Connexions

ADM 4904 / ADM 4905 (X or A)

Erika Lalonde
Coordinator, Marketing and Communications
Student Services Centre Career Centre
DMS 1100
613-562-5800, ext. 2882
lalonde@telfer.uOttawa.ca

1. What is Connexions?
Connexions is a voluntary internship program that allows student to gain practical work experience in an
organization connected to their field of study. This internship allows students to fill the gap between their
university studies and their future career in the business community. Students will work seven hours a
week for 12 weeks (one session) in an organization. Upon successfully completing the internship and the
final report, students will receive three ADM credits, the equivalent of one course.

As of October 2014, Connexions has been collaborating with the Michalle Jean Centre for Global and
Community Engagement to offer students a greater variety of internship opportunities with the non-profit
sector. Students will have access to non-profit sector internships through the CGCEs Community
Engagement (CE) Navigator, accessible through uoZone, during the registration period.

2. Internship objectives
This internship helps students gain valuable experience in their field and gives them a larger perspective
on their career interests and options. Often, students choose to participate in Connexions to increase
their professional experience in a way to become more attractive to prospective employers upon
graduation. For maximum benefit, we encourage students to set both short- and long-term objectives for
the internship. Therefore, both students and their employer need to discuss what the students hope to
accomplish during that time and what the employers expectations of students are.

The students objectives must obviously work with the employer's requirements. Employers have basic
expectations from their staff, including trainees or interns. That's why students must take their work as
seriously as any full-time employee would. In return, the employer will not only value a students
involvement, but also provide them with the resources and supervision they need to reach their
objectives.

3. Advantages
Connexions provides students with valuable work experience directly related to their career
interests.
Connexions earns students three ADM credits.
Connexions allows students to establish valuable business contacts.
Connexions boosts students marketability upon graduation.
Connexions allows students to give back to the community and obtain a Co-Curricular Record
(CCR). A CCR is an official university document that records approved and verified volunteer
activities undertaken by students.
4. Prerequisites
To be eligible for Connexions, students must:
have completed the first- and second-year common core courses of their program,
not be enrolled in the Co-operative Education Program,
have a CGPA of 5.0 or higher,
have a willingness to learn and to be an ambassador for the Telfer School of Management,
find an internship that offers a motivating and challenging work setting, provides an interesting
and worthwhile educational experience and be business-related.

IMPORTANT: Please note that BCom students can register for a maximum of nine credits from the
following list of three-credit courses:
ADM 4904, ADM 4905 - Connexions Program
ADM 3993, 3994 - Preparation for Business Cases
ADM 4998, 4999 - Directed Readings
Students should also note that Connexions (ADM 4904, 4905) is not an approved course that
counts towards the CPA designation. Please be sure to discuss courses and options with an
Academic Advisor of the Telfer Student Services Centre.

5. Examples of past internships

Help with internal and external audit preparation; analyze financial statements; prepare journal
entries and reconciliations.
Develop a human resources manual; help screen and interview candidates, place job ads,
conduct reference checks.
Work with marketing officer to develop sales package; design and development of a marketing /
communications strategy.
On-going development of Web systems, including system documentation; performing
development testing and implementation of help text; analysis and problem-solving.

6. Requirements

To successfully complete the ADM 4904 course, students must:

a) work the required amount of internship hours,
b) pass all employer evaluations,
c) submit and pass a final report which will be evaluated by Professor Bonaccio or Professor
Delcorde.

a) INTERNSHIP SCHEDULE
Students have to work at least seven (7) hours a week, for 12 weeks. Scheduling is arranged between
the student and the employer. However, students must comply with the minimum prescribed schedule in
doing so. They cannot work less than 12 weeks.

b) EMPLOYER EVALUATIONS
All Connexions students are evaluated by their employer in terms of performance, abilities and
professionalism. These evaluations are a determining factor in whether or not you pass the course.

The Program Coordinator visits each employer from Ottawa / Gatineau at the mid-term point if it is their
first time participating in the program. For employers outside of the area or for employers who already

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have participated in the program, we simply ask that they complete the evaluation form that we provide by
email. For the final evaluation, all employers will receive the evaluation form via email.

During the work term, employer expectations may include (but is not limited to) the preparation of written
reports regarding how the students assigned work is progressing. Students are asked to follow the
employer's required format when writing these reports.

c) WORK-TERM REPORTS
At the end of the session, students have to submit an internship report for their work term. The report is
graded by the professor and is the second factor in determining the passing grade for the course.
Students must also provide a copy of the report to their employer.

7. Beware of Academic Fraud

Academic fraud is an act committed by a student to distort the marking of assignments, tests,
examinations and other forms of academic evaluation. Academic fraud is neither accepted nor tolerated
by the University. Anyone found guilty of academic fraud is liable to severe academic sanctions.

Here are a few examples of academic fraud:

engaging in any form of plagiarism or cheating;
presenting falsified research data;
handing in an assignment that was not authored, in whole or in part, by the student;
submitting the same assignment in more than one course, without the written consent of the
professors concerned

In recent years, the development of the Internet has made it much easier to identify academic plagiarism.
The tools available to your professors allow them to trace the exact origin of a text on the Web, using just
a few words.

In cases where students are unsure whether they are at fault, it is their responsibility to consult the
Universitys Web site at the following address, where you will find resources, tips and tools for writing
papers and assignments: Academic Integrity Webpage

Persons who have committed or attempted to commit (or have been accomplices to) academic fraud will
be penalized. Here are some examples of the academic sanctions, which can be imposed:
a grade of F for the assignment or course in question;
an additional program requirement of between three and thirty credits;
suspension or expulsion from the School.

Please be advised that professors have been formally advised to report every suspected case of
academic fraud. In most cases of a first offence of academic fraud, the sanction applied to students who
have been found guilty is an F for the course with an additional three credits added to their program
requirements. Repeat offenders are normally expulsed from the School of Management.

Finally, the Telfer School of Management asks that students sign and submit with their deliverables the
Personal Ethics Agreement form (on the following page). Assignments will not be accepted or marked
if this form is not submitted and signed by all authors of the work. We hope that by making this
personal commitment, all students will understand the importance the School places on maintaining the
highest standards of academic integrity.

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Personal Ethics Statement

To be included with the final report

Individual Assignment:

By signing this Statement, I am attesting to the fact that I have reviewed the entirety of my
attached work and that I have applied all the appropriate rules of quotation and referencing in
use at the Telfer School of Management at the University of Ottawa, as well as adhered to the
fraud policies outlined in the Academic Regulations in the Universitys Undergraduate Studies
Calendar. http://www.uottawa.ca/academic-regulations/academic-fraud.html

_______________________________ __________________
Signature Date

________________________________ __________________
Last Name (print), First Name (print) Student Number

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8. A) STEPS/DEADLINES SUMMER 2016 SESSION

1. Attend the Connexions Information Session Jan 28 or

Feb 2

2. Submit:
a) the registration form
Feb 12
b) a resum to the Program Coordinator at the Career Centre (DMS 1100)
4:30 p.m.
The registration will then be assessed and approved by the Telfer School of Management.
Candidates will be notified by email as to whether they have been accepted into the program.

3. Attend a mandatory networking event Feb 24

from
Past Connexions employers as well as potential new employers will be invited to this event, 2 p.m. to
providing you with possible internship opportunities. 4 p.m.

4. Look for an internship

You can now start looking for your internship with the cooperation of the Career Centre and the Relationship
Managers. The Career Centre staff is there to help! Do not hesitate to contact the Program Coordinator with any
questions or problems.

5. Complete the Internship Proposal with selected employer and submit it before the
deadline
March 25
Internships will be assessed and approved by the Telfer School of Management. The Internship 4:30 p.m.
Proposal must be filled out electronically and is to be submitted by email to the Program
Coordinator at lalonde@telfer.uOttawa.ca.

6. Submit in person or by electronically in ONE email to the Career Centre the:

a) Internship Agreement
April 1
b) Release of Liability, Waiver of Claims
4:30 p.m.
c) Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities Student Declaration of Understanding form
d) Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities Letter to Placement Employers form

7. Start of the internship Week of

The internship starts the first week of class. Make sure to discuss a working schedule ahead of April 25 or
time with your chosen employer. May 2

8. Mid-term evaluation
The Program Coordinator will visit if an employer is a first-time Connexions participant. If you are Week of
working outside of Ottawa / Gatineau, or the employer has participated in the program before, the June 6
evaluation will be sent by email, and must be returned by email to lalonde@telfer.uOttawa.ca.
Week of
9. End of internship / Final evaluation
July 18 or
Employers can submit the final evaluation form by email to lalonde@telfer.uOttawa.ca. July 25
(depending on
start date)

10. Final Report August 5

You must submit a hard copy of your report to the Career Centre and a copy to your employer. 3:30 p.m.

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B) STEPS/DEADLINES FALL 2016 SESSION
Jan 28 or
1. Attend the Connexions Information Session
Feb 2

2. Submit a) the registration form along with b) a resum to the Program Coordinator at
the Career Centre (DMS 1100) Feb 12
The registration will then be assessed and approved by the Telfer School of Management. 4:30 p.m.
Candidates will be notified by email as to whether they have been accepted into the program.

3. Attend a mandatory networking event Feb 24

from
Past Connexions employers as well as potential new employers will be invited to this event, 2 p.m. to
providing you with possible internship opportunities. 4 p.m.

4. Look for an internship

You can now start looking for your internship with the cooperation of the Career Centre and the Relationship Managers. The
Career Centre staff is there to help! Do not hesitate to contact the Program Coordinator with any questions or problems.
5. Complete the Internship Proposal with the help of selected employer and submit it
before the deadline
July 22
Internships will be assessed and approved by the Telfer School of Management. The Internship 3:30 p.m.
Proposal must be filled out electronically and is to be submitted by email to the Program
Coordinator at lalonde@telfer.uOttawa.ca.

6. Submit in person at the Student Services Centre or electronically in ONE email to

lalonde@telfer.uOttawa.ca:
a) Internship Agreement August 5
b) Release of Liability, Waiver of Claims 3:30 p.m.
c) Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities Student Declaration of Understanding form
d) Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities Letter to Placement Employers form

7. Start of the internship

Week of
The internship starts the first week of class. Make sure to discuss a working schedule ahead of Sept. 6
time with your chosen employer.

8. Mid-term evaluation
The Program Coordinator will visit if an employer is a first-time Connexions participant. If you are Week of
working outside of Ottawa / Gatineau, or the employer has participated in the program before, Oct. 10
the evaluation will be sent by email and will be submitted online.
Week of
9. End of internship / Final evaluation November 28
Employers will submit the final evaluation form online. or December 5
(depending on
reading week)

10. Final Report December 20

You must submit a hard copy of your report to the Career Centre and a copy to your employer. 4:30 p.m.

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 APPENDIX
Mandatory Structure and Content for the Final Report

The report is intended to be a reflection paper, meaning that you should write it as if you are reflecting on
what you have experienced, good or bad. The evaluation of your report takes into account the document's
general organization and its clarity of presentation, as well as a demonstrated understanding of your
internship experiences (and the ability to communicate your experience in an accurate and concise
manner).

General guidelines
The written report is evaluated in terms of both content and presentation style. Students will be
asked to revise their final report if any of the sections below do not meet expectations.
The report must adhere to professional standards in terms of spelling and grammar. Students
who hand in poorly written reports will be asked to revise them.
If you cite information drawn from any documents (e.g., your organizations website or marketing
documents), you should provide a bibliography. More information on citing sources properly is
available here: https://biblio.uottawa.ca/en/research-help/biblioexpert/citation-styles

Mandatory typesetting:
Double-spaced, 1 margins, 8.5 X 11 paper
12 point Times New Roman font size
All pages must be numbered
Staple in the upper left corner (please do not bind your report)

Section Section Content Expected

Description Length
1. Title Page Your name and student number 1 page
Course name and title
Semester
Organization name
2. Academic Signed statement of academic integrity. This form can be found 1 page
Integrity in this syllabus or can be downloaded from Blackboard.

3. Table of Lists all sections of the report 1 page

Contents
4. Executive A brief summary of your report, highlighting the most important 1 page
Summary components of each section

5. Introduction A brief overview of your report page

6. Your internship experience

6.1. Finding the A description of how you found your internship. You may wish to 1 page
internship discuss the recruitment and hiring process, your experience (minimum)
during the interview or any other relevant information pertaining
to securing your internship.

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6.2 The A description of the organization, your work environment, your 2 pages
organization job title, and whom you reported to. Please reflect on how the (minimum)
work environment and reporting structure influenced your
activities as an intern (either positively or negatively).
6.3 Your work A thorough description of your work activities (duties and 3 pages
activities responsibilities). Please reflect on what your goals were and how (minimum)
they were accomplished. Any extenuating circumstances
regarding assignments, projects, etc. should also be included in
this section.

6.4 Your This section is the most important of your report. Please reflect 5 pages
appreciation of on the following points. (minimum)
your internship 1. Describe how your experience in the internship corresponds
to your general career objectives.
2. Did it reinforce your decision to work in this particular field
upon graduation? Did it cast doubts on this decision?
3. What were some of your favorite and least favorite tasks you
accomplished? Why?
4. What skills and abilities did you develop? What did you
learn? What did you not have a chance to learn but you wish
you did?
5. What are some of the skills you have learned at school that
have helped you perform well in this internship? If you have
trouble with this section, brainstorm about specific courses
that apply to all professional environments, such as your
presentations course or your organizational behavior course
as well as specific courses that relate to your field of
internship.
6. Are there some newly acquired skills that will help you in
school?
7. What have you learned about yourself?
8. How does this internship change your approach to looking
for a job in the future?
If you are in the Community Service Learning program, please
ensure your report contains some reflection around your role in
the community, the impact your work and organization have on
society, and whether the experience challenged your existing
beliefs of ideas about the world.

7. Conclusion Concluding thoughts and brief retrospective 1 page

(minimum)
Bibliography A list of sources referenced in your report Optional
Appendix If there are printable assignments, project reports, presentations, Optional
etc. that you worked on during your internship, please feel free to
share them with the professor in an appendix. Sometimes
students work on confidential projects (e.g., an expense report).
In such cases, please feel free to omit any information your
employer would not want you to share (e.g., provide a copy of a
blank expense report to show the structure but not its content).