Extended Deadline: March 1, 2008
For over a decade, the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFEO) has facilitated internship assignments in government and industry for students enrolled in historically and predominantly black colleges and universities. Additionally, for interns who are employed in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, NAFEO provides an orientation session at the beginning of each program session, and brings all interns together at least twice during their assignment periods for seminars on a range of topics which enhance the internship experiences. Through internship assignments, these students are provided "hands-on" opportunities to apply their classroom knowledge in challenging work experiences.
If you are a student looking for opportunities to gain valuable work experience to supplement your coursework, or an employer seeking to diversify your talent pool, recruit and offer internship experiences to African American and other students, you have come to the right place.
Preference will be given to students enrolled in undergraduate or graduate programs at historically or predominantly black colleges and universities. A grade point average of 3.0 or above on a 4.0 scale is required. (Please note that some internships require U.S. citizenship.)
Application requirements are as follows:
In conjunction with NAFEO member institutions, NAFEO staff reviews applications to ensure that applicants are eligible and that the applications are complete. NAFEO staff then refers applications to employing agencies based on the academic disciplines they are seeking. Employing agencies review the applications, conduct interviews if necessary, and make all final selections.
Selected students will be notified by NAFEO staff and provided with an official internship offer.
For a forty-hour work week, NAFEO interns receive the following pay:
Undergraduate Students $400 per week
Graduate Students $500 per week
Stipends are paid according to a student's classification at the time of application.Roundtrip travel: Students selected for summer internships only who reside outside of the Washington D.C. metropolitan area will receive a travel allowance.
Housing: Housing is provided on an "as needed" basis. All applicants requesting housing must indicate this need on the online application.
Local travel: Summer interns receive a $200 allowance to subsidize daily travel to and from their work assignments. Fall and Spring interns will receive $300.
I do not attend a historically or predominantly black college or university. May I still apply for NAFEO's internship program?
Yes. Students enrolled in any college or university may apply to the program. However, preference will be given to students enrolled in NAFEO member institutions.
If I should graduate before the start of a program session, may I still participate?
No. In order to participate in the program, applicants must be currently enrolled in a higher education institution and working toward a degree.
Does NAFEO place interns outside of the Washington D.C. metropolitan area?
Yes. However, the majority of the internship positions are located in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.
I have already graduated with my degree (bachelors, masters, etc.) and have been accepted for another degree program. May I participate if I have been accepted but not yet enrolled?
No. You must be a matriculating student and provide proof that you are currently enrolled in a degree program.
I have previously applied to NAFEO's internship program and was not accepted. Do I have to reapply?
Yes. Applicants who previously applied to NAFEO's internship program and were not selected must submit a new application including all supporting documents.
If there is only one agency with which I would like to work, may I mention this in my application?
Yes. However, we recommend that applicants not specify particular agencies where they would like to be assigned in order to maximize their opportunities for placement.
Do I have to attend orientation if I was an intern before?
Yes. Each orientation is different. With each session, changes are made that will provide beneficial information to all interns. Also, orientation is a great place to meet and network with new interns.
I am not an African American. May I still participate in the program?
Yes. Participants are selected without regard to race, age, gender, sexual orientation or disability.
If I am accepted into NAFEO's internship program, how will I arrive in Washington, D.C.?
Interns will be required to make their own travel arrangements to Washington, D.C. NAFEO will provide a travel allowance.
Where can I anticipate being placed for a ten-week summer assignment?
Most agencies select students based on their career and academic goals and experience. Below are examples of Federal offices that have selected NAFEO interns in the past.
Domonique Bulls
North Carolina A&T University, Food and Drug Administration, Summer 2007
Brandon Wims
North Carolina A&T University, Health Resources and Services Administration, Summer 2007
Kendal Purington
Elizabeth City State University, National Institutes of Health, Summer 2007
Stella Adegite
Syracuse University, Department of Veterans Affairs, Summer 2007
2007 © | NAFEO | National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education - If You can Dream it, You can Achieve it at an HBCU.