Sustainability Internship Program
Undergraduate students working to help their campus improve social, economic, and environmental sustainability.
The Sustainability Internship Program provides an intellectual framework for students to apply classroom learning to project-based engagement. Since summer 2014, we have connected over 200 students to sustainability projects on UIC's campus.
Open to UIC undergraduate students only, students from fields of engineering, architecture, urban studies, public health, nursing, and liberal arts and sciences, have completed the program. Students have been placed in internships across the campus, in units such as Campus Housing, Dining Services, the Children’s Center, Capital Programs, Campus Utilities, Facilities Management, Civil Engineering, the Center for Literacy, the Energy Initiative, Gallery 400, UI Hospital, and the School of Dentistry, as well as outside partners such as The Field Museum and the One Earth Film Festival. Projects vary from waste reduction initiatives and community outreach to data research and water conservation, and more.
Summer 2023 internship opportunities included:
Greenhouse gas emissions tracking and analysis, communications and social media, transportation system development, carbon offset procurement, gardening, compostable waste education and disposal, environmental history research, vermiculture waste education and research, prairie habitat monitoring, energy efficiency promotion, food scrap recovery, and more!
The Students Heading link
About the SIP Program Heading link
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What is SIP?
The Sustainability Internship Program (SIP) is a multi-year program that starts with a for-credit (US/PUBH 390) spring course. SIP offers an internship placement at a UIC department or affiliated organization, weekly seminars, and field outings that cover a range of educational and skill building topics, leadership development and project management experience.
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What are the Seminars?
Seminar topics include environmental, cultural, and energy sustainability issues, institutional challenges and change management, campus structure and administration, campus sustainability programs, and job readiness.
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Intern Expectations
Interns are expected to develop a work plan and project goals, meet regularly with an experienced mentor, share experiences with other SIP interns, attend weekly seminars and outings, and present their project results at a virtual poster presentation.
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Spring Internship Program
The spring internship is a for-credit class (US/PUBH390) held during the semester; in addition to a weekly 1.25 hour seminar, students are required to commit approximately eight hours a week to their assigned internship.
Although the course is cross listed in the College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs and the School of Public Health, all majors are welcome and encouraged to apply.
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Summer Internship Program
The 2023 summer program was held May 30 – August 4. In addition to spending approximately 20 hours a week working on their internship, interns were required to attend a weekly seminar on Wednesdays from 10 a.m – noon.
Successful completion of the summer program guarantees registered, undergraduate students continued employment with PSPM as a student mentor for future cohorts.
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How to Apply
Internships will be updated regularly; check this Box folder often for updated internship positions.
