Internships are transformational experiences that can broaden your understanding of how an industry functions, and build your confidence using workplace skills. They allow you to practice critical thinking and to apply knowledge gained from your academic studies in a work environment.
Exposure to a field through experiential opportunities such as internships can be imperative for career development.
As organizations begin to understand the value that interns bring, paid internships are becoming more common; a growing number of for-profit organizations offer competitive wages for internship roles. However, many non-profit and government organizations are still unable to provide paid opportunities.
Motivated by an equity mindset, a Puget Sound alumni donor has established the Puget Sound Internship Grant to help Logger students pursue unpaid* internships that are in alignment with their career interests and goals.
The Puget Sound Internship Grant provides $3,000 to students pursuing unpaid internships off-campus. Grants are available for fall and spring terms.
As a grant recipient, you receive additional benefits, including opportunities to: join a cohort of interns, connect with an alumni mentor who works in the student's field of interest, and (optionally) enroll in EXLN 296 to pursue credit.
*An unpaid internship is defined as an internship where the intern does not receive a regular wage. Please see the FAQs for details about whether your internship would qualify for this grant.
Eligibility
- Open to Logger students with sophomore, junior, or senior class standing who:
- Are in good academic standing with the University, with a minimum of 2.0 GPA; and free of any conduct incidents or violations.
- Are enrolled during the semester of the internship
- Complete a minimum of 120 hours within the off-campus experience.
- The internship must occur during the same term that the grant is received.
- Priority will be given to students pursuing their first internship.
- Students may only receive the Puget Sound Internship Grant once.
Before you apply, we encourage you to meet with a Career and Employment Services (CES) career advisor to determine whether you and/or the internship meet the eligibility requirements.
Timeline
Fall 2024
- Application opens: Thursday, Aug. 1
- Priority deadline*: Tuesday, Sept. 10
- Review/selection/notification begins Sept. 11
Spring 2025
- Application opens: Wednesday, Dec. 4
- Priority deadline*: Wednesday, Jan. 22
- Review/selection/notification begins Jan. 23
*The application will remain open until all grants have been awarded. Submit your application early for your best chance at selection.
- Statement of intent that outlines how your internship advances your academic and career goals
- Statement of how this grant would support your ability to complete an unpaid or low-wage internship, including any extenuating circumstances regarding your need for this grant
- Current resume or CV
- Submission of all required application materials
- Thoughtful articulation of how the internship advances your academic and career goals
- Confirmation and approval of your internship by Career and Employment Services (CES) staff member
- Priority will be given to students pursuing a first internship, as well as students with financial need determined by both Student Financial Services and your responses to application questions
Financial need will be considered.
- You will complete a Learning Agreement.
- After your Learning Agreement is submitted, you will receive an award letter when your grant has been processed by the Office of Finance. You will then be given instructions for where to collect your grant check.
- Prior to the onset of the internship, Career and Employment Services (CES) staff members will contact your internship supervisors to outline expectations.
It is not required, but we encourage you to consider enrolling in the Internship Seminar (EXLN 296) to earn credit and to make the most of your internship experience.
- Complete a minimum of 120 hours in your internship experience during the term in which you receive the grant.
- Meet with the intern cohort three times during the term.
- Complete a self-evaluation by the end of term. (Your internship site supervisor will also submit an appraisal of your performance.)
An unpaid internship is defined as an internship where the intern does not receive a regular wage. A paid internship means that the intern is earning (at the very least) minimum wage for the hours worked.
Interns who receive reimbursement or a stipend from the employer of no more than $1,000 are also eligible for this grant.
Students must commit to at least 120 hours within the internship during the academic term in which they receive the grant.
Once selected, you will need to submit a Learning Agreement. After the Learning Agreement is received, you will receive an award letter from Puget Sound's Office of Finance, along with your grant.
All grants are considered to be taxable income, and you are responsible for reporting it as such.
If your application is denied for missing information or for insufficient articulation of how the internship advances your academic and career goals (and if program funds have not already been fully allocated) you will have the opportunity to revise* and resubmit your application.
If your application is denied due to your internship experience not meeting our criteria for an internship, you can meet with a Career and Employment Services (CES) career advisor to establish a plan for finding an opportunity for the next term that meets our definition of an internship.
If your application is denied because program funds are already fully allocated, you can work with a CES career advisor to find an opportunity for the next term, and plan to apply early to the Puget Sound Internship Grant program. Meanwhile, consider enrolling in the Internship Seminar (EXLN 296) to earn credit and to make the most of your current internship.
*Before you apply (or reapply), we encourage you to meet with a CES career advisor to determine whether you and/or the internship meet the eligibility requirements, and to discuss how best to articulate your interest in the program.