CSU Extension Internship Programs: Bridging Research and Community Needs
The CSU Extension Internship Program offers students a unique opportunity to apply their academic knowledge in real-world settings, contributing to communities across Colorado. This program connects students with diverse projects, fostering professional growth and community impact.
Overview of the CSU Extension Internship Program
The CSU Summer Extension Internship program gives students the opportunity to take their research and expertise into the field to help communities across Colorado. These internships span various areas, including Natural Resources and Sustainability, Food and Agriculture, Youth Development, Economic and Community Development, Health and Well-Being, and Emergency Planning and Resources. Since the program began in 2018, more than 430 internships have been awarded, reflecting its significant contribution to both students and Colorado communities. The number of available internships varies annually but average around 60 per year.
Financial Support and Internship Structure
Each Extension internship awards $4000 for a ten-week internship (26 hours/week), with housing and travel funds assistance available for some opportunities. Each internship is ten weeks long (30 hours/week) and paid hourly. Undergraduate students can earn up to $5,000 for the summer. Graduate students can earn up to $7,000 for the summer.
Diverse Internship Projects
Internship projects range from agricultural field research to K-12 educational outreach, data collection and analysis, natural resource mapping, community and stakeholder engagement, economic development projects, and much more. These projects provide students with hands-on experience and the chance to make a tangible difference in local communities.
Impact on Students and Communities
In summer 2022, the College of Liberal Arts had 18 students participate in an Extension internship. These students worked with faculty or Extension agents to identify community needs and fulfill those needs through research, interviews, mapping, and more. CSU Extension internships combine research, program delivery, and information dissemination efforts, with hands-on learning at the local/county level.
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Student Success Stories
- Riley Lynch: CSU watershed science alumna and anthropology graduate student worked with the Colorado Stormwater Center during her CSU Extension internship where she managed communications with over 300 applicants and the 20 selected program participants of the Rain Garden Pilot Program.
- Emilia Ravetta and Milagro Núñez-Solis: Putting communication theory into practice, three Ph.D. Working with Grow and Give and the Family Leadership Training Institute respectively.
Locations
Internships with CSU Extension take place in various locations across the state of Colorado.
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