UMW Internship Grant Program

Internships provide an excellent opportunity to gain professional work experience and test out a career field of interest. As a student, you can develop or enhance your skill set and knowledge base, build a network of professional contacts, and learn how to manage the multitude of responsibilities that come with a career. In the summer, if you are seeking and paying for academic credit for an internship, we recognize that some personal cost may be incurred including travel to and from your destination, housing/accommodations, living expenses, and the payment you make to be enrolled in an internship for credit over the summer.

As a result of donations from alumni, parents and friends, the University of Mary Washington has created three summer internship grants in the amount of $2,000 each given annually which are intended to provide funding support for eligible students, regardless of your academic field of study. Students must have already secured an internship in order to apply.

To be eligible, you must meet the following criteria:

• Must have at least 12 credit hours completed and earned at UMW
• Must plan to be enrolled at least one semester after the end of the internship
• Have at least a 2.0 GPA
• Plan to seek approval for an unpaid summer internship
• If you have previously worked/volunteered/interned at the same internship site- you must prove that you will be doing something substantially different to be eligible to return for credit

Additionally, you must:

• Agree to keep an on-line journal throughout the course of your summer internship

Please note that these funds are for unpaid internships only- not summer research positions or formal placement programs requiring you to pay to complete the internship. If you are returning to the same internship site, your application should indicate how this experience will be different from your previous internship and how you will further enhance yourself and/or the organization by a second internship experience.

Internship grant recipients will be determined by a committee made up of Alumni Relations and Academic and Career Services staff and selection will be based on the quality of the applicant’s entire application package.

The application packet should include:

• Completed Grant Application
• A resume
• 2 completed essays in response to the essay questions (below), each not exceeding 300 words
• An internship contract in progress
• At least 2 references

The two essay questions that should be addressed are:

1) Describe the specific internship you will participate in, including duties or projects assigned to you and skills you hope to learn and use.

2) How will the successful completion of your internship relate to your future career and/or academic plans? How will you benefit from this internship personally and professionally?

Responses to each should be between 200-300 words.

 Application materials must be hand-delivered (preferred) or mailed to the Office of Academic and Career Services in Lee Hall, Room 308. The Summer 2013 Internship Grant Application Deadline is 4/10/13 at 5pm.

To apply, UMW Internship Grant Program Application.