Frequently Asked Questions

Housing

Where are the apartments and can I see them before I move in?

Campus Heights
277 West Main Street
Middletown, PA 17057

If selected as a member of the Leadership Development Internship Program, you can arrange a tour of the campus by calling 717-649-0202 or emailing CampusHeights@collegetowncommunities.com.

Will I have to sign a housing contract?

Yes. If selected as a member of Leadership Development Internship Program, you will receive an occupancy agreement that will require your review and signature

Can I live with my friends or what if I am coming by myself?

All interns will receive a compatibility survey prior to April. Assuming all applicants have been accepted into the program, and all paperwork is complete, your housing request should be honored if requesting to live with your friends.

If you do not have a specific roommate request, our housing partner College Town Communities will utilize their Roommate Matching Survey as an additional tool to find you the best possible roommate match and to ensure a positive housing experience. Each apartment has four lockable bedrooms each with their own private bathroom and shared living room and kitchen. Apartments will be single-sex rooming within co-ed building.

Are the apartments furnished?

Yes, ALL units are completely furnished. Furnishings include leather couches, coffee table, full-sized bed with hypoallergenic mattress, desk with locking drawer, desk chair, 5 drawer dresser, full-sized closet, and a 55” HD flat screen TV in ALL Suite Style Apartments.

All kitchens are supplied with a Full-Sized Refrigerator, a Range/Stove, Ventilation Hood, and Garbage Disposal.

What is included in my weekly rental payment?

Your $160 weekly rental includes: access to the entire facility for the complete duration of your lease term, individual bedrooms each with their own private bathroom, fully furnished apartment, ALL utilities included, individual password protected WiFi, a 55” SMART HDTV in every living room, FREE onsite parking, FREE laundry in ALL laundry rooms, secure package receiving at our Leasing Office, and after-hours security staff 7 days a week. All residents will also have access to the newly construction, state of the art, 4000+ square foot Clubhouse; fully equipped with a gym, business center, table games and 2-story fireplace.

Can guest/visitors stay overnight?

All residents are allowed to have a guest visit or spend the night at any time without the need to register or sign them in. However, a guest is NOT allowed to stay for more the 3 days at a time. Roommate consideration must be taken into account with all visitors. Guests must be accompanied by the resident with whom they are visiting at ALL times when inside the apartment.

What safety measures are taken into consideration during my summer stay?

All parking lots are well lit, and College Town Communities has a strong working relationship with the Middletown Police and Lower Swatara Police Departments. Some additional information is below:

Leasing Office: Located at 277 West Main St (inside the Student Lounge), Middletown PA, our fully staffed leasing office is open from 10am-5pm Mon-Friday. Saturdays 10am-3pm.

After Hours: There is an after-hours, 3rd Party, Security company that monitors both properties 7 days per week. All residents are to call the office phone number for any after-hours issues or concerns. Security is there to assist residents with any potential lock outs or if a resident is returning home late at night and would like their presence to escort them into the building, or to contact them if they accidentally burn something on the stove. College Town Communities 24-hour maintenance personnel are available by calling this same number.

Keys and Locks: All apartment entry doors and bedroom doors are equipped with a Schlage “Key Fob” lock system. Each of these locks are deadbolt locks, installed on solid core doors, which allow for maximum safety. Both the keys and the locks allow management to track activity and potential misuse of any area by their individual coding. These keys are not reproducible by the resident and can be taken offline immediately in the event that a resident’s key is ever lost or stolen. All exterior building doors lock every time they close, so non-residents are unable to enter without the assistance of a resident. If these doors are “propped open” or held open an alarm will sound after 30 seconds alerting staff and residents that the door is not closed properly.

Parking Passes: Each resident that is interested in keeping a vehicle on property must register the vehicle through the Leasing Office. Each resident is assigned a numbered parking pass that is then tracked through our software management system and monitored by BOTH our on-site staff and contracted towing service. Any vehicle found to be parking on property without a Resident Parking Pass or Registered Guest Parking Pass will be towed upon discovery.

Lighting: Both parking lot and building entry lighting are set to be on from Dusk ‘til Dawn every day, any time of year.

Security Cameras: There are also over 100 security cameras located around the facilities covering all entrances, outdoor and indoor common areas, as well as parking areas. Security cameras cannot stop something from happening, but they are an excellent deterrent against wrongdoing.

Fire Protection: Both Campus Heights and Schoolhouse Lofts are equipped with full building sprinkler systems. BOTH Campus Heights and Schoolhouse Lofts are also equipped with a fully addressable and monitored, interconnected fire protection system. This means that all smoke detectors within the apartment unit are individually identifiable, which sends an alert to management and their after-hours security/ on-call staff to alert them every time a smoke alarm goes off. All smoke alerts that are received are checked, in person, by staff. Each apartment unit is also equipped with one combination smoke and Carbon Monoxide detector in the common living area. Common area hallway smoke detectors and pull stations are connected to a Central Station, 3rd party, alarm monitoring company that immediately calls the police and fire department if those alarms are ever triggered. Every apartment unit is also provided a fire extinguisher, either under the kitchen sink or adjacent to the kitchen hanging on the wall. All extinguishers are inspected annually by a 3rd party fire protection company to make sure that they are in working order.

Are animals permitted?

No. Animals are not allowed at any of our facilities. No animals are allowed to “visit” any of the facilities at any time either, due to the possibility of spreading allergens or fleas that could be disruptive to other residents in the facility.

Is Alcohol Permitted in My Unit?

Assuming you are of the legal age, you may consume alcohol in your apartment. No alcohol is permitted in the outdoor areas or the Student Lounge and we ask you to respect all community guidelines. The housing contract will have an addendum that will need to be signed by both the tenant and a guarantor.

Employment

How much money can I make during this internship?

Over the entire summer, the average scheduled hours/week will be 40 or more. Some weeks will be less than 40 hours, and some weeks will be more than 40 hours. Lesser hours are generally based on weather and operational conditions.

Team Member positions start at $12 per hour and will have the ability to pick up additional shifts. Interns will also pay for their housing fee (rent and utilities) of $160 weekly which will be taken out of their paycheck. Required taxes will also be taken out of your bi-weekly paychecks.

What is the hiring process?

When completing your application, be sure to include an active email address. Our primary method of communication with our applicants is through email. Once you have submitted your application and assuming you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, a member of our Talent Acquisition Team will review your application and resume. Those who most closely match the requirements for this program are moved on for further consideration. Upon a successful review, a Hiring Representative will reach out to coordinate a phone interview. The response time upon receiving your application to notification is typically two business weeks.

When will I know if I am accepted into the program?

We expect this to be a competitive program that will only accept 250 students. Each applicant will receive email communication throughout the interview and selection process to provide you with next steps. The acceptance process will be a rolling admission based on a successful recruitment process and official acceptance in the program will not be completed until the program fee and housing security deposit have been received which include the $160 refundable security deposit.

Where will I work?

During our hiring process, applicants will have the opportunity to express interest in the specific roles for which they would like to be considered. The operations team at Hersheypark will take this into consideration when assigning your roles. All interns will receive their department placement during the interview process. All interns in the Hersheypark Leadership Development Internship Program will play an invaluable role by working during a peak time at the Park. 

Interns should expect to be scheduled a variable start and end time in order to support the needs of the operations. There may be opportunities for interns to pick up open shifts for additional work hours

How will I get to work?

Transportation will be provided to and from Hersheypark. Interns should plan to take the departing bus that most closely aligns with arriving at Hersheypark prior to their scheduled shift.

When I work at Hersheypark, what do I need to wear?

As a member of the Leadership Development Internship Program, interns are provided with polos from the Uniform Services department, however, interns will be responsible for providing their own bottoms. Specific wardrobe guidelines will be provided for each department. Rain ponchos will be provided upon request on inclement weather days. A list of approved self-supplied outerwear will also be available as well as employee exclusive items available for purchase. Anyone working in Food & Beverage is required to wear black slip-resistant shoes. Employees can purchase black slip-resistant shoes for $45 from Uniform Services upon arrival, or at another shoe store.

What if I need to take a day off or go home for a family event?

Hershey Entertainment & Resorts recognizes that you may have scheduled or annual vacations with your family and friends. Our application process will ask about your vacation plans during the 12-week program. We understand there are times that you may want a personal day, all interns may request time off from working with the understanding that not all requests may be approved. Considerations of all requests involve the operational needs of Hersheypark and availability of other team members especially on Memorial Day, 4th of July and weekends. If you become a member of the Leadership Development Internship Program, a more thorough explanation of the scheduling process will be provided.

What type of paperwork will I need to complete if I am accepted into the program?

If selected as a member of the Leadership Development Internship Program, a detailed welcome email will provide you with several critical forms including an offer letter, occupancy agreement, and payment information for the housing fee. We are always focused on the safety of our team members and guests; therefore, we conduct a criminal background check on team members, including interns, throughout the company. This authorization will be emailed to you from Sterling Talent Solutions and the cost is covered by Hersheypark.

Again, for the safety of all guests and team members, all interns in safety specific positions will be required to take a drug test on your first day of work.

Where do I eat when I am working? I have several dietary restrictions; can I bring my own food to Hersheypark?

The Coaster Cafe is a cafeteria that’s available to employees only. The cafeteria is located near Gate 7, one of the main employee entrances to Hersheypark. Items that are available in the Cafe include:

Daily specials, soups and salads, deli and grilled sandwiches, burgers and wraps, water and soda fountain, assorted desserts and snack items. Microwaves and free Wi-Fi are also available for use. Cold storage options are not available for a personal lunchbox.

How can I learn more about Hershey Entertainment & Resorts and its mission as a company and community involvement?

Hershey Entertainment & Resorts takes great pride in giving back to the communities where its employees and guests live - just as Mr. Hershey did. To learn more about our corporate philanthropy practices and our employees' volunteerism, visit our community impact page to review our latest Corporate Social Responsibility Summary.

Leadership Development Curriculum

How long are classes and what does it mean when you say “student-centered” teaching?

Classes are once a week for 3 hours, and feature an array of mini-lectures, exercises, group work, assessments and reflections. The goal of each class will be to maximize student engagement and experiential learning directly applicable to your development as a leader and your current and future employment.

What happens if I don’t attend class?

While the classes are not mandatory, they are strongly encouraged as the leadership development seminars were specifically designed for our interns. Attendance will be taken. Interns who do not attend class will not be paid for their classroom time.

Interns who miss more than 2 classes will not receive their certificate as it is designed to provide evidence of knowledge and practice acquired during and as a result of class. If you are enrolled through your university or college to receive credits, please check with your advisor regarding any requirements for minimal instructional hours required to receive credits. Your scheduled work hours will not conflict with your class schedule.

Do I have to get dressed up for class?

There will be two to three classes where business casual clothing will be needed as you meet and interact with corporate, community and government leaders, including a networking event. Other class days will be less formal.

Do I need to buy any books or supplies?

All instructional materials will be provided to you at no cost.

How can this count for a college credit at my college/university?

How can this count for a college credit at my college/university?
Check with your advisor or internship coordinator for specific requirements that your college or university might have. The classes are designed to be equivalent to a 3-credit course on leadership.

What does it mean that I will get a certificate for leadership development training?

The certificate, issued by Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania, will provide evidence of the knowledge and skills acquired through the leadership development program. The certificate and the underlying skills and knowledge can be reflected on your resume and provided to future of employers.

Can Pell grants or financial help pay for my housing or academic credits if I qualify?

Generally, no since the receipt of financial aid requires enrollment in at least 6 credits. Should you be enrolling in additional credits at your university for the summer, please check with your financial aid office regarding eligibility.

Faculty & Advisors

What is the Leadership Development Internship?

This new program is designed to combine the opportunity to work at one of America’s top-rated entertainment and hospitality venues with a significant leadership development program for an enhanced summer employment opportunity for college students.

Who is it designed to serve?

This program is designed for any returning student but has particular value for rising sophomores and juniors who want to extend their organizational and leadership skills before they seek internship opportunities aligned with their program of study. It may have particular value for students that have not yet declared a major and desire to learn more about themselves and their potential.

What will students get out of the experience?

Students will be able to advance their leadership potential through experiential learning and skill development. During the leadership classes students will learn about their leadership potential, engage with experts in the many facets of effective leadership, and develop an action plan for further development after the summer experience. Students will have the opportunity to engage with proven leaders from business, public service and non-profit organizations. At the conclusion of the program, students will receive a certificate in leadership development from Shippensburg University.

And most importantly, students will have the opportunity to earn income to help defray the costs of the subsequent academic year.

Why should I recommend it to my students?

Depending on student interests, the opportunity for employment at home or elsewhere, and the interest in getting more out of the summer than simply working, this program may make sense for many students.

Is the instructional portion credit worthy?

A rigorous curriculum complementing the work experience is being developed in partnership with Shippensburg University that will include weekly 3-hour classes with targeted lectures, exercises and assessments, experiential learning and reflection equivalent to a 3-credit course.

How do I pay for the fees?

Specific questions that you or your advisor might have should be directed to employment@hersheypa.com. Please allow for 2-3 Business Days for a reply.