Community Engaged Internships Application Guide
2023 Application Information
The South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium (Consortium) recognizes the value of place-based work for undergraduate students of diverse backgrounds who have an interest in marine science and coastal community engagement. As funding is available through the Consortium’s program development funds or through other projects that Consortium member faculty or staff have developed, students from marginalized and underserved communities will be recruited to conduct summer community-based projects that focus on community environmental and resilience needs as aligned with the Consortium’s strategic plan. The S.C. Sea Grant Consortium Community Engaged Internship Program (SCSGC-CEI) is part of the National Sea Grant Community Engaged Internship Program.
The purpose of this program is to broaden participation in marine and coastal professions by providing training and mentorship to the next generation of scientists, decision-makers and citizens. Undergraduate students completing their freshman-junior years will engage in place-based research, extension, education, and/or communication that respects and integrates local ways of knowing. The students will engage with Consortium staff and conduct a project-based internship. Students will enhance their experience through participation in all CEI professional development and training opportunities, mentorship by Consortium staff, and peer discussions with other participants in CEI across the country. Interns will work with a Sea Grant Consortium staff member, and often a community member or group, to develop a summer project in their community.
Recruitment
Students from, or students serving, marginalized and underserved communities will be recruited for CEIs. Students attending S.C. institutions and S.C. residents attending university out-of-state are eligible.
Projects
The Consortium staff will work with community partners to develop priority internship projects. The project descriptions will include a brief description of the community need, a brief description of the project and location, project objectives and outcomes, number of hours needed for the project, a general idea of time commitment and work days/hours needed (such as if weekend work is required) and project mentors so that applicants can determine if the work is compatible with other summer jobs and expectations.
Application
Applications will be reviewed by a panel of Consortium staff and community members. The application requires 3 pages in addition to letters from a professor/instructor and a previous employer or academic mentor with whom you have worked.
- Contact and About You: Name, Address, Email and Phone number, School, Year status, Major selected (or “still deciding”)
- One-page resume.
- Provide answers to these questions:
- Introductory icebreaker – one sentence to describe yourself and 5 adjectives that someone close to you might use to describe you.
- How does this internship advance your education and career goals? (~250 words)
- How will completion of this project benefit the community? (~250 words each)
- Two letters of support, one from a faculty member or instructor and another from either a previous employer or an academic mentor with whom you have worked.
These should be submitted by email to Susannah Sheldon (suzannah.sheldon@scseagrant.org) with subject line: CEI application.
Internship Funding
In general, project descriptions will be released to applicants in early March. Applications are due in April and successful applicants will be notified in late April. There is no guarantee that funds will be available to make awards, or that any application will be selected for funding. The Consortium will not be responsible for any incurred project costs if this program fails to receive full funding.
Interns will be contracted by the Consortium to develop their projects and participate in Consortium-wide activities as well as professional development opportunities. Projects will pay a stipend that depends on the length of the project and time commitment required. Internships will last 12 weeks and require 20-30 hours/week. Project descriptions will provide details about the available project, an estimate of time needed to complete the work and the stipend amount for the project.
Interns will be required to participate in on-line CEI professional development activities.
Timeline
2023 applications are due April 21. Internships will occur in May-August timeframe depending on time commitment needed.