Undergraduate Student Internships
Build a Diverse Local Pipeline
Host a Business, Computing, and/or Engineering Intern at No Cost to Your Company
The San Diego Regional EDC and Imperial EDC (Economic Development Corporations), in partnership with the K-16 Collaborative Grant, are recruiting local companies to provide work-based learning opportunities for undergraduate college students at no cost to employers!
Undergraduate College Student Internship Program
Summer 2025
The Need
Only 6% of Californians have participated in a paid internship, and only 15% participated in an internship at all. Women (4%), Black (5%), Latino (4%) and Native American (0%) students were less likely than their peers to complete a paid internship, as were first-generation learners (4%). –Inside Higher Ed, October 28, 2024
Help Build a Diverse Local Pipeline
Need more skilled employees? Our students need experience! Let us help you source talent from local San Diego and Imperial County colleges. Support regional efforts to build a diverse local talent pipelines in business, computing and engineering sectors.
2025 Work Site Application
Application is Open
December 2, 2024 – February 28, 2025
Requirements from Participating Work Sites
Due by February 28 in the application:
- List of Special Hiring Criteria (employers to facilitate and cover cost)
- Job Description(s)
Due when student intern is hired:
- Signed Agreement between Employer of Record (EOR), Work Site & Student Intern
- Work Site Visit from EOR
- Mentorship & Regularly Scheduled Check-in Meetings with Student
2025 Tentative Internship Timeline
*timeline subject to change
2024
December 2
Work Site Application Opens
2025
January 9 @ 8:30-9:30 am via Zoom (Zoom link will be provided to those who complete the Interest Form)
Work Site Information Session. We strongly encourage all main points of contact to join!
February 28
Work Site Application Closes
March 14 – April 13
Students Apply for Internship Positions
April 8 @ 8:30-9:30 am (Zoom link will be provided to those who complete the application and are appoved)
Mandatory Work Site Orientation (for main point of contact and all designated supervisors)
April 21 – May 9
Work Sites review resumes and unofficial transcripts, then select and interview candidates. Work Sites extend offers to student(s).
May 12 – June 20
Student Onboarding with Employer of Record (EOR); Work Site visit by EOR
June 2 – June 23
Student Interns can begin work after Onboarding with EOR is completed
June – August/September
Abide by internship date/time rules: Student interns can work up to 240 hour within a 3-month period. Students cannot work more than 8 hours a day or 30 hours a week, and are required to have at least a half hour break every 5 hours.
August/September
Work Sites and Students Complete Post Internship Program Evaluation
Resources & Additional Info
Work Site Internship Program Flyer
Work Site Information Session on Jan 9 – presentation and recording coming soon!
Mandatory Work Site Onboarding Session on Apr 8 – presentation and recording coming soon!
Work site agreement – coming soon!
Employer Handbook – created by SDREDC/Advancing San Diego – coming soon!
Job Description Templates:
- Business
Business Administration (includes accounting, finance, HR)
Business Operations (includes general front/back office, customer service)
Marketing & Communications - Computing
IT Support Technician / Desktop Support Technician
Network and Systems Administrator
Software Developer / Software Engineering
Cybersecurity Analyst / Information Systems Analyst
Offer Letter Templates:
LinkedIn Offer Letter
Basic Offer Letter
Sample Internship Offer Letter
How to Write an Offer Letter
Special Hiring Criteria – Work sites will be asked to manage and cover the cost of all special hiring criteria requirements. This includes LiveScan, background check, drug screen, etc. The Work Site is required to provide pass/fail results to the Employer of Record (EOR) before the student intern may start work at the work site. Please keep in mind, if a student is required to complete a LiveScan, background check and/or drug screen, it can take up to 2 weeks to receive the results.
Timesheet Submissions and Approvals – information coming soon!
College Students are Recruited from Verified Programs
Please note: The 2025 Verified Programs will be announced mid-December!
View the 2024 Verified Programs
Local college students that were enrolled in these verified programs from Community Colleges, California State University San Marcos (CSUSM), San Diego State University (SDSU) or University of California San Diego (UCSD) were eligible to apply for an internship in Summer 2024.
What does it mean to be a Verified Program? Find out here.
Examples of Student Intern Positions
Business
- Business Administration (includes accounting, finance, HR)
- Business Operations (includes general front/back office, customer service)
- Marketing & Communications
Computing
- IT Support Technician / Desktop Support Technician
- Network and Systems Administrator
- Software Developer / Software Engineering
- Cybersecurity Analyst / Information Systems Analyst
Engineering
- Assembler
- Engineering Technician
- General Engineering
Program Contacts
Questions about the Internship Program?
Christine Jensen, Director K-16 Collaborative
Questions about how to get involved in employer-led collaboratives?
Bridgette Coleman at the San Diego Regional EDC
Sean Wilcock at the Imperial Valley EDC
