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FACT SHEET

The Department of the Interior Diversity Intern Program

The Department of the Interior (DOI) strives to increase diversity in its workforce by providing internship opportunities to qualified ethnically diverse and disabled students. Interns work during the fall and spring semesters and summer months for bureaus and offices nationwide. The Office of Educational Partnerships in Washington, D.C., provides project coordination and oversight of the Program. Administration of internships is provided by four nonprofit partner organizations: Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU), Minority Access, Inc., Student Conservation Association (SCA) and the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFEO).

Since its inception in 1994, the program has been highly successful. Over 666 talented and hardworking interns had the opportunity to explore careers through the Nation at various DOI sites.

• Merge academic study with practical applications for students majoring in relevant fields and related disciplines.
   
• Create a pool of talented students to explore and understand professional practices through exposure to research and development, technology, administration, and the government environment.
   
• Provide professional experience for ethnically diverse students and students with disabilities that will enable them to make educated career choices.
   
• Create a channel of future employees who have had positive, meaningful work experience with the federal government, and who might consider federal service as a serious career choice.
   

• Students will earn academic credit for the fall and spring 15- week semester long program.
   
• The organizations recruit, screen, and pay a stipend to students from their Hispanic-Serving, Historically Black, Native American, and natural resources/conservation higher education institutions, respectively, to serve internships at DOI sites in the Washington, D. C., area and field locations.
   
• Students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0; be currently enrolled students of Sophomore or above standing; and be Permanent Legal Residents or U.S. citizens.
   
• Department of the Interior bureaus/offices identify internship opportunities, specify preferred education, skills and other credentials, make final selections, and provide intern supervision and mentoring.
   
• The interns are on the payroll of the respective non-profit partner organizations. They do not count against full time equivalent (FTE) ceilings.
   
• The interns receive a weekly stipend and allowance for travel to and from their internship locations. Special orientations, workshops, field trips, and counseling are provided as specified by DOI.
   
• The estimated cost to DOI per intern is:
   

Spring/Fall - 15 weeks - $11,460

Summer - 10 weeks - $ 8,500

Sophomore/Junior - $420/week

Senior-$450/week

Law/Graduate Students - $520/week

This includes the intern’s stipend and travel, and administrative costs such as recruitment, screening, logistics, workshop/seminars, counseling, evaluation, liaison with DOI, overhead, etc. Bureaus will be billed for actual costs which may be slightly higher or lower than indicated above.

Spring - January 21 - May 3, 2002 
(Final selections made NLT December 14, 2001)

Summer - June 3 - August 9, 2002
(Final selections NLT May 3, 2002)

Fall - August 26 - December 6, 2002
(Final selections NLT August 2, 2002)

• Target recruitment of qualified applicants (US citizens and legal residents). Special efforts are made to seek applicants from fields that are relevant to host site needs.
   
• Screen student applicants and refer those most closely meeting the host site needs.
   
• Host orientation for interns on how the program operates and what to expect on the job.
   
• Provide salary payments and reimbursement for round-trip travel expenses.
   
• Provide assistance to interns/host sites in locating safe and affordable housing.
   
• Facilitate smooth management and operation of the program, and serve as liaison between host sites staff and interns.
   
• Provide liability insurance and Workers Compensation insurance coverage.
   
• Provide program Handbooks for interns and supervisors.
   
• Provide career enrichment and professional development activities for interns in Washington, D.C.
   
• Provide final report to DOI .

• Provide leadership, set policy, and provide guidance for the Diversity Intern Program.
   
• Serve as the primary liaison with the partner organizations and the bureau liaisons for the program.

• Coordinate and plan the orientation program for interns and supervisors in Washington, D.C.
• Coordinate and plan group training
• Coordinate and plan field trips
• Coordinate and plan departmental awards ceremony

• Coordinate with the bureau liaisons on the preparation of the assignment/description forms.
   
• Resolve day-to-day administrative details referred by the bureau liaisons, partner organizations and others.
   

• Assist the program coordinator in the Office of Educational Partnerships.

• plan orientation
• schedule group training
• schedule field trips
• schedule departmental awards ceremony

• Work with bureau representatives to determine the number and location of interns.
   
• Prepare assignment/description forms.
   
• Assist supervisors in developing work plans.
   
• Arrange for the interns to arrive at your bureau.
   
• Plan and schedule orientations for the interns and their supervisors.
   
• Schedule a special orientation for field interns to address special issues.
   
• Resolve day-to-day administrative details.
   

• Review, interview and select from applications provided to ensure a match with assignment/description form submitted to partners. Supervisors may also name request a student they have been in contact with, who then needs to apply through one of the partner organizations.
   
• Supervisors who review applications are encouraged to conduct telephone interviews with their top candidates. You should communicate your final choice to the partner organization. The partner organization will make the official offer to the student and explain the necessary logistical information regarding the program. When selection is final, the partner organization will notify you and mail you a Supervisor’s Handbook before intern arrives.
   
• Provide assistance to partners/intern with locating safe and affordable housing if host site not in Washington, D.C.
   
• Mentor students to facilitate their growth as professionals.
   
• Develop individual work plans.
   
• Provide appropriate training for safety and for the assigned duties.
   
• Evaluate interns.
   

• It is the responsibility of each field intern to finalize arrangements for housing. The partners will work closely with the interns to find housing, however we are asking host sites to assist interns in finding safe and affordable housing within commuting distance of the work site. Host sites may provide low-cost or free housing to interns if they have quarters available. We encourage supervisors to explore all options. In instances where several interns are working at the same site or in close proximity to one another, an effort will be made on the partners part to help them find common housing.
   

• Partners work with sites to resolve any issues that may exist between interns and host sites. If the problems cannot be resolved, the internship can be terminated.
   

For further information, contact Carolyn Cunningham at (202) 208-3866 or carolyn_cunningham@ios.doi.gov.