Career Services Summer Funding Program FAQs – For Employers

What is the purpose of Career Services Summer Funding? 

Career Services has funds to allow some select students to pursue unfunded or under-funded summer opportunities. Awards are intended to cover travel expenses, living expenses, and/or other expenses related to the summer experience, up to $5,000. Funds are for the students‘ needs only, distributed directly to the student, and are not intended to replace any salary or stipend your organization may be able to provide. 

Please note that No Documentation is Required to Apply. Applicants can be U.S. citizens, permanent residents, international students, DACAmented students, or undocumented students.

What do students need from me, or from my organization, in order to apply for summer funding? 

Students must have confirmation of an offer of their summer experience in order to apply for Career Services Summer Funding. This confirmation can be a formal offer letter or an email confirmation of the summer experience from their direct supervisor or human resources department.

For research opportunities, the student must provide a letter from a faculty member that states the student has been extended this offer and explains how this experience will be mutually beneficial. If the opportunity is the continuation of a research experience (either from the academic semester or a previous summer), students will also need to identify how the summer experience will differ from research they have previously done, especially if it is in the same lab.

Are students guaranteed funding? 

No, students are not guaranteed funding, even when they meet all the eligibility criteria. Applying for Career Services Summer Funding is a competitive process, and not all applicants will be awarded funding.

What types of experiences are eligible for funding? 

Internships or research opportunities must be at least 8 weeks in length, and at least 30 hours per week to be eligible for funding.

Fee-based internship programs are NOT eligible for funding, and funds are not to apply to future savings or costs. Career Services Summer Funding awards can only be applied to costs associated with summer professional experiences.

What is the timeline for students to apply, and to learn if their experience will be funded?

We encourage students to apply for the earliest round that they are eligible for so that they can have their funding disbursed to them before the summer begins. Note that these are not rolling deadlines, and applications will be reviewed all at once following each deadline.

Round #1 Round #2 Round #3
Application Deadline Sunday, February 25, 2024 at 11:00pm EST Sunday, March 24, 2024 at 11:00pm EST Sunday, April 14, 2024 at 11:00pm EST
Decisions Emailed Friday, March 15, 2024 by 5:00pm EST Friday, April 12, 2024 by 5:00pm EST Friday, May 3, 2024 by 5:00pm EST
Deadline to Accept Award Friday, March 22, 2024 at 12:00pm EST Friday, April 19, 2024 at 12:00pm EST Friday, May 10, 2024 at 12:00pm EST
**Estimated** Award Disbursement Friday, April 5, 2024 by 5:00pm EST Friday, May 3, 2024 by 5:00pm EST Friday, May 31, 2024 by 5:00pm EST

Please note that the above dates of award disbursement are estimated; while Career Services will make all efforts to pay selected students by the designated dates, delays may occur.

What is the typical summer funding grant amount from Career Services? 

Award amounts vary per awardee, up to $5,000. In 2023, awards ranged from $500 – $4,500, which was the maximum possible award. The average award for 2023 was $3,406.

Where can I find more information about Career Services Summer Funding?