In an effort to further internship programming at Grand Valley State University, the Career Center would like to encourage you to take advantage of the Internship Mini-Grant (IMG). This is a great opportunity to help create, expand, or enhance internship or practicum initiatives in your department.

Previous recipients of the IMG have used this funding to create informative and interactive websites, build employer connections within the community, and organize internship panels/recruitment events for their academic areas. Funding can also be used to pay a student for time spent on internship initiatives (please note the grant cannot be used to pay an individual intern unless that intern is hired to work specifically on internship programming that will benefit the students in your discipline(s) or GVSU students in general).  Ideally, the IMG will be used to:

• Develop an internship program for your academic area if one does not currently exist
• Expand internship opportunities for students through employer development
• Provide networking/recruiting opportunities for students

• To apply, submit an online application by May 1, 2024.
• Applications will require the following information:
  • How this assistance will help impact the quality and/or quantity of students participating in your department’s experiential education program
  • A breakdown of how your department will utilize the funding, including total amount requested
  • Desired outcome for implementation
  • Start and completion dates (funding must be utilized during the academic fiscal year: July thru June)
  • Contact person
• Proposals will be reviewed by the Career Center
• Funding notification and disbursement will be made in June 2024.
• Project status report identifying how you have utilized the IMG and the impact it had on your department’s internship programming must be returned to the Career Center by the following April.

Questions? Contact Rachel Becklin at (616) 331-6708. Thank you for your continued support of experiential education and its positive impact on students and the community!

Applicants can request up to $2,000 to be used towards internship initiatives within their department/unit between July 1 and June 30 of the following year (GVSU’s fiscal year). After committee review, applicants will be notified via email on a funding decision by June. Depending on the number of submissions, all applications may not be approved.

Funding will be used for event and program development. The grant cannot be used to pay a faculty stipend, however, student staff can be hired to work specifically on internship programming that will benefit the students in an academic discipline or GVSU students in general. A departmental transfer of funds will be made through Workday.

February 1, 2024: Application opens

May 1, 2024: Application closes

June 2024: Applicants notified on award status

July 2024: Awards dispersed

July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2025: Award used

April 30, 2025: Status Report Due