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2015 BYU Educ. & L.J. 323 (2015)
Unpaid Internships: Free Labor or Valuable Learning Experience?

handle is hein.journals/byuelj2015 and id is 337 raw text is: UNPAID INTERNSHIPS: FREE LABOR OR VALUABLE LEARNING EXPERIENCE? Robert J. Tepper* & Matthew P. Holtt I. INTRODUCTION Over the last decade, internships have become an integral part of the college curriculum. Many degree programs either strongly recommend or require that students complete one or more internships.'Current business and accounting accreditation standards require evidence substantiating a curriculum where students engage in experiential and active learning designed to improve skills and the application of knowledge in practice.2 Internships, particularly those offered in private firms, have long been thought to advance those objectives. This paper discusses the perceived advantages and disadvantages of internships. It then discusses current legal * C.P.A., M.B.A., J.D.; Principal Lecturer, Accounting Department, Anderson School of Management, University of New Mexico. t J.D., Assistant Professor, College of Business, Finance Department, New Mexico State University. I See Karel A. Updyke & James Sander, A Survey of AACSB Accredited Institutions and the Use of Work Experiences as Part of the Business Curricula, Fall 2005 J. ACAD. Bus. EDUC. at 118, 120, 125, available at http://digitalcommons.butler.edu/cgiviewcontent.cgi?article=1 18&context=cob-papers (reporting that despite the benefits of internships, only 26 of 133 responding AACSB schools required an internship). Recent survey data suggests that 63.2% of graduating seniors participated in an internship or co-op program. Nat'l Ass'n of Colls. & Emp'rs, Class of 2013: Majority of Seniors Participated in Internships or Co-ops, NACEWEB.ORG (June 26, 2013), https://www.naceweb.org/s06262013/internship-co-op.during- college.aspx. Of that number, 52.2% were paid; 47.8% were unpaid. NAT'L ASS'N OF COLLS. & EMP'RS, THE COLLEGE CLASS OF 2013: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 6 (Nov. 2013), available at http://www.naceweb.org/uploadedFiles/Content/static- assets/downloads/executive-summary/2013-student-survey-executive-summary.pdf. 2 AACSB, 2013 Business Standards, Learning and Teaching Standards, AACSB.EDU, http://www.aacsb.edu/accreditationstandards/2013-business/learning- and.teaching/ (last visited July 31, 2014); see also AACSB, 2013 Accounting Standards, Learning and Teaching Standards, AACSB.EDU, http://www.aacsb.edu/accreditation/accounting/standards/2013/learning-and-teaching/ (last visited July 31, 2014).