruiting events

What qualifies as an internship/co-op?

Refer to our Employer Internship Handbook (PDF) to creating and maintaining an internship program.

Career Exploration and Success recognizes the following as internships/co-ops:

Carefully monitored and structured work experience in which a student has intentional learning goals and reflects actively on what he/she is learning throughout the experience.
Positions that promote academic, career and/or personal development
Positions that may be paid or unpaid (must comply with FLSA)
Positions supervised by a full-time professional staff member

(Adapted from materials published by the National Society for Experiential Education - NSEE)

Career Exploration and Success does not recognize the following as internships/co-ops:

Volunteer positions with for-profit organizations.
Research positions or positions involving payment for participation as a research subject.
Positions that are commission only. Positions that have a salary plus commission are acceptable.
Positions performed in private homes, including childcare, gardening, housekeeping, and respite care.
Camp counselor positions.
Positions obtained from temporary agencies or third-party recruiters.
Multi-level marketing opportunities.
Positions that require any investment by the student, for instance, having to purchase equipment or products in order to earn a wage or paying for necessary training.
Ongoing part-time or full-time jobs that do not relate to the student’s career goals.

How do I recruit interns/co-op students for credit?

Post your internship or co-op for FREE through Rutgers Handshake, our on-campus recruiting system. New employers can follow the steps to create a new employer account and contact record.
Complete a RICP Employer Application and email the completed form to recruiting@echo.rutgers.edu.
For additional information on starting an internship/co-op program or recruiting at Rutgers, please click on the following links:

What are the recommended deadlines for posting an internship/co-op for credit?

Post opportunities up to ten weeks in advance to allow the interview and decision-making process to occur before the academic registration deadlines are approaching.

Internship academic semesters with recommending posting and offer dates:

Spring: Jan to May (post by Oct 1 and extend offers by Jan 10)
Summer: May to Aug. (post by Mar 1 and extend offers by May 10)
Fall: Sept to Dec. (post by July 1 and extend offers by Aug 20)

Co-op academic semesters with recommended posting and offer dates:

Spring: Jan to June (post by Oct 1 and extend offers by Jan 10)
Fall: June to Dec (post by Mar 1 and extend offers by May 10)

We strongly recommend you encourage students to apply for our program several weeks in advance to allow for ample application processing time, approval, and registration prior to the first day of classes.

What is expected of an employer once a student is enrolled?

Students are required to have an assigned supervisor throughout the duration of their internship or co-op. Supervisors must agree to assist students in filling out required documents to pass the course, such as the learning agreement, supervisor evaluations, and hourly log sheet. Supervisors are also expected to serve as a mentor to the student and provide necessary for the job training.

Where can I get more information?

The Rutgers Internship and Co-op Program is managed by Sue Pye. If you have any specific questions related to the program, please email internships@echo.rutgers.edu.
For more information on recruiting for full-time, internship, or co-op positions, contact the Employer Relations Team at recruiting@echo.rutgers.edu or 848-445-7287.