Internship and Other Funding

• Please note that funding will not cover the cost of summer academic credit ($600 per credit). Please work with your academic advisor and faculty sponsor to determine the appropriate amount of credit for your internship.
• The majority of internships are done for academic credit, especially if unpaid.
• Paid internships will be considered for funding only if wages do not fully cover expenses. You will be responsible for providing a budget that clearly shows expenses in excess of wages.
• If your internship is fewer than 30 hours per week, your funding will be prorated based on the number of hours you are working.
• We encourage all students to receive credit for their internship to ensure supervision and mentorship during their experience. You may request 1/2, 1, or 2 credits for your internship.
• Internship expenses considered for funding include travel, food, and housing. The attire and supplies necessary for the experience will not be considered.
• Funding amounts are determined based on a budget of anticipated expenses that you will provide to us.
• If you receive funding for your internship, you will be required to provide photos and a written testimonial at the end of your experience.

If you are applying for a for-credit internship, select the "InAct Portal" button above, then click "Apply for an internship" under the Internships accordion to complete the application that allows you to apply for funding, academic credit, and InAct transcription. Once complete, the appropriate departments will receive and consider your request.* You will be notified by the Ingenuity in Action committee for a decision on funding and the Registrar's Office for academic credit. 

If you are requesting funding for an experience where you are not seeking academic credit, such as conference participation where you are presenting, professional certification that also adds value to Cornell College, or another activity, please see instructions further down the page for how to apply. 

*We do not guarantee that we will provide funding to help cover the costs of participating in a fee-based internship program.

• Find a faculty sponsor. You must have a faculty sponsor agree to award credit for the internship and complete a syllabus outlining their expectations.
• Secure an internship site. While you do not need to be selected by your chosen site at the time you complete your application for funding, you must be in the process of applying for the internship. Funding will be contingent upon acceptance by the internship site.
• Prepare a resume. A resume outlining your experiences is necessary to help the funding committee review your credentials. You are strongly encouraged to have your resume reviewed by a Berry Career Institute staff member prior to application submission. Make an appointment.
• Write your personal statement. The personal statement should provide background on the site, your qualifications, and how it relates to your career goals. The required length is 600-900 words. Your proposal must be reviewed by a staff member in the Writing Studio or Berry Career Institute and must include the following elements:
  • An overview of the organization and how you found out about it.
  • Why the internship interests you and the projects you might be working on.
  • Skills and experience you have that will allow you to contribute to the organization. Be specific.
  • What you hope to gain from the experience and how it helps you work towards your academic and career goals.
• Create an Excel budget. Create a budget using our budget form to estimate food, transportation, and housing expenses. Here is a sample budget to guide you through it. Then attach that as an Excel spreadsheet totaling the expenses after income is received.

• Complete the internship application (InAct Portal button above). This form will serve as your request for funding, academic credit, and InAct transcription. Be prepared to submit the following documents: 
  • Budget for food, transportation, and housing.
  • Resume.
  • Unofficial Transcript.
  • Job description.
• If your request for funding is approved, you will need to complete and submit the Berry Career Institute Funding Agreement, and that proposal form is due before funds can be disbursed.
• Students will also be required to meet with Andrea Lohf or Mark Kendall to go over the internship checklist before funding is approved.
• In order to expedite the disbursement of funds, we encourage you to have a current ACH form on file in the business office. See resources for funded internships for a link and more info.

If you are requesting funding for conference attendance (where you will be presenting), a professional certification that also gives back to Cornell, or another activity, please select the "Other Experiences" button above to complete the application and include the following:

• A personal statement that should provide background on the site, your qualifications, and how it relates to your career goals. The required length is 600-900 words. Your proposal must be reviewed by a staff member in the Writing Studio or Berry Career Institute and must include the following elements:
  • An overview of the organization you will be working with (or conference history/certification purpose) and how you found out about it.
  • Why pursuing this opportunity is important to you.
  • Skills and experience you have that will allow you to contribute to the organization or how your certification will help you contribute to Cornell College. Be specific.
  • What you hope to gain from the experience and how it helps you work towards your academic and career goals.
• Provide information from the conference or certifying organization with more details of the experience.
• Excel Budget. Create a budget using our budget form to estimate food, transportation, and housing expenses. Here is a sample budget to guide you through it. Then attach that and an Excel spreadsheet totaling the expenses after income is received.
• Resume.
• Unofficial transcript.
• If your request for funding is approved, you will need to complete and submit the Funding Agreement to the Berry Career Institute.
• In order to expedite the disbursement of funds, make sure to have a current ACH form on file in the business office. You can find a link on our Resources for Funding page.