Opening Doors Through Paid Internships
- About
- Students
- Employers
- Donors
At her inauguration in March 2025, President Teresa Abi-Nader Dahlberg announced a university goal to provide paid internships to students, so they’re ready to enter the workforce, regardless of their chosen major. By connecting students with high-impact, real-world opportunities across industries, internships prepare students for career success and strengthens partnerships with employers and the community.
“Our programs are built upon a strong liberal arts foundation. Exceptional faculty guides students to think critically and creatively, communicate effectively and lead with purpose,” she said. “Experiential learning outside the classroom compliments academics fulfilling the UTampa commitment of learning by thinking and learning by doing.”
The University is committed to expanding access to meaningful experiences by prioritizing paid internships. Recognizing that financial barriers can limit students’ opportunities—and that many nonprofit organizations are unable to offer paid roles—the University has established a Nonprofit Internship Endowment to help bridge this gap and ensure equitable access for all students.
Internships Exploratory Committee:
In January 2025, an Internships Exploratory Committee was established to advance the goal of ensuring every undergraduate has access to a paid internship that prepares them for their first job after graduation.
- Stephanie Russell Krebs, Vice President for Student Affairs and Strategic Initiatives, Co-Chair
- Holley Tankersley, Dean, College of Social Sciences, Mathematics and Education, Co-Chair
- Tim Harding, Associate Vice President for Career Development and Engagement and Chair of the National Association of Colleges and Employers
- Mark Colvenbach, Executive Director, Career Services
- Kelly Allgeier, Associate Director, Career Services
- Marissa Thompson, Associate Director of Internships, Career Services
- Kathleen Hagerty, Associate Vice President, Corporate Partnerships and Central Development Units
- Katie Cooper, Faculty Co-Chair of the Internship Committee, (Sociology faculty member)
- Art Goon, Assistant Vice President and Director of the Office of Graduate and Continuing Studies
- Jeffrey Grimm, Associate Professor, Biology
- Lenna Bain, Employee Relations Events Coordinator, Career Services
William A. Gregory J. Non-Profit Internship Funding Program
The William A. Gregory Jr. Nonprofit Internship Funding Program supports students pursuing meaningful internship experiences with nonprofit organizations serving the Tampa Bay community. This program is designed to reduce financial barriers to experiential learning while expanding access to high-quality professional opportunities that foster career readiness, community engagement and hands-on skill development. Through this initiative, eligible students may receive funding to support participation in nonprofit internships that provide structured learning, professional mentorship and real-world experience.
- Program Purpose
- Student Eligibility
- Eligible Internship Organizations
- Application Process
- Application Submission
- Recipient Expectations
- Requirements
- Important Policies
- Funding Availability and Award Limits
- Program Assessment and Outcomes
The William A. Gregory Jr. Nonprofit Internship Funding Program aims to:
- Increase equitable access to internship opportunities
- Support students pursuing mission-driven and community-centered work
- Reduce financial barriers associated with unpaid or underfunded internships
- Strengthen partnerships between UTampa and nonprofit organizations across the Tampa Bay region
- Promote experiential learning, professional growth and career readiness
Applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Be a current undergraduate or graduate student at the University of Tampa
- Be enrolled at UTampa during the internship term
- Be in good academic standing (defined as maintaining an overall GPA of 2.0)
- Have received an internship offer from an eligible non-profit organization within the program’s approved partner network prior to submitting an application
- Minimum duration of seven weeks in fall and spring semesters (six weeks in summer).
- Fulfill all required program deliverables and reporting expectations
International students are eligible to participate, subject to applicable employment authorization requirements.
The University of Tampa has established partnerships with a select group of nonprofit organizations for this program. Each partner organization meets the following criteria:
- Located within the Tampa Bay region
- Hold recognized nonprofit status (501(c)(3))
- Apolitical organization
- Provide a structured internship experience focused on professional learning and skill development
- Designate a supervisor who can provide mentorship, feedback and evaluation
- Offer clearly defined project(s), responsibilities and learning objectives
The University of Tampa reserves the right to determine final organization eligibility.
Internships may be in-person, hybrid or remote, depending on organizational structure and program guidelines.
Students must secure an internship offer prior to submitting an application.
Applications must include:
- Student information
- Internship and organization details
- Resume
- Internship confirmation or offer documentation
- Short written responses addressing alignment to academic/career goals and impact of project
Applications will be reviewed by a selection committee using criteria that may include:
- Quality of internship opportunity
- Student learning objectives and professional goals
- Alignment between the experience and the student’s academic or career interests
Incomplete applications will not be considered.
The application link for the program will be made available in late July. Additional details, including deadlines and submission requirements, will be shared here along with the application link.
Funding recipients are expected to actively engage in the internship experience and complete all program requirements.
- Participation in orientation or program check-ins
- Submission of timesheets or funding verification materials
- Supervisor evaluation
- Student reflection or program assessment
- Donor acknowledgement and/or thank-you communication
- Participation in storytelling, impact reporting or program marketing initiatives when requested
Failure to complete internship or program requirements may affect funding eligibility or future participation.
- Funding and Financial Aid Notice: Funding awards may have implications for a student’s financial aid package and/or tax reporting responsibilities. Students are encouraged to consult appropriate university offices regarding individual circumstances.
- Program Completion Policy: Recipients are expected to complete the internship experience described in their application materials and satisfy all program requirements. Changes in internship status must be reported promptly to the program administrator.
- Statement of Accuracy / Certification: By submitting an application, students certify that all information provided is accurate and understand that application materials may be reviewed for eligibility, selection, and program administration purposes.
- UTampa Code of Conduct: Students participating in the William A. Gregory Jr. Non-Profit Internship Funding Program are expected to uphold the standards outlined in The University of Tampa Student Code of Conduct and comply with all policies and expectations of their internship site. Failure to do so may affect eligibility for continued participation in the program and funding.
- Title IX and Non-Discrimination Notice: The University of Tampa is committed to maintaining an environment free from discrimination, harassment, and sexual misconduct. Students participating in internships remain protected by applicable University policies and are encouraged to report concerns to Marissa Thompson, Assistant Director of Internships at mthompson@ut.edu. Please see additional information about this policy here.
Funding awards are contingent upon annual donor support, institutional resources, and program budget availability.
- Students may receive one award per semester
- Repeat applications may be considered but first-time applicants may receive priority when funding is limited
- Number of awards distributed each term will depend on available program funding
The William A. Gregory Jr. Nonprofit Internship Funding Program will evaluate program effectiveness through ongoing assessment and reporting measures, which may include:
- Number of applications and funded recipients
- Student participation demographics and representation
- Internship completion rates
- Nonprofit partner participation and sector representation
- Student learning outcomes and career readiness development
- Student and employer satisfaction feedback
- Post-internship outcomes, where available
Assessment findings may be used to inform program improvements, donor reporting, institutional planning and future funding strategy.
Take the First Step
Real-World Work Experience
Real-world work experience is an expectation of employers. Internships are an integral part of the learning, exploration and professional growth process for students. The focus of an internship is on learning.
Internships are a common form of experiential learning. The idea of an internship is to provide students with direct experience in a work setting related to their career interests and academic focus. Internships afford the benefit of supervision and coaching from professionals in the field. These professional opportunities represent an effective experiential education exercise and create authentic applied opportunities for students. Internship experiences represent a venue for students to apply skill sets and what was learned in the classroom to a real world setting.
Student Preparation for Internships
All UTampa students are required to complete UTampa 201, a Spartan Studies asynchronous course that includes internship preparation as part of its curriculum. Additional support is also available through the Office of Career Services.
- Students can schedule a one-on-one appointment with a career coach to discuss their individual internship goals and search process.
- Drop-ins are also available Monday-Friday from 1 – 4:30 p.m. at the Office of Career Services.
- We can support students with exploration, LinkedIn, internship application materials, internship search strategies, mock interviews, networking tips and more.
- Each semester, UTampa hosts an Internship Fair for students to network with companies seeking to hire Spartans for their internship positions. This is a great networking opportunity for students and employers. Visit our Career Services events calendar for a full list of upcoming events.
- For more information about internship preparation, visit UTampa’s Student Internship Guide.
- Check out the Office of Career Services internship web page at https://www.ut.edu/campus-life/career-services/internships.
Funding for Unpaid Internships
The University is in the process of building an endowment to offer stipends for students completing approved internships at nonprofit organizations. While these funds are not yet available, details about the application process will be shared once funding is in place.
Offering Internships at Your Company
According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), an internship is a form of experiential learning that integrates knowledge and theory learned in the classroom with practical application and skills development in a professional setting. Internships give students the opportunity to gain valuable applied experience and make connections in professional fields they are considering for career paths; and give employers the opportunity to guide and evaluate talent.
Posting an Internship
You can post your internship position(s) on Handshake, UTampa’s Career Management System. Please follow the instructions below to create your account and post your internship opportunities.
- To register your company in Handshake, go to: https://app.joinhandshake.com/register and click “Employer.” Once you have created an account in the system and have been vetted/approved by us, you will be able to post your role. *When creating your account, be sure to choose The University of Tampa as a school to link to!
- Questions about how to create your account and post positions? Visit https://support.joinhandshake.com/hc/en-us/categories/202707307-Employer.
Once your internship is posted, it will be reviewed for approval. Pending approval, the internship will be available for students to view and apply. Students are not placed in internships; they must search Handshake to find opportunities. It is the student’s responsibility to contact faculty if they are completing the internship for credit.
Applying for Nonprofit Internship Funds
The University is in the process of building an endowment to offer stipends for students completing approved internships at nonprofit organizations. While these funds are not yet available, details about the application process will be shared once funding is in place.
Gregory Foundation Nonprofit Internship Funding Partnership
- The University of Tampa is working in partnership with the Gregory Foundation to support funding for student internships with approved nonprofit organizations in the Tampa Bay community. Organizations interested in becoming partners for this funding opportunity will be able to apply once the program launches. Application details will be included on this page when available.
The University of Tampa is dedicated to expanding access to valuable experiential learning by prioritizing paid internships. Acknowledging that financial barriers can limit student participation—and that many nonprofit organizations are unable to provide paid positions—the University has created an endowed fund to provide support for students who take an internship at a nonprofit organization to help close this gap and promote equitable opportunities for all students.
Donors are invited to contribute to the Nonprofit Internship Endowment by making a cash gift by clicking on the Give Now button below. Donors who wish to make a gift through stock transfer or their estate are encouraged to call the University of Tampa Office of Development at (813) 253-6220 or send an email to development@ut.edu with any questions.