TC3 Internship Fund

Internships are an excellent way to gain valuable hands-on job experience that helps you explore careers and identify, and foster strengths and skills. Accepting internship offers is not always easy as it seems, as many are unpaid or offer a low rate of pay. Tompkins Cortland Community College and the SUNY system understand this issue and have developed the TC3 Internship Fund to remove barriers to internship participation by providing vital funding.

Eligibility

In order to apply for internship funding, students must meet the following criteria:

  • Be currently matriculated at Tompkins Cortland Community College (and be matriculated at the time of the internship), with a valid campus email address
  • Have a SSN (Social Security Number) or ITIN (Individual Tax Identification Number)
  • Have a current FAFSA (Federal Student Aid) on file with the office of Financial Aid and Student Record 
  • Have already received an internship offer for a low-paid or unpaid experience (check out Career Connections for support in finding an internship)
  • Preference will be given to students who have not received funding before

Application Process

To apply, you must complete this online application (takes about 30 - 50 minutes to complete) and include (as part of the application):

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, so we encourage you to complete the application as soon as you have secured an internship for consideration. Applicants can expect to hear back from the review committee within one month of their submission date. Funding is awarded based on demonstrated financial need. 

What is Considered an Internship?

According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), an experience can be defined as an internship if it meets all of the following criteria:

  • The experience must be an extension of the classroom: a learning experience that provides for applying the knowledge gained in the classroom. It must not be simply to advance the operations of the employer or be the work that a regular employee would routinely perform.
  • The skills or knowledge learned must be transferable to other employment settings.
  • The experience has a defined beginning and end, and a job description with desired qualifications.
  • There are clearly defined learning objectives/goals related to the student's professional goals.
  • There is supervision by a professional with expertise and educational and/or professional background in the field of the experience.
  • There is routine feedback by the experienced supervisor.
  • There are resources, equipment, and facilities provided by the host employer that support learning objectives/goals.