Funds to Support Paid Internship Program for Undergraduate Humanities Majors
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (Jan. 8, 2025) — The University of Memphis received a $4.9 million grant from the Mellon Foundation to support a paid internship program for undergraduate humanities and humanistic social sciences majors.
The grant includes $3.9 million in current, expendable funds to support student internships over the next five years. It also includes an additional $1 million — which must be matched through fundraising by the UofM — to set up an endowment to support humanities internships in perpetuity.
“This generous grant from the Mellon Foundation will significantly advance our goal of creating opportunities for student success by increasing the number of paid internship opportunities.”
– Abby Parrill-Baker
The grant will support approximately 125-145 paid humanities internships annually. Most internship placements will be at nonprofit agencies and community organizations; grant funds may cover 100% of the wages in these placements. Some placements may be at for-profit agencies, provided the employer covers at least one-half of the internship placement cost.
“This generous grant from the Mellon Foundation will significantly advance our goal of creating opportunities for student success by increasing the number of paid internship opportunities,” said Abby Parrill-Baker, PhD, Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences (CAS). “By providing resources and essential support services, this grant will empower more than 100 students to gain practical experience, develop professional skills and enhance their career prospects each year.”
Internships during academic terms will involve 12 hours per week of work for 12 weeks and $3,000 in compensation. Internships during the summer will involve 24 hours per week of work for 10 weeks and $5,000 in compensation. Thus, grant-funded internships have a compensation rate of $20 per hour.
Students who receive placements will also receive help with transportation and professional attire and may request childcare support to ensure they can focus on their internships.
Additionally, the grant will support staff and faculty development by providing resources for two new staff positions in Career Services, development of new courses and redevelopment of existing ones, stipends and additional compensation for faculty for course development and intern coordination for faculty and professional development for staff and faculty.
According to research from EAB (formerly known as the Education Advisory Board), participation in internships is one of the leading indicators of demographic disparities in post-graduation outcomes, along with the amount of student debt. By investing in paid internships and student support, the UofM is proactively bridging the gap between academic achievement and career readiness.
For more information about the Mellon Grant, eligibility criteria and learning opportunities, visit memphis.edu/cas.
