The Externship component is a mandatory requirement for graduation from the Arizona Culinary Institute (ACI) Diploma in Culinary Arts, Baking and Restaurant Management program. This policy outlines the expectations, procedures, and responsibilities related to the Externship experience. Student Externships are supervised by a designated ACI faculty or staff member who possesses a minimum of three (3) years of practical work experience in the field of culinary arts, baking, or restaurant management.
ACI is dedicated to partnering with reputable organizations to provide externship opportunities for its students. While ACI offers extensive support and guidance throughout the process, students are ultimately responsible for securing their own externship placements in full collaboration with the selected site. All externship sites must receive prior approval from ACI. Although student preferences are taken into account, the final decision regarding placement is determined by the school. Externships are generally expected to be completed at a single site unless an exception is granted due to extenuating circumstances. Additionally, students assigned to externship sites must hold a valid U.S. work authorization.
Each externship site will maintain a written training plan that clearly outlines the goals, educational objectives, specific experiences, and practical applications to be achieved during the externship. This training plan details the necessary educational resources, establishes a defined timeline for the externship period, and specifies the evaluation methods and criteria to be employed. These evaluation measures are designed to appropriately and equitably assess the student’s demonstrated competencies and skill attainment.
The training plan will designate an on-site supervisor from the host organization who will be responsible for guiding and overseeing the student’s learning experience, as well as participating in the evaluation of the student’s performance. The school will maintain ongoing collaboration with the on-site supervisor to review and refine evaluation processes and criteria, ensuring that assessments accurately and equitably measure the student’s demonstrated competencies and skill development.
Externships must begin the week immediately following the last day of class to be counted as a full week of Externship credit. A delay in commencement may result in withdrawal from the program.
The Externship must total a minimum of 210 hours (or approximately 21% of the total program length), completed over a minimum of six weeks. Students are encouraged to maximize their hours worked each week to meet this timeframe.
Weekly timesheets must be submitted electronically on or before the following Tuesday, signed by both the student as well as the site supervisor. Missing timesheets will prompt outreach by the school’s Registrar. If the contract cannot be established, a seven (7) day warning will be issued. Failure to comply may result in withdrawal from the program.
Evaluations Student Evaluations: Students are formally evaluated at two points:
Evaluation forms are provided in the Externship Packet and assess reliability, work habits, and technical skills. Completion of all evaluations and related materials is required for successful course completion.
Students must complete a final Student Externship Evaluation at the conclusion of the Externship.
Students must complete a final Student Externship Evaluation and Mandatory Externship Completion Sheet at the conclusion of the Externship. In the event that a student’s externship is terminated by the site, the student is required to notify ACI immediately. Unauthorized termination or interruption of the externship may lead to dismissal from the program. Students who are terminated from an externship site must obtain a new ACI-approved placement within fourteen (14) days of the LDA to avoid the risk of dismissal. If a student is terminated during their externship, they must restart the externship process, and any hours previously accrued will not count toward the 210-hour/6-week requirement. Any injuries or significant issues that are encountered at the Externship site must be reported to the school’s Placement Director immediately.
