Student Labor and Summer Internship
Summer Internship Experience
Internship Snapshot
Skills Gained
Interns gain hands-on experience in CI methodology, LEAN thinking, project management, data analysis, consulting, facilitation, and more!
Certification
Interns complete a summer-long project, partnering with campus staff to improve a real process. Successful completion earns a Green Belt Certification in LEAN Applied to Business Processes, awarded by the University of Tennessee.
Networking
Interns connect with professionals who bring valuable experience in leadership and process improvement. This include attending events like the Network for Change and Continuous Innovation (NCCI) conference.
Environment
The office fosters a collaborative and supportive atmosphere that prioritizes teamwork, innovation, and learning.
Intern Cohorts
As a part of their Green Belt project, Dylan and Megan collaborated with Farm Enterprises to create standards and prioritize safety. 
To address these issues, they implemented a set of safety protocols that included:
- Job Safety Analyses (JSAs)
- Training checklists for both staff-led and independent student sessions, and
- “Train the Trainer” guide
These countermeasures were designed to help staff train students and allow students to train their peers, making the training process more consistent and sustainable.
They achieved a Touch Time Savings of 31 minutes per individual training, which significantly reduced the time staff spend on repeated instruction each semester. Their Rolled Throughput Yield (accuracy percentage) improved from 32% to 86%, showing a major increase in training effectiveness and equipment use accuracy. Their work not only streamlined training but also strengthened the safety culture at the Farm, reducing risk and improving confidence for both staff and students.
Frequently Asked Questions
To be eligible for the Office of Continuous Improvement summer internship, you must:
- Be a current student for the entire duration of the internship.
- Complete all preliminary tasks required by the Internship Office, which include:
- Internship Agreement
- Moodle Prep Course
- Internship Proposal
Please note: These requirements and their due dates are mandatory. Even exemplary applicants will be denied eligibility if preliminary information is not completed on time.
Yes. This internship is funded by Berea College.
Students must meet with the Internship Office to discuss funding needs for housing, food, and other personal expenses. Timely completion of this step is essential. If off-campus housing is not available, students have the option to stay on campus.
Funded internships are required to be for academic credit. Students participating in funded internships must complete 300–400 total work hours within 8–10 consecutive weeks. Our internship spans 8 weeks, totaling approximately 320 hours.
According to the Internship Office:
“The level of funding is determined by the type of internship (in-person or remote) and the city/geographic area within the contiguous states. The amounts are sufficient to generously cover the typical costs of roundtrip travel, housing, commuting, meals, and personal expenses for 8–10 weeks.” View funding levels here.
The OCI Summer Internship is structured into six key phases:
- Onboarding and Orientation
Interns learn about our office, internship expectations, and campus partners. This includes a deep dive into resources and guidance on working with clients. - Training and Learning
Interns complete three specialized training programs:- Lean in Higher Education (St. Andrews)
- Lean Applied to Business Processes (LABP)
- Kentucky Manufacturing Extension Program (KY MEP)
- These programs build a strong foundation of knowledge and skills for the summer.
- Personal Development
Activities include MBTI assessments, Strengths exploration, and Results-Based Facilitation to enhance self-awareness and leadership skills. - Project Work
The majority of the summer is spent partnering with a campus department to improve a process, saving time or increasing accuracy. - Professional Visits
Interns visit organizations and departments that apply Lean practices. Past visits included the Toyota Georgetown Assembly Plant (off-campus) and HR and Horticulture (on-campus). - Conference Participation
Interns attend the Network for Change and Continuous Innovation (NCCI) conference, engaging in workshops and hearing from experts on Lean in higher education across the U.S.
Before starting the OCI Summer Internship, it’s helpful to familiarize yourself with Lean principles and Continuous Improvement concepts, as these will form the foundation of your work. Here are some recommended resources:
- Bill Peterson’s Lean Applied to Business Processes (LABP) Website provides tools and frameworks for implementing Lean in business processes. Familiarizing yourself with these concepts will provide a strong foundation of knowledge.
- LeanBP Blog offers practical insights into Lean methodology across industries. It’s an excellent resource for understanding how Lean thinking applies to real-world processes.
- Our Office of Continuous Improvement Webpages provide a wide variety of information key to success in the internship program.
- As student interns participate in a Green Belt Certification project throughout the summer, familiarizing yourself with what the certification encompasses is important. View the certification page here.
- Another important resource is our new page for OCI blogs. Here you can review Green Belt success stories, internship experiences, and learn about Lean and CI topics.
- Berea students have access to LinkedIn Learning courses. We recommend topics you’ll use during the internship, such as yEd for process mapping, standard work, mind mapping, and visual management techniques like Kanban.
