Host Colin Powell School Interns

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Looking for project help? We’re looking for partners!

At the Colin Powell School, we work with sites to develop and offer full-time experiences, internship opportunities, ‘micro-internships’ for short, specific projects and other administrative support you may need that will also help train our students in key professional skillsets.

CCNY Campus, students walking

Program Overview

Internships can start at any time; they are not tied to the school calendar and the schedule is negotiated between the site and the student. There is no minimum or maximum number of hours. Additionally, there is no MOU or contract required, and no tax implications for the site.

 

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Requirements

Partner organizations provide a dedicated Site Supervisor who sets and tracks learning goals that allow students to gain entry-level exposure and experience.

 

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Compensation

We do believe it is important and equitable for students to be compensated for their contributions. We also understand that it can be challenging for organizations to pay a stipend for internships. Internships with targeted training (along with course credit offered by the Colin Powell School), will provide students with invaluable hands-on experience to prepare them to be “career-ready” by graduation. Thanks to a generous grant, unpaid internships are eligible for a stipend of $18/hour for up to 300 hours.

More than 200 organizations from all sectors engage in the program annually, rating the program experience and student participation an average of 4.7 out of 5.

3 Steps to Hire
Powell School Interns

1

Start by submitting your open opportunities using the Internships Announcement Form.

If your internship program operates on a cohort model with start/end dates, you can indicate that in the posting. You have the option to post a website link or attach an internship description.

Once approved by the school (usually within a day or two), the internship announcement is immediately visible in our Public Service Paid Internships Database to all students and promoted in our eight Fellowship programs, which include a summer internship component.

The internship description can be paused once the seat is filled for a term, and can easily be reactivated for the following term just by letting us know, so no need to fill out another form or send in a new one unless something changes.

Sites are eligible to host up to eight interns at one time.

Hybrid and in-person internships are preferred given that these provide all-important experiential learning; however, remote is acceptable as well.

2

Get connected via email and set up an interview time: If you would like a cover letter, writing sample, or other written materials as part of the application, you may request them in response to the connection email.

During the interview, the student and site will negotiate the schedule, hours, learning goals, and responsibilities.

3

Once a student is offered the spot, they will then complete an internship commitment form, which triggers an automated email to go to the person they identify as the Site Supervisor to confirm the internship.

When both forms are received, the student and site will receive a final confirmation email.

Link to Database

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About our students

Colin Powell School Students are bright, curious, and interested in pursuing challenges; they have diverse identities across race, ethnicity, age, gender, and sexual orientation and come from varied socioeconomic, educational, work, geographic, and political backgrounds.

Of the 4,000 students we welcome on campus each year, more than 50% are immigrants from 100+ countries, speaking 90+ languages. More than 70% are the first in their families to attend college, and more than 80% are BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color). Many students have retail and service work experience, bringing strong relational communication skills and a high level of energy and excitement. Since for many an internship at your organization will be their very first professional step, our students offer a “fresh-eye” perspective that will benefit their internship projects and your organizational culture.

Our internship opportunities are designed with the intention to give students who have never had an internship before, or an equivalent professional experience, the opportunity to gain experiences which will enable them to pursue even more rigorous and rewarding opportunities.

The Colin Powell School majors are:

  • Anthropology and Interdisciplinary Programs: Anthropology, Women’s and Gender Studies, International Studies, Latin American and Latino Studies
  • Economics and Business
  • Political Science
  • Psychology
  • Sociology

Be Part of An Award-Winning Program

In 2023, our internship program received the Exemplary Models Award by the American Association of University Administrators, a non-profit professional organization for higher education leaders and administrative personnel.

This award recognizes outstanding examples of leadership that demonstrate creative solutions to common problems in higher education.

Contact Us

Have any questions?

We’re here to assist! Whether you’re a student, alumni, or part of the community, don’t hesitate to reach out for more information or support.

Book a Meeting with Maya

Office of Student Success
North Academic Center, Rooms 6/270 to 6/288
160 Convent Avenue, New York, NY 10031
p. 212.650.8663

Office Hours: Monday to Friday 9.30am -5.00pm
📍Campus Map

Maya Gutierrez
NAC 6/274
Maya Gutierrez
Public Service Career Hub Director
mgutierrez1@ccny.cuny.edu