Blog Description

The College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs at UIC is the University of Illinois System's home for the study of public policy and contemporary urban challenges. We are CUPPA.

In the heart of Chicago, we offer degrees in fields of study that can change your life and change the world. CUPPA students and alumni are uniquely skilled to build and transform sustainable urban neighborhoods and communities and to address the challenges presented in the 21st century. Find our more about our Bachelors, Masters, and Doctorate degrees at cuppa.uic.edu.

Follow our student internships and student opportunities below. For post-graduation job postings head to the CUPPA Careers Blog or follow us at @CUPPACareers on Twitter.

Have a job or internship to post? Send an email with the title, location, job description, and contact information to cuppa@uic.edu.

Tuesday, September 25, 2018

Internship - Chicago Dept. of Planning & Development, Workforce Solutions Unit

Who: City of Chicago Department of Planning and Development promotes the comprehensive growth and sustainability in the city and its neighborhoods. The Workforce Solutions Division is seeking students who want to acquire knowledge and valuable work experience in public sector/City government operations.

What: The intern will:
  • Perform various functions to support programs, projects and strategic initiatives 
  • Research and analyze information for projects and reports 
  • Assist in the development of an operational manuals, and the streamlining and standardization of operational procedures 
  • Participate in the development of surveys, focus groups and marketing objectives

Thursday, September 20, 2018

Fellowship - Public Policy and International Affairs Program

Who: Public Policy and International Affairs Program

What: The goal of the PPIA Fellowship Program is to help students achieve a Master’s or joint degree, typically in public policy, public administration, international affairs or a related field. The organization does this through the intensive study provided by participation in a Junior Summer Institute (JSI), through partnerships with universities across the country, and through an alumni network that provides opportunities to connect with nearly 4000 individuals who share the same interest in public service.

Internship - Community Development and Policy Studies at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago (closes Oct. 1)


Who: Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago Community Development and Policy Studies Division. CDPS recognizes and works to address many challenges in the community development field. Current priority areas include affordable housing policy, access to credit for small businesses, rural development, and funding for community and economic development in lower-income communities in a limited-resource environment.

CDPS has adopted the tagline ‘research, convene, connect’ to express our core functions succinctly. We research and conduct outreach to gain insight on key issues hindering access to credit and economic opportunity; convene diverse community development and policy stakeholders to share information and coordinate solutions; and connect financial institutions and other intermediaries with places in need to foster effective interventions

What: The Community Development and Policy Studies Division of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago seeks a project assistant/intern for fall 2018. This is a 10-20 hour/week position for students currently in one of the fields described below.

This is a paid position, located at the Chicago Fed’s offices in downtown Chicago. The Community Development and Policy Studies (CDPS) division is part of the Economic Research department of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. CDPS works to improve the socioeconomic prospects of low- and moderateincome (LMI) people in part by working with community leaders to bring development and reinvestment opportunities to underserved communities.

The project assistant/intern will conduct statistical and economic analyses of current macroeconomic, microeconomic, financial and regional data, and provide research support for the economists. The level of work required is considered entry- level and would work under direct supervision. This job has no direct reports.

Duties and Responsibilities include:

Volunteers – Participate! Conference (9/24-26)

The Participate! Conference is next week, and we need your support. Starting on Monday, Sept. 24th and going through Wednesday, Sept. 26th, the conference will highlight and discuss participatory approaches in planning from around the world.

To make it happen, we need your help. We are looking for 2 Volunteers to help with set-up and registration at the Cardinal Room in the Student Center East from 7:30-10:30 a.m. Monday-Wednesday (in particular for the first day on Monday). If you're able to help out, please reach out to Janet Smith at janets@uic.edu and Jeff Wozencraft at jsw5@uic.edu.

Tuesday, September 18, 2018

Internship - City of Chicago Department of Planning and Development

Who: City of Chicago Department of Planning and Development

What: The Student Intern Program is for students seeking to gain knowledge of, and valuable work experience in public sector / city government operations. Work hours are flexible to meet the needs to students and City departments. These are temporary positions. Internships are limited to one academic year. Students are limited to working one internship (lasting no more than one academic year) per City department.
Hours vary, but are at least 21 hours per week between 8:00am 6:00pm
Responsibilities include:

Scholarships - Advancing Women in Transportation

Who: WTS is an international organization dedicated to the professional advancement of women in transportation.

What: WTS is offering four scholarships this year to women pursuing careers in the area of transportation. Two of the scholarships are for graduate students and two are for undergraduate students.

The scholarships and amounts we are offering from our local chapter are:
Sharon D. Banks Memorial Undergraduate Scholarship - $3,000 ($5,000 national)
Molitoris Leadership Scholarship for Undergraduates - $2,000 ($5,000 national)
Helene M. Overly Memorial Scholarship for Graduate Students - $5,000 ($10,000 national)
Leadership Legacy Scholarship for Graduate Students - $3,000 ($5,000 national)

 All local winners will be forwarded onto the national level to compete for the national scholarship awards.
For additional information on available scholarships, visit the WTS website. Applications are due November 2, 2018.

Spring 2019 capital semester program (Washington, DC )

Who: The Fund for American Studies

CAPITAL SEMESTER SPRING 2019 – INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS & PUBLIC POLICY WASHINGTON, D.C. www.DCinternships.org/CS

EARLY DEADLINE: October 5, 2018
FINAL DEADLINE: November 9, 2018

What: This comprehensive program includes internship placements in the fields of international affairs and public policy, courses for 12 academic credits through George Mason University, career development activities, site briefings and lectures led by foreign and domestic policy experts, and furnished housing the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Washington, D.C.

PAST INTERNSHIP SITES – INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS AND PUBLIC POLICY:

Internship - Chicago Children's Advocacy Center

Who: Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center

What: The Events & Donor Relations intern will work in the External Affairs department performing and gaining experience in donor database management, donor relations, assisting with events, managing solicitations and coordination of silent auction, while working closely with the Development Manager, Events Coordinator, and External Affairs team.

Primary Responsibilities include:

Monday, September 17, 2018

Sustainability Committee Volunteer - UIC Campus Rec

What: Campus Rec at UIC, internal sustainability committee

What: The Sustainability Committee Student Volunteer will assist Campus Recreation’s professional staff to pursue external grant opportunities and with creating and marketing sustainability programs that support the work of student affairs and ultimately enhance the student experience at UIC. Key responsibilities include:
  • Attend all sustainability meetings throughout the FY19 academic year (once a month). 
  • Complete all assigned tasks by given deadline which is established during the sustainability meeting. 
  • Support sustainable programs and assist with tabling to increase student knowledge of programs. 
  • Assist in any grant writing and editing as needed. 
  • Research best practices of similar institutions for facility improvements, departmental functions, sustainability campaigns, etc. to identify areas for enhancement. 
  • Contribute to the conversation providing new, creative, and innovative ideas to the group. 
  • Respond to all email correspondence in a timely manner.

Hourly Graduate Position - UIC Energy Resources Center

Who: The UIC Energy Resources Center (ERC) leads the Illinois Monarch Project (IMP), a collaborative of multi-industry stakeholders working together to develop conservation strategies that help monarch butterflies thrive throughout Illinois and engage public and private landowners across urban and rural landscapes.

What: Looking for graduate student with strong writing skills to support the development of an Illinois statewide monarch butterfly conservation plan. Working closely with ERC staff, this position will facilitate the compilation of written strategies from the IMP technical steering committee and other stakeholders into a single, comprehensive, cohesive written plan that will serve the IMP for decades to come.

Tuesday, September 11, 2018

Fellowship – U.S. State Department (closes 9/17)

Who: U.S. Department of State

What: Interested in a career representing America as a U.S. Diplomat? What about pursuing your higher education to prepare you for public service in foreign affairs? Here is your opportunity to become the recipient of one of the U.S. Department of State’s prestigious Rangel or Pickering Graduate Fellowship Programs.

The Rangel Graduate Fellowship Program is a U.S. Department of State program, administered by Howard University, that seeks to attract and prepare outstanding young people for careers as Foreign Service Officers in the U.S. Department of State. Candidates must be graduating seniors or college graduates with strong academic records and a desire to promote positive change in the world. The Rangel Program encourages the application of members of minority groups historically underrepresented in the Foreign Service, women, and those with financial need.

Selected fellows will receive support for graduate school and will enter into exciting and rewarding careers representing the United States overseas. An orientation to the Program and the Foreign Service at Howard University in Washington, D.C.

Two summer internships, one on Capitol Hill in summer 2019 and one overseas at a U.S. embassy in summer 2020. Up to $37,500 annually toward tuition and mandatory fees for a two-year master’s degree in fields related to the Foreign Service such as Business Administration, Economics, Public Policy, and International Relations at a U.S.-based institution. Mentoring from a Foreign Service Officer throughout the duration of the fellowship. Employment in the State Department Foreign Service for those who successfully complete the program and meet Foreign Service entry requirements, in accordance with applicable law and State Department policy, with each Rangel Fellow committing to a minimum of five years of service.

Undergraduate Student Accounting Aide – UIC Office of Budget and Financial Analysis

 Who: UIC Office of Budget and Financial Analysis

What: Hourly federal work study position. Primary responsibilities include:
  •  Assist with the process of budget transfers between university units 
  •  Assist with establishing facilities and administrative distribution codes 
Qualifications:
  • Must be eligible for federal work study 
  • Preferably sophomore or junior 
  • Coursework in accounting, finance, information technology or business 
  • Available to work Monday, Wednesday and Friday 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and Tuesday and Thursday 1 to 5 p.m.

Internship – Obama Foundation (closes 9/12)

Who: Obama Foundation

What: The Obama Foundation draws on a diverse cohort of passionate, mission-oriented, and qualified interns to serve in our Chicago and D.C. offices. 

This internship is open to current undergraduate and graduate students who are eligible to work in the United States. The application opened on August 23, 2018 at 9AM CT and closes on September 12, 2018 at 5PM CT. We will not accept late applications.

If you are a law student interested in an internship in the Office of the General Counsel at the Obama Foundation for the Summer 2019 term, click here. To ensure you get all the information you need in a timely manner, we encourage you to read our FAQ page before reaching out with questions.

What do interns do? We are looking for interns who have excellent time management and organizational skills, are strong writers and researchers, and are eager to work in a fast-paced office environment. Interns will play a key role in providing departments at the Obama Foundation with the administrative, logistical, and operational assistance needed to execute their work. To learn more, check out our department descriptions here.

Friday, September 7, 2018

Volunteers Needed - UIC Bike Census

Who: The UIC Office of Sustainability is looking for volunteers for UIC’s first ever bike census

What: Volunteers will follow provided routes to count the number of bikes at each rack and together will cover every rack on east and west campus.

When: October 10, 2018 (rain date October 11, 2018), 10-11am. To participate, email or call: mkochm2@uic.edu 312-413-9816

Internship - BRicK Partners (Evanston)

Who: BRicK Partners, an Evanston-based consulting, strategic planning and “collaborative management” firm focused on regional housing and community development, seeks one or more interns to support and help manage its projects, including for client trailblazers such as the Brookings Institution, Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, Enterprise Community Partners, the Illinois Attorney General’s Office and The Metropolitan Mayors Caucus.

What: BRicK is seeking interns to engage in:
  • Cutting edge strategies, statewide, for addressing blight and other ripple effects of the foreclosure crisis 
  • Regional efforts, nationwide, for tackling poverty’s increasing reach in the suburbs 
  • Public and mixed-income housing collaboration and innovation aimed at increasing access to opportunity, both here in metropolitan Chicago as well as other regions nationwide 
  • Cross-disciplinary efforts aligning housing and health policies and programs 
  • Advancing employer-assisted housing strategies 
  • Developing business plans and tools for an evolving and exciting new business