Internship Program

Training the next generation of sustainability leaders

Sustainability interns gain real-world experience, support strides in campus sustainability, and build their professional networks. The heart of our internship is to give students opportunities to apply what they are learning in the classroom to the real world. Using the campus as a learning lab, our students lead change in the areas of energy conservation,waste management, transportation, food, resource management, and more.

To be notified of open internship positions, subscribe to our monthly newsletter or follow us on Instagram @iubsustain.

The internship experience

Sustainability interns

  • Students collaborate to support and lead programmatic efforts, engagement campaigns, and sustainability projects. Work areas include:
    • Organics waste diversion
    • Football tailgate recycling engagement
    • Move out donations collections and waste diversion
    • Energy conservation campaigns
    • Campus waste education and behavior change campaigns
    • Peer-to-peer sustainability education
    • Infrastructure audits: lighting, HVAC systems, etc.
    • Management of Lending Library, Fix-it Clinic, and Free Store
    • Theatre set design waste reduction and diversion
    • Youth gardening programs, cultivation of herbs and cut flowers, and  community garden coordination at Hilltop Gardens
    • Procurement analysis for understanding and reducing greenhouse gas emissions associated with IU’s value chain

Communications interns

  • Students work on a team to fulfill sustainability storytelling needs, with media including but not limited to:
    • Story writing
    • Social media management
    • Photo journalism
    • Graphic design
    • Website management
    • Data visualization

Application information and guidance

Successful applications will include a cover letter that speaks to the following:

  • Articulation of existing skills and strengths as well as areas of desired growth.
  • Indication of interests regarding specific aspects of the internship position (reference list above). 

Apply for the Sustainability internship - Job ID 318509 on IU Jobs Portal

Apply for the Communications internship - Job ID 318513 on IU Jobs Portal

 

Applications will be accepted until March 31st at 5pm.

Position details and eligibility

  • Interns work on average 5-15 hours/week and enjoy a flexible hybrid work environment including collaboration with fellow team members, staff, and partners around campus. 
  • Interns are compensated for their time at a rate of $15/hr.
  • Applicants must have student status at Indiana University and maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5.
  • Students will have the option of beginning their internship at the end of the spring semester, during the summer, or at the beginning of the fall semester. Note: this is not a 'summer-only' internship. Regardless of start date, interns are expected to continue through at least the fall semester semester, but ideally through the academic year.
  • Our internship positions do not have a temporal boundary.  If a student performs well in their role and desires to stay, we retain our interns up to graduation.  The potential to work multiple years with our office creates the opportunity to build a wide and deep professional sustainability experience, making our interns incredibly competitive in the sustainability job market.

The internship experience

Receive mentorship

Interns are mentored by a designated Office of Sustainability staff member. For some positions, interns also receive mentorship from campus partners. A strong mentorship connection opens students to the knowledge gained from decades of experience and affords interns the chance to develop professional and networking skills.

Work independently

With guidance from their mentor(s), students complete much of their internship work independently, whether in the E-House or elsewhere. Self-motivated students will thrive in this environment. On average, interns work 15-20 hours/week in the summer and around 10-15 hours/week during the academic year.

Develop connections

Interns participate in bi-weekly all staff meetings to create a forum for collaborating. By engaging with the full intern cohort, interns forge connections with peers with common interests, and establish a network to support their professional careers.