UNH SUSTAINABILITY INTERNSHIP PROGRAM 
Responding to Global Challenges Today by Mentoring the Leaders of Tomorrow
A university-employer partnership connecting talented students with organizations advancing sustainability throughout New Hampshire and beyond.
Sponsored by the University Office of Sustainability and the University Advising & Career Center
Employers: Submit your SIP internship(s) for Spring and Summer 2010 NOW via Wildcat Careers at the University Advising & Career Center: www.unh.edu/uacc/formpages/internshiplisting2.htmUNH students: Search and apply for SIP internships by logging in to Wildcat Careers! |
MATERIALS |
What is SIP?
New Hampshire is on the leading edge of sustainability with innovative leaders, organizations, agencies, and companies that are having a positive impact in our communities by transforming the way that they -- and we -- do business. Similarly, UNH students are part of a dynamic and innovative sustainable learning community that encourages inquiry, hands-on learning, and service. UNH is nationally recognized as a leader in sustainability -- a land grant, sea grant, and space grant university that unites the spirit of discovery with the challenge of sustainability across its Curriculum, Operations, Research and Engagement (CORE) through four initiatives designed around four foundational systems of sustainability – biodiversity; climate; food; and culture.
UNH's Sustainability Internship Program (SIP) helps students gain valuable work experience where they can learn from dedicated mentors how to incorporate sustainability into their professional and personal lives, while applying their knowledge and ideas to benefit these organizations and help create more sustainable communities. By providing such work experience, internship sites are making a sound investment in the future – helping to solve their own sustainability challenges while giving UNH students the experience they need to grow.
Why now?
New innovations and solutions to some of our most challenging global problems are being developed right here in New Hampshire - just in time to help all of us live more sustainable lives by taking care of our environment and each other for today and beyond. Our students can be the next great generation of leaders if they have opportunities to apply what they are learning in the classroom to real world issues. They want to make a difference and can help their internship sites meet these challenges and achieve goals for a more sustainable organization.
How is SIP unique?
Current SIP students: Download the latest SIP Multimedia Learning Packet (PDF)!
Through the UNH Sustainability Internship Program, students not only apply what they learn in the classroom to their work with participating organizations, but also participate as a group in outside-the-classroom learning about sustainability. Using a learning community model, students come together in-person and virtually several times throughout the semester to discuss common readings and podcasts, listen to guest speakers with expertise in sustainability and related careers, go on field trips, or participate in on-campus sustainability events like the annual Local Harvest Dinner. Students are required to blog about what they are learning and doing -- both in their internships and through this outside-the-classroom learning -- via the UNH Interns Blog. They are also required to participate in UNH's annual Undergraduate Research Conference (URC).
Highlights:
- Students intern at organizations commited to advancing sustainability.
- Students get together three times during your 10-12 week internship with other SIP interns to share experiences and increase understanding of sustainability via selected readings, films, speakers, field trips, and events.
- Students must communicate what they are learning and doing by blogging bi-weekly and by presenting at UNH's annual Undergraduate Research Conference (URC). Read the UNH Career Center blog, including postings from SIP students!
- Students who complete all SIP requirements will receive a letter of recommendation from UNH's chief sustainability officer.
- Students will add a significant internship experience to their resumes.
How are students chosen?
SIP is open to ALL UNH students from ALL MAJORS, and internship sites interview and choose the intern(s) who are the best fit for their needs. Students can find SIP internships by logging in to Wildcat Careers and searching for SIP.
Benefits for students
Students receive many benefits by participating in SIP, including:
- Knowledge in sustainability
- A unique resume builder
- Future career connections
- UNH recognition via a letter of recommendation from UNH's chief sustainability office
- NOTE: SIP internships can be paid or unpaid depending on the employer.
- NOTE: Students may choose to get credit for participating in SIP, but they must find and work with a faculty member in order to do so. SIP is normally done on a non-credit basis.
Read about SIP intern John Greene's experience with the Green Alliance and NHDES!
Role of internship site partners
Organizations that are recognized leaders with a commitment to sustainability and social responsibility are invited to join SIP. Sites that rate themselves relatively well and can provide online or print documentation on the following criteria may participate to ensure that both students and sites gain the most from the internship experience:
- Environment/Conservation/Energy Use
- Workplace Culture/Practices/Human Rights
- Business Ethics/Corporate Citizenship
- Product Safety/Manufacturing Lifecycle
Founding internship site partners agree to:
- Provide one or more UNH students with a paid or unpaid internship focused on researching, implementing, or enhancing sustainability/social responsibility. Internships will focus on any key system or aspect of sustainability, including agriculture, food systems, nutrition, public health, biodiversity, ecosystems, climate, energy, sustainable community development, social justice and diversity, citizen engagement, public arts, and more.
- Participate in the external advisory committee being developed to help shape the program over the next year. Over the course of the next year, founding partners will provide the University Office of Sustainability and the UNH Advising & Career Center with feedback and suggestions for the program. Ffeedback will be solicited via occasional face-to-face or teleconference meetings, email, or online surveys. We hope to learn from their perspective how things are going and how the program can continue to benefits both UNH students and internship sites to advance sustainability.
NOTE: (Many more UNH students have other sustainability-related internships throughout the course of the year, and all empoyers are encourged to work with the UNH Advising & Career Center to hire student interns. Only those students that complete all the requirements of SIP are part of this unique program, however.
Founding partner organizations 2008-2009:
- Carbon Solutions New England
- Clean Air - Cool Planet
- Green Alliance
- Mount Washington Resort
- New Hampshire Businesses for Social Responsibility
- New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES)
- New England Carbon Challenge
- New Hampshire Lodging and Restaurant Association
- Pax World Funds
- Seacoast Eat Local
- UNH University Office of Sustainability
- USDA Forest Service
Questions?
- If you are a UNH student interested in participating in SIP, please search and apply for SIP internships by logging in to Wildcat Careers and contact the University Advising & Career Center with further questions.
- If you are a potential organization wishing to host a SIP student, please submit your SIP internship(s) via Wildcat Careers and contact the University Advising & Career Center with further questions.
- If you have questions about the outside-the-classroom learning component of SIP -- or about sustainability at UNH in general -- please contact the University Office of Sustainability.
