Since the announcement and press release on December 8th, the community of Richmond, Virginia, has been abuzz about the Richmond Guarantee, which will begin in summer 2015.

For every traditional undergraduate student, the University of Richmond will guarantee funding of up to $4,000 for one summer research or internship experience before graduation.

The majority of opportunities will be funded through the UR Summer Fellowships program.  In the summer of 2014, the University provided more than 300 UR Summer Fellowship awards, totaling more than $1 million. About half of the awards were for research and half for internships. The average award was $3,600. In addition, more than 80 students worked alongside faculty members pursuing grant-funded research projects.

Many nonprofit and non-governmental organizations provide remarkable opportunities for students in the summer, though they may not always have the means within their operating budget to fund compensation for an intern.  As well, internships are an increasingly required component of students’ preparation for many career fields.  Our goal is to ensure that cost is not a barrier for students who have the opportunity to pursue research or undertake an unpaid internship in a field that is complementary to their academic pursuits at Richmond.  The Richmond Guarantee will ensure students have access to a stipend to pursue the very best internship or research experience they can, in any field or endeavor and in any part of the world. 

While The Richmond Guarantee will expand the number of students who receive University support for their internship or research experience, students must identify their own opportunities and apply through the UR Summer Fellowships program. As part of the application, students must demonstrate how a fellowship will help them build upon their academic work and prepare for their first professional job or graduate and professional school.

For additional questions, or to get started by posting an opportunity, please contact University of Richmond Career Services at 804.289.8547 or hirespiders@richmond.edu.

Want more advice on hosting an intern?  Check out other blogs posts in this series:

Hosting an Intern: What Are the Requirements Anyway?

Hosting an Intern: Can I Hire an International Student?

Hosting an Intern: How Can I Get the Most Out of My Intern?

Connect to Students: Do We Need an Internship Program?

And make sure to:

– Register for Internship Bootcamp on January 9^th with ConnectVA, UofR and VCU

– Attend the second annual Regional Nonprofit Career and Internship Fair with VCU and ConnectVA on February 19th to find talent for your organization

– Check out our Connect to Students page for contact information at each local school for internships