SUNY Empire Internship Initiative

The Office of Career & Experiential Learning Services has received funding from SUNY to support enrolled undergraduate and graduate students pursuing internship opportunities. Internships provide invaluable real-world experience that can set you apart from other job applicants, and excellent opportunities to gain career and industry knowledge. However, many students face the dilemma of choosing between participating in an unpaid internship or missing out on valuable experience that can aid their post-graduation plans.

To address this, Empire State University launched the Internship Initiative in June 2024. Additionally, we are excited to offer a stipend for students participating in unpaid, credit-bearing internships. Please note that a limited number of stipends are available.

What is the Career Search and Internship Supports Program?

Students participating in unpaid internships are eligible to apply for this stipend. An approved undergraduate applicant will receive a stipend of $3,200 for completing 160 hours. An approved graduate applicant will receive a stipend of $2,700 for completing 120 hours. To receive the stipend, students must:

• Be a matriculated, undergraduate or graduate student at Empire State University.
• Have confirmation from their mentor/academic advisor to participate in an internship.
• Be an active student and completed one of the two prior semesters.
• Have approval from a SUNY Empire faculty chair that the proposed internship experience meets academic criteria and is eligible for course credit. Mentor/academic advisors will initiate outreach to the relevant faculty chair for approval of academic credit for the internship.
  • Please Note:Internships will not be considered confirmed until the career team receives both mentor/advisor and faculty approval.
• Be enrolled in an unpaid, credit-bearing internship.
• Undergraduate students work 160 hours with the internship site. Graduate students work 120 hours with the internship site.
• Some SUNY Empire programs have specific requirements for students participating in an internship:
  • Addiction Studies: Internships must be at an OASAS site. Internships cannot be during an express term.
  • Students in the following programs can participate in the Internship Initiative during the fall and spring semesters only; summer internships are not eligible:
    • Addiction Studies
    • Business, Business Management, Business Administration
    • Human Resource Management
    • Human Services
    • Marketing
• Please note: Students who are interested in participating in an internship should expect to take no more than 16 credits (which includes the internship course). If you are requesting to go over 16 credits for the semester, you will need to work with your mentor/academic advisor to receive prior approval. The approval is not guaranteed.

Internship Opportunities

Students can participate in internship opportunities with SUNY Empire or a non-profit organization in their community.

If you are interested in hiring an intern to work in your office, please contact our office at CareerServices@sunyempire.edu so we can give an overview of the program.

Internship Forms

Contact us with questions about these stipends or internship opportunities at careerservices@sunyempire.edu.

Needs-Based Stipends

We recognize that many students need additional support in order to participate in an internship. You may be eligible for additional funding to support expenses associated with this experience:

• Professional Attire: First impressions matter. This stipend is intended to ensure you have the attire you need to feel confident and prepared as you interview for jobs or work at your internship location.
• Childcare: Finding reliable childcare can be a significant hurdle. This stipend can help alleviate costs associated with childcare.
• Travel: Whether you rely on public transportation or use your own vehicle, commuting expenses can add up. The stipend can help offset these costs.

For more information on eligibility requirements and how to apply, please visit our Internship Stipend site. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

The 411 on SUNY Empire’s Internship Initiative

Attend one of our upcoming workshops giving an overview of this new initiative, the opportunities and how you can participate in an internship. All workshops are posted on the:

Career Hub Events Page