Community Engagement Internship Program

The Community Engagement Internship (CEI) program focuses on supporting IU Indianapolis undergraduate student interns under the supervision of skilled faculty and staff mentors. Interns will be placed in supportive environments in which faculty are tackling projects that address social issues, tap into community strengths, and expand civic knowledge.

Applications for the CEI program are desired from faculty and staff who are committed to mentoring undergraduate student interns participating in community engaged research, civic service projects, or service learning courses.

By providing an opportunity for a community engaged intern, faculty and staff can:

• Strengthen connections with undergraduate students and improve their sense of belonging at IU Indianapolis
• Expand community engaged work with paid student assistance
• Improve students' civic identity and knowledge of community collaboration
• Support students' career readiness through mentoring
• Achieve the goals and objectives of their community engaged work
• Access a pre-screened pool of student applicants interested in supporting community engaged work

Interns are provided up to 10 hours of work a week from late August 2025 to early May 2026. The Institute for Engaged Learning will provide interns with professional development related to community engagement skills, civic growth, and career readiness throughout the academic year as part of their paid experience. Mentors will receive a $1,500 stipend for full participation in the CEI program (paid monthly August–May).

Mentor applications for the 2025–2026 academic year are due March 14, 2025.

Apply now

Mentor responsibilities in hiring and selection of interns

• Identify a community engaged project or opportunity under faculty supervision that will be ongoing during the 2025–2026 academic year that could use the support of an undergraduate student intern (e.g. assistance with community engaged research, teaching assistance in service learning courses, etc.). The project should be able to provide up to, but no more than, 10 hours of work for the student each week during the fall 2025 and spring 2026 semesters (approximately 32 weeks).
• Interview prospective pre-screened interns between April 15–May 1, 2025, and possibly beyond, depending on the candidate pool and selection process.
• Communicate with IEL staff and complete necessary paperwork for the selected student intern until their hire and start date.

Mentor responsibilities after interns are selected

• Attend a required mentor orientation to be held in early August 2025 and subsequent professional development training on excellence in mentoring and other relevant topics, dates and times TBD. This will include a "Mentors Helping Students—Career Readiness" training in the fall semester.
• Onboard and train interns in needed project-specific knowledge and skills.
• Ensure the CEI student intern completes all required IEL paperwork and attends required student orientation and trainings during their internship year.
• Monitor and approve intern timesheets in a timely and accurate manner.
• Support intern development and presentation of their learning at a year-end showcase.
• Complete a mid-year and final evaluation of your intern.
• Provide a final report on project outcomes and an evaluation of the CEI program to the Institute for Engaged Learning.