Internships And Agency Responsibilities

(1) Agencies who host interns must comply with all requirements as provided in the Department’s policy related to the State of Tennessee Internship Program. (a) Agencies shall not discriminate against an applicant for an internship or intern based on race, color, national origin, age (40 and over), sex, religion, creed, disability, pregnancy, and Veteran’s status or any other category protected by state and/or federal civil rights law. Internships may be terminated at any time at the discretion of the agency’s Appointing Authority. There is no appeal procedure for termination of an internship. (b) Agencies must ensure that interns meet all eligibility requirements and be authorized by the Appointing Authority, as listed in the policy. (c) The internship, even though it includes actual operation of the facilities of the agency, must be similar to training which would be given in an educational environment. (d) The internship experience must be for the benefit of the intern. (e) The intern shall not displace regular employees but shall work under close supervision of their mentor. (f) The agency that provides the internship shall derive no immediate advantage from the activities of the intern, and on occasion its operations may actually be impeded. (g) The intern shall not be entitled to a job at the conclusion of the internship. (2) Agencies who plan to hire an intern (paid or unpaid) shall notify the Department’s Executive Director of Recruitment at least ninety (90) business days in advance of the start of the internship. Agencies shall also comply with the Department’s requirements regarding posting and performance metrics and other reporting requirements throughout the internship. Any openings must be reported in the designated applicant tracking system.