Can an internship review be electronically signed?

Yes. Electronic signatures are legally enforceable under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and by UETA in most states provided intent, consent, attribution, and retention are satisfied.

Do student records trigger FERPA protections?

If the intern is a student and the record is maintained by an educational institution, FERPA may apply; handle disclosures accordingly and consult institutional counsel for compliance.

Is notarization required for these reviews?

Not typically. Internship performance reviews are administrative personnel or academic documents and usually do not require notarization or witnesses unless tied to a separate sworn affidavit.

How should I store signed reviews?

Store signed PDFs with audit trails in encrypted systems with role-based access; retain according to IRS, HR, or industry-specific retention timelines.

What if the intern disputes the review?

Document a response period and allow the intern to submit a written rebuttal; keep both documents in the personnel or academic file to preserve the record.

Can protected health information appear in comments?

Avoid including PHI in free-text fields unless using a HIPAA-compliant workflow and a BAA with the eSignature provider; otherwise redact or use secure channels.

Electronic Signature
Templates
HR
Internship Performance Review

Internship Performance Review

This template is fully customizable. Edit the text, fill out the fields, and send it for signature. Give it a try!

Internship Performance Review

Personal Information

Full Legal Name Address

Phone:

Email:

Position & Review Period

Position / Title Department / Team

Reporting Manager:

Intern Start Date:

Review Period: From To

Employment History (Prior Employers)

Employer 1 - Company Title / Position Dates Employed Primary Responsibilities Reason for Leaving Employer 2 - Company Title / Position Dates Employed Primary Responsibilities Reason for Leaving

Education

Degree Institution Graduation Date

References

Please provide three professional references.

Reference 1 - Name

Phone:

Email:

Relationship Reference 2 - Name

Phone:

Email:

Relationship Reference 3 - Name

Phone:

Email:

Relationship

Performance Evaluation

Rating scale: 1 = Unsatisfactory, 2 = Needs Improvement, 3 = Meets Expectations, 4 = Exceeds Expectations, 5 = Outstanding. Provide factual examples to support ratings.

Quality of Work — Accuracy, thoroughness, attention to detail. Rating:

Supervisor Comments

Productivity & Time Management — Meets deadlines, manages workload. Rating:

Supervisor Comments

Initiative & Problem Solving — Proactive, seeks solutions, takes ownership. Rating:

Supervisor Comments

Communication — Clarity, responsiveness, listening skills. Rating:

Supervisor Comments

Teamwork & Collaboration — Works well with others, contributes to team goals. Rating:

Supervisor Comments

Technical Skills & Learning — Demonstrates required technical competence and growth. Rating:

Supervisor Comments

Attendance & Punctuality — Reliability in schedule and presence. Rating:

Supervisor Comments

Goals & Accomplishments

Previous Goals (set at prior review) Status of Goals

Overall Assessment & Recommendations

Overall Performance Rating:

Summary of Strengths Areas for Development

Recommended Action: Extend Internship Consider Conversion to Employment End Internship

Rationale for Recommendation

Intern Comments

Intern Self-Assessment / Comments

Legal Disclosures & Certifications

At-Will Internship: Nothing in this review alters the at-will nature of the internship. Either the organization or the intern may end the internship relationship at any time, with or without cause or notice, unless otherwise provided in a separate written agreement signed by authorized representatives.

Equal Opportunity: The organization is an equal opportunity provider. Employment and internship decisions are made without regard to protected characteristics, in accordance with applicable law.

I authorize the organization to contact prior employers, educational institutions and references provided herein and to conduct background or other screenings as permitted by law.

Certification: I certify that the information I have provided on this form is accurate to the best of my knowledge and that I have discussed the content of this review with my supervisor. I understand that false statements may be grounds for corrective action.

Intern Acknowledgement

I acknowledge that I have reviewed and discussed this performance review with my supervisor. My signature below indicates receipt and review, not necessarily agreement with all comments.

Intern Name:

By:

Date:

Supervisor Name:

By:

Date:

What the Internship Performance Review Records

An Internship Performance Review is a structured document used to assess an intern's job performance, progress toward learning objectives, and fit with organizational expectations. It typically records competency ratings, supervisor comments, goals met, areas for development, and the intern's own reflections. The form creates a formal record for HR, the internship sponsor or academic partner, and the intern; it supports pay or offer decisions, academic credit verification, and personnel files. Completed reviews often include signatures or electronic attestations from the supervisor and the intern, plus a date of completion.

Why a Formal Review Matters

A clear Internship Performance Review promotes consistent feedback, documents outcomes for academic or HR purposes, and reduces ambiguity about performance expectations and next steps.

Who Completes and Relies on This Review

Accurate completion ensures records can be relied on for future hiring, academic credit, and compliance with institutional policies.

Supervisors and managers responsible for day-to-day oversight and evaluation of intern tasks and competencies.
Human resources or talent teams that maintain personnel files and verify completion for credit or onboarding.
Academic internship coordinators who require documented assessments for grading or credit award.

Core Sections to Include in the Review

A professional Internship Performance Review contains structured sections that make assessments comparable across interns and time, while enabling narrative context for qualitative feedback.

Identifying Data

Intern and employer names, position, department, internship start and end dates, and academic sponsor where applicable.

Goals & Objectives

Predefined learning objectives and project deliverables tied to the internship agreement or syllabus.

Competency Ratings

Numeric or categorical ratings for skills such as communication, teamwork, technical ability, and reliability.

Supervisor Comments

Evidence-based observations about work quality, milestones achieved, and areas for improvement.

Intern Self-Assessment

Intern reflections on their performance, learning, and future development goals.

Signatures & Dates

Signed and dated attestations from the supervisor and intern; may include eSignatures and HR acknowledgement.

Step-by-Step: Completing the Review

Follow these sequential steps to prepare, complete, and store the Internship Performance Review so it is clear, auditable, and useful for HR and academic partners.

01

Prepare Template: Select or create a standardized review template with fields and rating scales.
02

Gather Evidence: Collect performance data, project deliverables, and attendance records before rating.
03

Complete Review: Supervisor fills ratings and comments, then shares draft with intern for acknowledgement.
04

Sign and Archive: Obtain signatures, save final PDF, and retain according to retention policy.

How Electronic Completion and Routing Works

An electronic workflow speeds execution and records an auditable trail while preserving the same legal effects as a paper-signed review under U.S. law.

Create Document: Upload or generate the review, then place required fields for names, dates, and signatures.
Assign Signers: Add supervisor, intern, and optional HR reviewer in signing order or via shared link.
Signer Authentication: Use email, SMS code, or stronger methods where necessary to confirm identity.
Store & Audit: Save the final signed PDF and the audit trail that records timestamps and signer attribution.

Online Workflow Settings to Configure

Configure the online workflow to match your internal controls and recordkeeping requirements before sending reviews for signature.

Field	Configuration
Authentication	Email link, SMS code, or multi-factor authentication
Template	Save as reusable template with required fields
Reminders	Set automated reminders at configurable intervals
Storage	Encrypted PDF storage with access controls

Technical Considerations for eSubmission

Confirm the platform meets record retention, access logging, and any industry compliance needs before entering production workflows.

File Formats: PDF, DOCX accepted; export to secure PDF/A for long-term storage
Integrations: Connectors for HRIS, Google Workspace, or LMS simplify routing
Authentication: Options for SMS, email verification, or stronger MFA

Timing and Deadlines to Observe

Set clear internal deadlines tied to the internship schedule and any academic reporting requirements to ensure timely feedback and recordkeeping.

Final Review Deadline:

Complete within 14 days after the internship end date

Midpoint Check-In:

Schedule a midpoint evaluation at roughly 50% completion

Academic Submission:

Submit documentation to academic partner by their stated deadline

HR File Update:

Store signed review in HR file within 30 days of completion

Appeal Window:

Allow a 10–30 day window for intern response or rebuttal

Key Milestones in the Review Cycle

Track these numbered milestones to structure interactions and ensure the review is complete, acknowledged, and archived.

01

Goal Setting

Agree and document objectives before or at internship start

02

Midterm Feedback

Conduct interim review and adjust goals if needed

03

Final Evaluation

Supervisor completes ratings and narrative at term end

04

Record Retention

Archive signed review per retention schedule

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Using vague or unsupported comments rather than citing concrete work examples, which weakens the review's evidentiary value and academic use.
Failing to capture signatures or authorization dates, leaving the document incomplete and potentially unusable for verification or credit purposes.
Applying inconsistent rating scales across interns, which undermines comparability and can lead to perceived unfairness or legal risk.
Delaying the final review beyond the internship end date, increasing recall bias and complicating HR or academic reporting.

Risks from Inaccurate or Incomplete Reviews

FERPA Exposure: Improper disclosure of student records

HIPAA Risk: PHI exposure in healthcare internships

Discrimination Claim: Inconsistent evaluations invite legal challenge

Academic Credit Delay: Missing documentation delays credit posting

Record Gaps: Lost evidence for future reference

I-9 / Employment: Incomplete onboarding records trigger fines

Practical Examples of Use

These short scenarios show how organizations structure reviews to meet administrative and academic needs.

University Career Office

A university required a standardized rubric for internship credit

The rubric aligned supervisor ratings with course outcomes
The office saved administrative time by using a reusable template and retained signed records for three years to meet audit and accreditation needs.

Healthcare Clinic

A clinic evaluated clinical interns with competency checklists

Supervisors recorded objective task completion
Reviews were processed through a HIPAA-compliant workflow and archived for six years to meet regulatory retention rules.

eSignature Pricing Comparison for Document Execution

Compare baseline eSignature pricing and common feature lines to inform platform selection for executing Internship Performance Reviews; signNow is listed first per vendor ordering rules.

	signNow	DocuSign	Adobe Sign	PandaDoc	HelloSign
Starting Price	$8/user/mo	$15/user/mo	$14/user/mo	$19/user/mo	$15/user/mo
Free Trial	7-day free trial	Varies by vendor	Varies by vendor	Varies by vendor	Varies by vendor
Bulk Send	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Audit Trail	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
HIPAA Compliant	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Envelope Cap	No cap	100 envelopes/user/year	Varies	Varies	Varies

Practical Tips for Reliable Reviews

Adopt consistent formats, preserve evidence, and document signatory authority to maintain defensible and useful performance records.

Use a Standard Template

A single, organization-wide template ensures consistent criteria and simplifies comparative analysis across interns and terms.

Document Evidence

Link or cite specific deliverables or timestamps to support ratings and reduce disagreement during appeals or academic verification.

Capture Consent for Electronic Records

For consumer-facing or student records, obtain consent for electronic delivery and retention in compliance with ESIGN and institutional policies.

Secure Storage

Store signed reviews in encrypted, access-controlled systems and maintain an audit trail for any access or modification.

Frequently Asked Questions and Troubleshooting

Answers to common questions about completing, signing, and storing Internship Performance Reviews in a compliant and auditable way.

Need help? Contact support

Can an internship review be electronically signed?
Yes. Electronic signatures are legally enforceable under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and by UETA in most states provided intent, consent, attribution, and retention are satisfied.
Do student records trigger FERPA protections?
If the intern is a student and the record is maintained by an educational institution, FERPA may apply; handle disclosures accordingly and consult institutional counsel for compliance.
Is notarization required for these reviews?
Not typically. Internship performance reviews are administrative personnel or academic documents and usually do not require notarization or witnesses unless tied to a separate sworn affidavit.
How should I store signed reviews?
Store signed PDFs with audit trails in encrypted systems with role-based access; retain according to IRS, HR, or industry-specific retention timelines.
What if the intern disputes the review?
Document a response period and allow the intern to submit a written rebuttal; keep both documents in the personnel or academic file to preserve the record.
Can protected health information appear in comments?
Avoid including PHI in free-text fields unless using a HIPAA-compliant workflow and a BAA with the eSignature provider; otherwise redact or use secure channels.

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