There is hereby established a new Article IV entitled "College Internship Program" under Chapter 61 of the Code of the Township entitled "Salaries and Compensation; Personnel Policies."
It is the intention of the Township Committee to establish an Internship
Program for college students interested in pursuing a career in government.
The Internship Program (hereinafter referred to as the "Program")
will provide individuals with an opportunity to work in a government
environment to obtain firsthand knowledge and experience in the administration
of government operations and the delivery of services similar to a
teaching practicum.
The regulations and guidelines set forth in this new article shall
not supersede or override the Hanover Township Police Department's
Internship Program Guidelines which are described in the Department's
Policies and Procedures Manual at Chapter 10 of Volume 12. Rather,
this article shall serve as a supplement to the Police Department's
Internship Program.
The Business Administrator/Township Clerk shall designate a member
of the Department of Administration to serve as the Program Coordinator
who will be responsible for administering all aspects of the Program
such as, but not limited to, the recruitment of candidates and assessing
the progress of interns as they complete their internships.
The Program will provide college students to intern in any one of
the Township's departments or bureaus based on their college curriculum
or major. Depending on college or university requirements, the length
of an internship may be six to eight weeks.
Internship applicants should be enrolled in either a two-year county
college degree program or a four-year college or university program.
Ideally, candidates selected for internship should be in the second
year of a county college program or a junior or senior enrolled in
a four-year college or university. Applicants in a postgraduate program
will also be considered for internship.
A letter of interest must be submitted along with a completed application
form giving the reason or reasons why he/she is interested in completing
an internship in one of the Township's departments or bureaus.
Applicants shall be required to undergo a thorough background check
including but not limited to driver's record, computer criminal history
check and personal and/or employee reference check. The background
check will be performed by the Hanover Township Police Department.
The Intern Coordinator shall submit all documentation along with
recommendation(s) to the Business Administrator/Township Clerk in
the selection of intern candidates to participate in the program.
All interns will be required to participate in orientation and training
to acquaint them with the rules and regulations governing the Township
and the conduct of business. Interns will be expected to conduct themselves
as professionals as they will represent both a department or bureau
and their respective college or university. Orientation and training
sessions may take place on an individual basis with the department
or bureau head. Orientation will also include office business practices
including the proper handling of telephone calls and welcoming members
of the public who arrive at the office.
Interns shall also receive position-specific training to ensure they
have adequate knowledge and skills to complete tasks and assignments
required for the position.
Failure to comply with any Township ordinances, rules, regulations
or policies will result in the immediate dismissal of an intern from
the program with a report of the intern's conduct submitted to the
intern's respective college or university.
Interns will be expected to complete a minimum of six weeks of service
or the minimum number of hours required by their respective college
or university, whichever is greater.
Interns will be asked to submit their written evaluation of the Township's
Internship Program in order to provide department and bureau heads
with an assessment as to how the Program can be improved or modified
in the future.