The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships is teaming up with the Center for Career Development this fall to launch the Nonprofit Work-Study Internship program.
This new experience offers students who qualify for the Federal Work-Study program a chance to work in internship positions at local nonprofit organizations, which are typically unpaid, using their work-study funding. Positions are offered through the program in areas such as graphic design, social media, curriculum development, and statistics.
Assistant Director of Internship Development Mary Beth Browder said the internships are crucial to future career success and this program gives students who may be financially unable to commit to an unpaid internship an opportunity to gain experience in the field.
“For students who are interested in medicine, law, public relations, education, marketing, and business analytics as career paths, these internships are excellent ways to build skills in those areas and prepare students for future internships, research opportunities, or graduate school in the industry of their choice,” Browder said.
In addition gaining field experience, these internships allow students to serve the Knoxville community.
“The internships support organizations that provide free medical care, after-school enrichment programs, environmental and sustainability initiatives, aid to immigrants and refugees, and many other areas of impact,” she said.
Organizations currently offering positions include Bridge Refugee Services, Remote Area Medical, Centro Hispano, the Great Schools Partnership, and Keep Knoxville Beautiful.
The program launched this month, and participating organizations are now reviewing applications and making hiring decisions. Although several students have already applied, many internship positions are still available.
Students who are eligible for work-study can find these internship opportunities on the university’s Handshake job and internship portal and through Job X, the Federal Work-Study Program’s job board. Although the program itself does not have any requirements aside from work-study eligibility, individual organizations hosting internships may have more specific qualifications for applicants.
Students can see if they qualify for work-study by visiting or calling One Stop Student Services.
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CONTACT:
Katherine Saxon (ksaxon@utk.edu, 865-974-8365)