​INTERNSHIP INITIAL AGREEMENT

The following document outlines the initial agreement between the BioLife Health Center and you, the INTERN.

Our goal is to develop a relationship of mutual trust and respect. By signing this document, we are agreeing to work together to build a great experience for you as an intern. By signing, we also agree that we believe strong partnerships are built when expectations are set, and open communication exists between both sides. A formal contract will be sent to you once you are approved.

Time Commitment and Expectations:

Depending on your schedule, we would like you to work 10-20 hours a week. Assignments will be delivered with clear directions. Mentoring will be provided to you throughout the internship term. If you have a busy week at school and need to work fewer hours, this is fine with us (school comes first!). Work more if you are cranking, loving a project, and feeling tons of ownership.

We also ask that you notify us with details of vacation weeks and/or time off. Sometimes, school and personal life get tough when deadlines are due. Practice smart planning, if you see that your time management gets particularly difficult, give us a heads up, let us know and we will help you. This is just smart planning and will serve you well in the future.

Personal responsibility is an important quality for employees. While there are occasional exceptions, we will do our best to give you assignments that require a reasonable amount of time to complete. On the other hand, by giving you this kind of freedom, we expect you to get your work done and practice good communication when managing your deadlines. Make it a challenge and turn things around quickly and efficiently. You will learn good habits that will make you indispensable to employers. The more work we do together, the more we will be able to teach you and the more experience you’ll get. So let’s work together and make this happen for both of us.

Communications:

You will be working on a virtual environment platform called Intranet. We will have training sessions via Skype and share screens so you can see how things are done. Please take notes, ask questions, and ensure you understand what you have learned in the sessions. Matter experts will provide some of your training with graduate-level academic backgrounds and skills to provide a solid learning experience. We will also be available via video conferencing and phone if needed.

Confidentiality:

We cannot overstate the importance of confidentiality. The documents you will receive, methods, original materials, and clients’ information are strictly confidential.  What you learn will be able to apply to your career and work, but confidential materials cannot be shared without explicit approval.

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Compensation:

Most of our internships are non-paid. Unpaid internships may seem paradoxical, but they serve a unique purpose in career development. Our program, often sought after by students, allows individuals to gain invaluable real-world experience, build professional networks, and explore potential career paths.

BioLife internships qualify as unpaid college/university internships, as your experience will adhere to specific guidelines set forth by the United States Department of Labor. These include:

• Mutual Understanding: Both the employer and the intern must clearly understand that the role is unpaid.

• Educational Experience: The intern should receive training similar to what they would receive in an educational setting.

• No Replacement: The intern must observe, participate and learn without replacing or performing the duties of a paid employee.

• Benefit to the Intern: The program should primarily benefit the intern rather than provide a direct advantage to the employer.

• Supervision and Mentorship: Employees must provide supervision and mentorship to the intern throughout the experience.

• No Promises: The employer makes no guarantees of future employment at the end of the internship.

• Duration: The internship should only last as long as the employer can provide an educational experience for the intern.

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While the lack of financial compensation may seem daunting, there are ways to offset the costs of an unpaid internship. Many universities and organizations offer funding opportunities to students enrolled in these programs, providing a much-needed financial cushion.

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Last Update: January 1st, 2025