Eau Claire Internship Fund

The Eau Claire Internship Fund is internship funding for students completing an unpaid internship in the Eau Claire area. The Eau Claire Internship Fund will pay a student up to $3000. This experience is funded by donations from alumni and employers.

This is open to all undergraduate majors. Preference is given to students seeking internships in fields and industries where interns are often unpaid (non-profit organizations, government agencies, startups) and for students who have a financial hardship. Applications for Spring 2025 internships will be available in October 2024 in Handshake.

• November 24 at 11:55pm: Spring 2025 internship applications due
• December 2-13: Select applicants interviewed
• December 17: Recipients notified

Eligibility Requirements

• The internship must be at least 200 hours.
• This opportunity is open to all majors.
• The internship site must meet the following requirements: The organization is within the Chippewa Valley (30 miles or less) and is not an on-campus employer. The internship site does not typically offer paid internship experiences to UW-Eau Claire students in that area of study.
• Preference given to students seeking internships in fields and industries where interns are often unpaid (non-profit organizations, government agencies, startups).
• Preference given to students with financial hardship.

Application Process

Students must apply for the job posting on Handshake. Students must submit a resume, two professional reference letters (references can be from faculty), and letter of application (no longer than two pages) that addresses each of the following questions:

• If you do have an internship confirmed in Eau Claire: please include a job description and offer letter (this does not count towards the two-page maximum). It is not a requirement to already have an internship secured to apply for funding.
• If you do not have an internship confirmed in Eau Claire: what types of organization(s) would you like to work for, if selected for this program? Have you applied and/or interviewed for any positions? If so, please include information about each of those positions.
• Describe your financial hardship and how it impacts your ability to participate in an internship.
• Why should you be selected as a recipient of this program funding?

Information for Students

1. Students are responsible for finding and reporting their internship to receive their funds. They must secure the internship within 2 weeks of being awarded the internship funding. Selected candidate will work closely with Career Services if they do not have an internship secured.
2. If selected to receive Eau Claire Internship Funds, students will work with off-campus employer and Career Services staff to craft a job description, and schedule with their Internship Supervisor.
3. Students will work with their internship supervisor to coordinate their start date and internship projects.
4. Students will work with Career Services to set internship goals before the start of their internship.
5. Students must complete necessary hiring paperwork to be paid by the Advising, Retention + Career Center (working with the ASK Center and ARCC staff)
6. Student commits to working 200 hours over the semester or summer at the internship.
7. The intern agrees to participate in strategic communication efforts to promote future Eau Claire Internship Fund opportunities.

Information for Internship Employers

1. The employer agrees to offer meaningful work for the intern, related to the intern’s career goal. They agree to adhere to best practices at their internship. These include regular meetings with the intern, onboarding, regular feedback, and performance evaluation. The employer agrees to provide a supervisor and/or a mentor to the intern.
2. The Internship Host agrees to participate in strategic communication efforts to promote future Eau Claire Internship Fund opportunities.

Reasons to Participate

1. Develop valuable career readiness skills while exploring a profession or industry before committing full-time.
2. Network with local professionals and find a potential mentor.
3. Build hand-on experience related to a topic or field of interest.
4. Prepare for the work force by gaining relevant work experience in a developmental setting.

Support the Eau Claire Internship Fund

Your gift in support of the Eau Claire Internship Fund lets undergraduate students learn valuable career skills, while exploring professions and industries that historically do not support paid internships. Students who complete internships are more likely to secure full-time employment than students without, but unpaid positions are out of reach for many students with financial limitations. You can help reduce financial pressure and increase career opportunities by supporting us here (be sure to select "Career Services Internship Fund (2944)").