Community Internship Program

Organizations, or internships, in the following categories cannot be considered for this program.

The Secretary considers work in the public interest to be work performed for the national or community welfare rather than work performed to benefit a particular interest or group. Work is not in the public interest if—

(1) It primarily benefits the members of a limited membership organization such as a credit union, a fraternal or religious order, or a cooperative;

(2) It is for an elected official who is not responsible for the regular administration of Federal, State, or local government;

(3) It is work as a political aide for any elected official;

(4) A student's political support or party affiliation is taken into account in hiring him or her;

(5) It involves any partisan or nonpartisan political activity or is associated with a faction in an election for public or party office; or

(6) It involves lobbying on the Federal, State, or local level.

Reference

"Internship quality work" refers to tasks and projects that provide students with meaningful, hands-on experience related to their field of study or career interests. This includes responsibilities that help students develop professional skills, solve real-world problems, and contribute to the organization's goals. Internships should offer supervision and mentorship, opportunities for learning and growth, and exposure to the professional environment.

Check our NACE's guidelines on internships

The scope of a project within the Community Internship Program should focus on providing students with valuable, real-world experience that aligns with both the organization's mission and the student’s academic or career goals. Projects should be clearly defined with specific objectives, tasks, and deliverables that allow students to apply their skills while contributing to community-focused initiatives. Employers are encouraged to offer opportunities for collaboration, problem-solving, and mentorship to ensure the internship is both enriching for the student and beneficial to the organization.

Include the following so that it is clear to students what the project scope is, what they will learn, what skills they need to perform well, and clear expectations your organization has for them to be successful.

• Details of the internship - formal information about the specific function, project, and key tasks they will be performing.
   
• Learning Experience - in this section, site can provide information on any educational experiences they might encounter such as meetings with executives, shadowing experiences, workshops, etc.
   
• Expectations - parameters of what you expect from the student. i.e. hours worked, presentation or project completed, etc.
   
• Qualifications - any experience, competencies, skills, educational background necessary for the function of the internship.

Best Practices for Building a Strong Internship Program:

1. Provide Structured Mentorship: Assign a dedicated mentor or supervisor who offers guidance, support, and regular feedback. This relationship is crucial for helping students grow professionally and ensuring they feel connected to the organization.

2. Offer Exposure to Leadership: Facilitate opportunities for interns to engage with senior leadership, attend meetings, or participate in strategic discussions. This helps students gain insight into the organization's vision and decision-making process.

3. Design a Meaningful Project: Create a well-defined project that aligns with both the organization’s goals and the intern’s academic interests. Ensure the project includes specific outcomes, problem-solving elements, and tasks that can be completed during the internship.

4. Assign Key Tasks with Real Impact: Provide interns with responsibilities that allow them to make tangible contributions. Whether it's conducting research, developing reports, or supporting key initiatives, the tasks should be challenging and relevant to their future career.

5. Encourage Professional Development: Offer interns access to training, workshops, and networking opportunities that help them develop new skills and expand their professional network within and outside the organization.

Students come from a variety of academic majors.  Here are some examples of projects students might be able to tackle for your organization

• Market Research Report: Conduct research on a specific industry or market segment. Gather data on market size, trends, competitors, and customer preferences. Prepare a comprehensive report with findings and recommendations. 
   
• Social Media Marketing Campaign: Develop a social media strategy for a business. Create content calendars, design posts, and schedule them for publication. Monitor engagement metrics and provide an analysis of campaign effectiveness. 
   
• Website Development or Redesign: Design and build a website for a small business or improve an existing website. Focus on user experience, SEO optimization, and mobile responsiveness. 
   
• Event Planning and Management: Plan and organize a business event or workshop. Coordinate logistics, manage invitations, and oversee on-site execution. Evaluate event success and gather feedback from participants. 
   
• Content Creation for Marketing: Develop marketing materials such as blog posts, case studies, or promotional videos. Focus on storytelling and align content with business objectives and target audience. 
   
• Human Services: providing tutoring coaching, and mentoring to students and other populations.
   
• Data Analysis, Information Systems, Computer Science: technology projects to help your organization become more efficient.
   
• Customer Satisfaction Survey and Analysis: Design and conduct a survey to assess customer satisfaction and loyalty. Analyze survey results, identify key drivers of satisfaction, and recommend actionable improvements. 

Want to talk through some ideas?  Contact Dr. Patrick Madsen at pmadsen@charlotte.edu