In March, the Hart Career Center was notified that their reapplication for the Cooperative Work Study Grant awarded through the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) would not be renewed.
This grant is awarded to select schools in Illinois to aid funding of student internships. The IBHE is granted a lump sum by the Illinois State Legislature, to which they accept applications for the grant and distribute to their discretion. Institutions must reapply every year, and Illinois Wesleyan was not reaccepted for the coming grant period.
“That was the thing I think was most disappointing was the fact that we had come to assume…there was no reason we wouldn’t receive it,” Director of the Hart Career Center Warren Kistner said. Kistner noted the higher volume of institutions involved in the application cycle, and their intent to reapply in February of 2025.
While every university allocates the grant fund differently, the Hart Career Center allocates the funds to 10 or 11 Bloomington-Normal
non-profit organizations each year to pay interns a minimum wage during their tenure. “Our goal has been to really utilize it in the community…on non profit organizations because generally, they’re going to have more of a challenge in paying an intern,” said Associate Director for Career Engagement Patrick Zajac.
“It’s been a state grant that has helped us with organizations who might have struggled or…we knew were not able to pay an intern,” Zajac said.
“The student itself is not impacted because they’re going to still get the income,” Zajac said.
However, this change does impact the Hart Career Center’s effort to make all internships more accessible to students. “When we can, we want to promote unpaid internships,” said Zajac. “We know 100% are challenging and we want to provide the most equitable opportunities for students.”
According to U.S. News, 31% of student internships are unpaid. Zajac emphasized the Career Center’s effort in coaching companies on techniques to compensate interns. He said, “As employers reach out to us…we coach them on how to develop a program that would be worthwhile for students, and then second, can you pay a stipend?”
Zajac acknowledged the financial difficulties students face when completing unpaid internships, stating, “If possible, every internship should be paid to give students equitable access.”
Kistner encourages students to participate in upcoming career fairs, as well as reach out to the Hart Career Center to assess one’s needs.
For any questions or more information regarding internship opportunities, students can contact wkistner@iwu.edu, pzajac@iwu.edu, or visit the Hart Career Center website.