UNH SUSTAINABILITY INTERNSHIP PROGRAM 
Responding to Global Challenges Today by Mentoring the Leaders of Tomorrow
A University-Employer Partnership Pilot for the 2008-2009 Academic Year
The UNH Sustainability Internship Program works to connect talented students with organizations advancing sustainability throughout New Hampshire and beyond.
Employers: You don't need to participate in UNH's pilot sustainability internship program to recruit UNH students for sustainability-related internships! Submit your internship(s) via Wildcat Careers in the University Career Center: www.unh.edu/uacc/formpages/internshiplisting2.htm |
What is this new initiative?
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 new sustainability internship program will help 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 this program unique?
Through the UNH Sustainability Internship Program, students will 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 will come together in-person and virtually several times throughout the course of the year to discuss common readings and podcasts, listen to guest speakers with expertise in sustainability and related careers, or participate in on-campus sustainability events like the annual Local Harvest Dinner. Students will also be encouraged to work with their internship supervisors and sites to develop reports, posters, and other research materials they can share as part of UNH’s annual Undergraduate Research Conference.
How will students and internship sites be chosen?
We are beginning this effort as a small pilot and selectively choosing both students and internship sites that are committed to learning about and advancing sustainability. Only 20 students will participate during the pilot 2008/2009 academic year to ensure that we can gather and learn from their experiences. (Many more UNH students may have sustainability-related internships throughout the course of the year, but only 20 will participate in this special program.) Similarly, internship sites that rate themselves relatively well and can provide online or print documentation on the following criteria (adapted from those used by Pax World Mutual Funds, a leader in sustainable investing) will participate during the pilot year 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
Role of founding internship site partners
Organizations that are recognized leaders with a commitment to sustainability and social responsibility are now being invited to join as founding partners in this exciting new program. Founding partners will
- Provide one or more UNH students with a paid or unpaid internship this coming fall, spring, or summer 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 University Career Center with feedback and suggestions for the program. Your feedback will be solicited via occasional face-to-face or teleconference meetings, email, or online surveys. Tell us how things are going and how the program can continue to benefits both UNH students and your organization to advance sustainability. You are welcome to continue your participation as an external advisory committee member beyond the 2008/2009 academic year, but are not required to do so.
