College Works Painting Lawsuit: An Overview of the Internship Program and Controversies

College Works Painting offers a unique internship experience called the Student Professional Program (SPP), blending hands-on business skills development with high-quality house painting services. The SPP is available in 13 midwestern states, recruiting students from more than 50 universities. It presents itself as an innovative company at the intersection of professional development, entrepreneurship, and the home services sector. While offering undergraduate students the opportunity to build and manage their own residential painting business. However, the company and its internship program have faced scrutiny and legal challenges.

The Student Professional Program (SPP): An Entrepreneurial Internship

The College Works internship, known as the Student Professional Program (SPP), distinguishes itself from traditional internships. Instead of merely shadowing professionals or performing menial tasks, interns launch and run their own residential painting businesses. This involves comprehensive training and personalized mentorship from experienced businesspeople. College Works aims to equip students with transferable skills applicable to any career, attracting participants from various academic disciplines. They understand that painting is simply the vehicle we use to teach transferable skills.

Key Features of the SPP

Hands-on Business Experience: Interns gain practical experience in managing all aspects of a business, from sales and marketing to operations and customer service.
Comprehensive Training: College Works provides training in job site management, safety protocols (exceeding OSHA guidelines and EPA lead safety requirements), quality control, and equipment use. Management training focuses on hiring, firing, and motivating workers. The training course has been tailored to help you prioritize your education while setting yourself up for a summer of intensive entrepreneurship. Training starts with two-day seminar-style instruction at a conference center or hotel close to your university.
Mentorship: Each intern is overseen and mentored by a District Manager, a former SPP intern with a proven track record. The District Manager is responsible for their ongoing professional development for the duration of the internship.
Earning Potential: While College Works guarantees a minimum compensation of $6,000 for interns who work consistently throughout the program, there is no cap on commissions. Successful interns can earn enough to cover tuition, make down payments, or invest in future ventures. SPP interns are part-time, seasonal W-2 employees, not independent contractors.
Skill Development: Alumni regularly highlight the career, leadership, and financial success they attribute to the skills gained through the internship program. Market research suggests that alumni find jobs faster, earn more within five years of graduation, and reach upper management more quickly than their peers.

Qualities of a Successful Intern

College Works seeks interns who are ambitious, resilient, and self-starting, with a growth mindset and a strong work ethic. The entrepreneurial nature of the College Works Student Professional Program means that we are looking for interns that are ambitious, resilient, self-starters. They possess a growth mindset and believe in the intrinsic value of hard work.

Business Model and Revenue Generation

College Works generates revenue by taking a portion of each painting project sold by its interns. The company invests in each intern, covering training, marketing materials, licensing, accounting, and customer service costs. College Works emphasizes that, unlike multi-level marketing companies (MLMs), SPP interns do not pay joining fees or purchase goods/services to start their businesses. The company invests in their training and upskilling up front and offers a line of credit for their startup equipment capital. Interns earn commissions on painting projects and are responsible for selecting their crew of hourly summer employees.

Controversies and Criticisms

Despite its claims of providing valuable experience and opportunities, College Works Painting has faced criticism and legal challenges, leading to lawsuits and investigations.

Allegations of Misleading Practices

Some critics allege that College Works uses misleading recruiting tactics, targeting students with promises of entrepreneurial experience and high earnings. Concerns have been raised about the lack of transparency during the initial stages of the application process. Some students have reported feeling pressured to join the program without fully understanding the risks and responsibilities involved.

Independent Contractor Status and Labor Law Violations

One of the central issues in lawsuits against College Works is the classification of interns as independent contractors. Plaintiffs argue that interns are, in reality, employees who are misclassified to avoid paying minimum wage, overtime, and other benefits. This misclassification can lead to violations of labor laws and leave interns vulnerable to financial exploitation.

Safety Concerns

The nature of the work that College Works Painting does can cause safety concerns. Specifically, the training that the interns receive may not be enough to ensure that they are following safety protocols.

Financial Risks and Debt

Interns are often required to take out loans or use their own funds to cover startup costs, such as equipment and marketing materials. If the business is not successful, interns can be left with significant debt. Some lawsuits allege that College Works does not adequately disclose these financial risks to potential interns.

Ethical Concerns

Some have drawn comparisons between College Works Painting and pyramid schemes. While College Works differs from multi-level marketing companies (MLMs) in that SPP interns never have to pay “joining fees” or purchase goods or services from the company to start their businesses, the aggressive recruitment tactics and emphasis on expansion have raised eyebrows.

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