Ut Prosim Internship Support Fund

Student eligibility

In order to be eligible to apply, students must:

• Be an undergraduate student at Virginia Tech in good academic standing. (Funding is not currently available for incoming students, recent graduates, or graduate students.)
• Be enrolled at Virginia Tech during the period of fund support OR will be returning to Virginia Tech to continue your undergraduate degree after the funded internship. (Applicant status cannot be alumni during the internship and award period.)

For a student to be eligible to apply for funding, your internship experience must:

• Be unpaid or underpaid. An internship is underpaid if the wages only partially cover the student's cost to participate, and/or requires additional costs.
  
• Be an approved internship experience by Career and Professional Development at Virginia Tech.
• Be with a company or organization located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. (Washington, D.C., is not included.)
• Directly contributes to the public good (i.e., for the benefit or well-being of the public) — may include non-profit and for-profit organizations whose mission is for the benefit or well-being of the public, has social responsibility values, or components of the job responsibilities are for the public good.
  (Preference given to opportunities in non-profit organizations, non-governmental agencies, and location in rural southwest Virginia.)

What is an approved internship for the purposes of the Ut Prosim Internship Support Fund?

• Internships are structured and supervised experiences that are typically project-based and last for one academic term (fall, spring, or summer) and have a tangible outcome or deliverable. Internships include intentional learning, career exploration, development of professional and technical skills, reflection on learning and skill development, and connection to academic studies and/or future career goals.
• Internships should not replace the work of a full-time employee, and there must be opportunity for training and development.
• Internships must include duties and responsibilities that build on academic learning and/or career preparation.
• Internships provide supervision by a professional with expertise in the field and offers routine feedback.
• Internships must be located in the Commonwealth of Virginia and directly contribute to the public good.

Note: Experiences that are shadowing-only opportunities do not qualify for this funding. Entrepreneurial pursuits and self-employment do not qualify for funding.

How students apply for funding

Students will apply for funding through an online application and supporting documents.

• Complete the application for Ut Prosim Internship Support Fund, which includes:
  • Outline of income and expenses during internship period
  • Statement of career development
  • Statement of financial need
• Submit official offer letter from the organization/company that provides details of your internship and includes start and end dates.
• Submit job description.

Students are strongly encouraged to reach out to Hokie Wellness/Financial Wellness Resources for a 1:1 coaching appointment to develop a budget and financial plan for their internship experience.

Application deadlines

Students may apply each term if funding is needed and the internship meets the requirements.

How funding decisions are made

All eligible student applications will go through a competitive selection process based on internship eligibility requirements, quality of internship experience, and demonstrated need documented through the application. Funding is not guaranteed to all applicants.

The goal of Ut Prosim Internship Support Fund is to support as many students as possible considering the different needs and requests of applicants. If a student is chosen to receive a funding award they may receive full or partial funding of their request, up to $5,000. The more details a student can provide in their application, and the more descriptive they can be in their statement of financial need, the easier it will be to determine the scope of the need and where the funds can close financial gaps for applicants.

How funds are paid to recipients

Funding from the Ut Prosim Internship Support Fund is not a scholarship. Once eligible students who are awarded support are notified, they will need to provide funding support award documentation to their employer. The employer will then coordinate with Career and Professional Development to receive funds and provide payment directly to the student from their organization. Details and instructions regarding this process and funding support documentation will be provided directly to students who receive awards. It is the student’s responsibility to provide funding support documentation and instructions to their employing organization. Once a student receives their payment from their employer they can utilize it immediately for internship expenses.

The award is considered taxable income. (If the student were being paid by their internship employer, that hourly or stipend payment would have been deemed taxable income in the same way, with taxes either taken out along the way or to be counted at the end of the tax year.) Employers will issue appropriate tax forms to the student, according to individual tax status, for any payment they receive if per IRS regulations. For additional questions students should visit the irs.gov website or contact a tax professional.

Important notes:

• International students, F-1 and J-1 visa holders, should consult with Cranwell International Center to determine if they are eligible to accept payment.
• Failure to start or complete the internship may result in all or partial reimbursement of funds by the student.