Agenda 21
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What is Agenda 21?
Eligibility
For more than two decades, the Tennessee Hospital Association’s (THA) Agenda 21 Internship Program has operated with the mission of matching minority healthcare students with hospital executives for summer internships in hospitals across the state.
The Agenda 21 Internship Program is a 12-week supervised learning experience for qualified minority graduate students
interested in healthcare administration or a related field. Through close work with administrators and staff, interns gain hands-on experience working with the hospital’s management team. This experience will help expand knowledge and
skills and pave the way for success as future leaders in the healthcare industry.
As part of the internship, students are assigned a major project, which has direct benefit to the organization. In addition,
shadowing, staff interviews and work within the organization help interns hone communication and leadership skills while
applying practices and theories learned in the classroom.
Minority students pursuing a graduate degree in health services management, public health or policy, healthcare
financial management and related healthcare subject areas are eligible to apply for the Agenda 21 Internship Program. Those who have completed their baccalaureate degree but have not yet enrolled in a graduate program also are
encouraged to apply. Interns must be able to commit to the full 12-week program.
For purposes of Agenda 21, “minority” is considered to include race, ethnicity and gender, which would include nonwhite male and all female students, as well as those students who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT). Eligible candidates also must be either (1) a citizen of the United States, (2) a noncitizen national of the U.S., (3) a lawful permanent resident of the U.S., (4) or an alien authorized to work in the U.S. and be able to present proper documentation to establish employment authorization and identity.
Section and Placement
Compensation and Benefits
Applying for Agenda 21 begins online at www.tha.com/agenda21. Candidates submit information via a secure web form before sending supporting documents and information directly to THA. An initial review of applications then is performed based on academic excellence, interest and commitment to a career in healthcare, personal statements and references. The goal is to identify ambitious students with a high potential for success.
Qualified candidates are first interviewed by THA staff and those selected to move forward will be subject to a criminal background check. Satisfactory results from this check will enable the student to continue in the process.
Candidates are then recommended to a specific hospital, depending on qualifications and the needs of hospitals participating in the program. Once referred to a hospital, students are contacted for phone or in-person interviews with the preceptor or other hospital leadership. The final decision whether to accept a candidate is up to the hospital.
Candidates should notify THA immediately if they are uninterested in a specific placement or if their ability to complete the 12-week program changes at any point during the selection process.
THA makes every effort to provide quality candidates who match the needs of participating hospitals. When necessary, geographic location and a student’s ability to relocate are a factor in these matches. However, placement near a
candidate’s school or home cannot be guarantee
Interns are paid $6,800 for completing the full 12-week internship. Payroll is issued by THA biweekly. THA issues payroll via direct deposit, so interns will need a valid checking account in order to receive pay. No payroll advances
are issued to interns.
Interns do not receive health insurance or any other benefits as part of their internship. Vacation and sick time are not awarded as part of the program, although holidays observed by the hospital will be considered “paid” days off.
Any other time taken off due to illness or previously scheduled vacations should be cleared through the preceptor and written notice shall be given to THA in order to adjust the pay accordingly. When possible, interns are permitted and encouraged to make up missed time by working additional hours or days to compensate for the lost work. Such arrangements immediately should be brought to the THA contact’s attention.
Agenda 21 Internship Program
For more than two decades, Tennessee Hospital Association’s Agenda 21 Internship Program has operated with the mission of matching minority healthcare students with hospital executives for summer internships in hospitals across the state.
