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PY4 Internship Policy

The PY4 Internship Policy outlines the process and requirements for third-year PharmD students at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy who are interested in completing a structured internship during the summer months of their Advanced Immersion Experiences (AIEs) in their PY4 year. These internships provide valuable opportunities for students to gain real-world experience aligned with their individual career goals. 

Due to the complex scheduling needs associated with incorporating internships into the AIE calendar, and the region variation in capacity to support such flexibility, a structured process has been established to ensure equitable consideration, maintain program integrity, and optimize experiential site availability. This policy outlines the responsibilities of students, experiential regions, and school leadership; the eligibility criteria; and the selection and placement processes that govern participation in PY4 internships. 

Students are encouraged to review this policy carefully and adhere to all deadlines and requirements, as adherence to this process is essential for maintaining fairness and feasibility across the program. 

Request Process  

Experiential Responsibility:  

  • During discussions around regional capacity for the upcoming academic year, the Office of Experiential Programs will request a specific number of student spots within the region for students completing an internship. This will be based on regional capacity to support the specific scheduling needs of these students.   
  • Each region will be asked to consider at least 10% of their historic capacity to support students completing an internship. Additional training spots will be welcomed.  
  • All regions will be expected to support a minimum capacity for internship-interested students.  

Student Responsibility:  

  • Any current third-year students interested in completing an internship during the summer months of their AIEs must indicate this interest on the Region Placement Preference survey by mid-September.  
  • No late requests or tangential communication will be considered.   
  • OEP will not reach out to students that do not indicate interest, including dual-degree students.  
  • Student eligibility requirements include:  
  • ESOP cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher at the time of application with no history of repeated or remediated courses, other than PHCY 508.  
  • Successful completion of all prior immersion experiences, including no failed midpoint or final evaluations.  
  • Must not be on academic or non-academic probation. 
  • Must not have been found in violation of the University Honor Code or Code of Ethics. 

Students will complete a brief application to provide additional clarity around their request for off-months to complete a PY4 internship, including a letter of interest.  

Students must provide proof of application to at least one internship no later than December 1st.  Students will be asked to provide documentation of acceptance to an internship (as applicable) prior to the start of their PY4 year. These data will be utilized to inform future policy/process and student support.  

Selection Process 

  • A review panel comprised of the Assistant Dean for Individualization, Assistant Dean for Experiential Curriculum, and Senior Director of the Office of Student Affairs will assess the applications based on eligibility requirements, internship alignment with career goals, and the feasibility of accommodating off-months within the AIE schedule based on region capacities.   
  • Students will be notified by late September of their status for completing an internship.  

Region Optimization Process 

  • Region directors will be asked to commit to a maximum number of PY4 students completing an internship in their region, based on preceptor availability and region capacity. This maximum number may be adjusted by the region director annually as regional commitments and needs change, in conversation with the Assistant Dean for Experiential Curriculum. This maximum number will not be exceeded in the region optimization process for internship-interested students.  
  • Internship-interested students, regardless of dual degree status, will be randomized among the available regions to ensure a balance of internship and non-internship students across all regions. This will be separate from the region optimization for all non-internship students.  
  • While student preferences will be considered, these cannot be guaranteed.   
  • Students with an existing exemption or accommodation for placement in a certain region will be reviewed separately; however, there are no guarantees that a student’s request to complete a summer internship and honor their region accommodation can both be fulfilled.  
  • Region assignments will be released in mid-October with the entire PY4 class.  

Contingencies 

  • If students do not provide documentation of their application to a summer internship by December 1st, they will not be permitted to participate in a summer internship and region directors will be notified that summer months are available for rotation scheduling.   
  • Off-months will not be rescheduled for students that submit proof of application by the December 1st deadline, even if they are not successful in securing an internship.  
  • If students are unable to complete a scheduled rotation (e.g., illness, academic concern, or unexpected absences), their ability to graduate on time may be impacted.