UTEP CARESInternship Program Organization Partners

Local public, private, and non-profit organizations were invited to apply to host UTEP student interns under the UTEP CARES Regional Internship Program.

Participating partners hosted and mentored students for a period of 56 weeks (January 2021 through April 2022). UTEP students were paid from the UTEP CARES Act funding with no cost-sharing requirements from partners. Partners supported students through mentorships and a structured work-experience where the student(s) developed relevant/in-demand employment skills while adding value to the organization. Organizations were required to submit internship job descriptions that detailed the projects that students had to accomplish through the duration of the internship program.

UTEP Department Leads

The Center for Community Engagement (CCE) and the University Career Center (UCC) were co-leads for this exciting initiative. Partner organizations received training, support, and on-going communication from members of these university centers.

We would like to thank our 77 community partners who participated in the UTEP CARES Regional Internship Program through the 2020-2021 academic year.

Eligibility to Host an Intern

The CARES Regional Internship Program was open to:

Small businesses
Nonprofit organizations
Educational institutions
State and local public entities

* Organizations and businesses affected operationally by COVID-19 were prioritized.

Requirements

Organizations that were accepted to host an intern were required to:

Post their intern job description(s) via Job Mine
Interview and select their intern(s) by December 11, 2020
Appoint a supervisor who would serve as a liaison between the student intern(s) and UTEP
Commit to a mandatory program orientation
Participate in an evaluation process at the midpoint and end of the internship period
Provide workspace and a safe environment for student intern(s)
- Observe COVID-19 Guidelines if applicable (https://www.utep.edu/resuming-campus-operations/_Files/docs/Temp-Health-Policy-Final.pdf)
Provide guidance and direction for the work to be completed in 18 hours a week
Host the internship in an on-line setting, or an on-site setting which adheres to CDC Guidelines
Submit an evaluation on the student and the program
Communicate regularly with the CCE/ UCC
Participate in student poster symposium, which took place on August 12, 2021 and April 29, 2022

The CARES Regional Internship Program concluded on April 30, 2022. We are no longer accepting applications to host interns. Employers can go to the Career Center website to get access resources on how to hire UTEP interns.

Program Timeline

FALL 2020

October 15	CARES Regional Internship Program launched
October 30	Organizations submitted applications by this deadline, and received a notification if accepted by November 4.
November 16 - November 20	Organizations posted their internship job descriptions via UTEP’s Job Mine job board and conducted student interviews.
November 23 - December 2	Student intern selections were made.

SPRING & SUMMER 2021

January	Mandatory partner orientation trainings took place. Multiple trainings were made available to accommodate employer schedules.
January 19	Student internship start date (once all clearances were made with UTEP Human Resources and CARES Engagement Managers.)
January through August	Duration of the Spring and Summer internships. Students were expected to attend 18 professional development trainings offered by the CARES Regional Internship Program.
Week of May 4	Student and partner evaluations were due
August 12	Students participated in a poster symposium that allowed them to showcase their internship experiences. Partners were invited to attend and support their student(s).

FALL 2021

August 23	Student internship start date (once all clearances were made with UTEP Human Resources and CARES Engagement Managers.)
September through December	Duration of the Fall internships. Students were expected to attend 11 professional development trainings offered by the CARES Regional Internship Program.
Week of December 6	Student and partner evaluations were due

SPRING 2022

January 18	Student internship start date (once all clearances were made with UTEP Human Resources and CARES Engagement Managers.)
January through April 30	Duration of the Spring internships. Students were expected to attend 10 professional development trainings offered by the CARES Regional Internship Program.
April 29	Students participated in a poster symposium that allowed them to showcase their internship experiences. Partners were invited to attend and support their student(s).
Week of May 9	Student and partner evaluations were due

Application Information

Participating organizations completed an online application. The application included the following questions.

Organization contact information & mission
Brief information of clientele served
Mentor/Supervisor contact Information
Job description for the proposed CARES student intern position. Include goals and specific objectives to be completed or achieved by the student
List skills relevant for the position.
How do you foresee the student impacting your organization and its mission?
What kind of skills, knowledge, and abilities do you anticipate the student will gain from working with the organization? Please review skills listed below informed by the NACE Competencies and the UTEP EDGE.
UTEP students will graduate with these skills:

• Leadership
• Problem-solving
• Communication
• Entrepreneurship
• Social responsibility

• Confidence
• Global awareness
• Teamwork
• Critical thinking
Indicate days and times available for student intern(s) work schedule
1. Please note that student intern(s) are expected to work approximately 18 hours a week with 1 hour dedicated to programming requirements (reflection, timesheets, professional development). Total of 19 hrs weekly.
Number of positions you would like to be considered for
How is your organization able to accommodate student intern(s)?
1. Remotely
2. On site
3. Both
4. Other – If a requirement comes down to move to remote work, what process do you have in place to switch?
Which method is preferred?
1. Remote
2. Onsite
Any additional information you would like for us to consider while reviewing your application.

The CARES Regional Internship Program concluded on April 30, 2022. We are no longer accepting applications to host interns. Employers can go to the Career Center website to get access resources on how to hire UTEP interns.

COVID-19 Information

COVID-19 Guidelines followed

The CDC determined important guidelines to follow with regards to COVID-19 for both CARES student interns and community partners participating in our UTEP CARES Internship Program. See guidelines.

COVID Guidelines

Throughout the program, organizations had the option to host a CARES student intern on-site or remotely. If the organization decided to host a student on-site, they were required to follow all COVID-19 guidelines.

CDC guidelines observed by our partners (as of October 1, 2020): *visit www.cdc.gov for current updates

Face coverings are required in common areas and hand washing is enforced.
Social distancing MUST be followed. Please ensure that all student interns are placed in environments where a physical space of 6 feet separation between others is maintained.
Student Interns who are at increased risk of severe illness, or who work in offices where close proximity makes social distancing difficult, must discuss options for adjusting office locations, telework, or working from home with their supervisor.
Student employees should complete work remotely whenever possible, working with their supervisor to substitute alternate assignments that can be completed remotely if regular responsibilities are not suited to remote work.
To work remotely, all student interns need a computer, WIFI hotspot or internet connection, and phone access. If a student employee does not have access to a computer or hotspot, they can contact the Technology Support Department to discuss the options available to them.