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.

Wednesday, February 27, 2019

Land Use Planning Internship - Modus (San Francisco)

Who: Modus is an industry leader in wireless site development across the western United States. Our services include site acquisition, land use planning, architecture and engineering, and construction.

What: Modus is currently searching for highly talented and driven Land Use Planning Interns (full-time or part-time) to support the Project teams at our downtown San Francisco headquarters to gain local land use planning knowledge as it relates to the wireless telecommunication industry. Interns will perform or assist with the following:
  • Conducting research and reviewing multiple jurisdictional zoning ordinances as it pertains to wireless telecommunication facilities. 
  • Preparing preliminary zoning/permitting analyses in accordance with jurisdictional requirements. 
  • Providing site-specific design, zoning & permitting analyses for selected sites.   
  • Preparing zoning and permit applications.   
  • Reviewing architectural drawings and other zoning collateral. 
  • Working diligently to expedite jurisdictional approval processes & project timelines.   
  • Attending and presenting at site design visits, community meetings and hearings.   
Work will be split between office and field.
Dynamic and fast-paced team-based projects.
$18 - $20/hour, depending on experience

Stormwater Management Internship - Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Chicago

Who: MWRD, Engineering Department

What: The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago is in search of a current college student seeking an internship opportunity in the Engineering Department. While working under the direction of an Associate Civil Engineer to train in Geographical Information Systems (GIS) software to catalog and process stormwater data management project data on file. The intern will also assist in with the preparation of maps and performing GIS analyses for our stormwater management programs. The intern will also assist with the District’s Stormwater Master Planning effort, working with engineering staff to understand the MWRD’s role in solving flooding issues. The intern will also assist in preparing grant/funding applications for stormwater projects located in economically challenged areas in Cook County. By the conclusion of this internship, the prospective intern should be able to articulate how the stormwater management contributes to the evolving efforts of the District as we strive to meet the needs of our vast service community.
This is a paid internship at $13/hour.

Qualifications:

Summer Internship - PolicyLink (Oakland & NYC) (CLOSES 3/15)

Who: PolicyLink is a national research and action institute advancing racial and economic equity

What: PolicyLink operates a 10-week, paid summer internship program for continuing graduate students (master's or doctoral) in public policy, urban planning, and related fields. We are looking for graduate students who are interested in applying their graduate school training to influence public policy and learn how PolicyLink advances racial and economic equity through policy change.

Graduate interns have played an integral role in helping our organization further policy impact through research, communications, capacity building, and advocacy. We've hosted interns from more than 20 different universities and colleges across the U.S., in programs such as urban planning, public policy, public health, community development, information management, and journalism/communications.

Monday, February 25, 2019

Transportation Graduate Fellowship - Dwight David Eisenhower Transportation Fellowship Program

Who: US Dept. of Transportation - Federal Highway Administration - Center for Transportation Workforce Development - Dwight David Eisenhower Transportation Fellowship Program (DDETFP)
The Center for Transportation Workforce Development manages activities that integrate transportation into college and university programs striving to increase the number of post-secondary students interested in pursuing transportation-related careers. The Center provides management, leadership, and coordination for student transportation education programs to support the development of highly skilled individuals for the transportation workforce.

What: The DDETFP Graduate Fellowship provides funding for students to pursue master’s or doctoral degrees in transportation-related disciplines. This program advances the transportation workforce by helping to attract the nation's brightest minds to the field of transportation, encouraging future transportation professionals to seek advanced degrees, and helping to retain top talent in the U.S. transportation industry.

Urban Planning Internship - Lakeview Chamber of Commerce

Who: The Lakeview Chamber of Commerce is a 501(c)(6) non-profit organization whose mission is to support a resilient local economy and high quality of life for the benefit of businesses and residents in Chicago’s West Lakeview community, through neighborhood promotion, business development, advocacy, and public space enhancements.

What: The Chamber, sole service provider for Special Service Area 27 (SSA 27), seeks a part-time urban planning intern who is interested in urban planning, economic development or public administration.The intern will gain hands-on experience collecting and utilizing data for economic development and planning purposes, with the goal of improving the Lakeview neighborhood. We offer a $1,000 stipend and will work with students on class credit.
Responsibilities include:

Tuesday, February 19, 2019

Affordable Housing Portfolio Intern - The Habitat Company (Chicago)

Who: The Habitat Company - Habitat Affordable Group

What: Habitat is looking for a detail oriented, driven Affordable Housing Portfolio Intern to join our team for the Summer of 2019.  The 8-week paid internships provides valuable hands-on experience specific to your desired career focus. As the Habitat Affordable Group Intern, you will work closely with our regional teams as well as our onsite Community Managers to support the following activities:
  • Participate in all facets of the operations life cycle within affordable housing management 
  • Contribute in planning of pre-leasing efforts at a mixed-finance construction development 
  • Assist Regional teams with drafting, editing and formatting of memos and external communications 
  • Collaborate with onsite teams during community outreach events 
  • Participate in site level resident meetings 
  • Contribute in the coordination of checklist during transitions of new business; interdepartmental communication, documentation follow up, timeline coordination 
  • Perform other duties and special projects as assigned

Challenge Detroit Fellowship

Who: Challenge Detroit is a leadership and professional development program that invites approximately 30 of tomorrow’s leaders to live, work, play, give, and lead in and around the greater Detroit area for one year.

What: During the course of the year, Fellows contribute intellectually and through hands-on service making incremental impact in the community. Learning by doing is a cornerstone of the program and the Fellows have the courage, passion, and drive to make a difference. The fellow's experience includes:
  • The opportunity to live, work, play, give, and lead in Detroit 
  • Valuable career development through employment at a top area host company Monday-Thursday 
  • A multi-faceted leadership development program every Friday 
  • How to leverage the art of design thinking 
  • Collaboration with multiple Detroit-based nonprofits supporting them in moving their missions forward through various marketing,  development, design and revitalization projects 
  • Connecting with and forming meaningful relationships with the broader Challenge Detroit community as well as your cohort 
  • Access to cultural events, memberships to various organizations and more 
  • Career development including a $38,000 annual salary plus benefits typical of host company* 
  • A network of more than 200 alumni

The Dangermond Fellowship - National Audobon Society & ESRI (Chicago)

Who: Now in its second century, Audubon is dedicated to protecting birds and other wildlife and the habitat that supports them. Audubon’s mission is engaging people in bird conservation on a hemispheric scale through science, policy, education and on-the-ground conservation action. By mobilizing and aligning its network of Chapters, Centers, State and Important Bird Area programs in the four major migratory flyways in the Americas, the organization will bring the full power of Audubon to bear on protecting common and threatened bird species and the critical habitat they need to survive.

What: The Dangermond Fellowship is an exciting, paid opportunity provided through the partnership between National Audubon Society and Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI). This prestigious fellowship is designed with the aim to foster the next generation of leaders in the enterprise GIS, science, and nonprofit/conservation sectors. Throughout the year, Fellows will receive extensive and immersive training in the full ArcGIS platform and will visit both the ESRI campus in Redlands, CA and Audubon’s headquarters in New York City. The position is a one-year commitment and starts in June 2019 until June 2020. Fellows will work full time over the summer to attend trainings, the ESRI User Conference, and spend time on a GIS-related project with a unique, local Audubon field location (center or an office that is closest to your residence). In the fall and spring, Fellows will work part-time to accommodate for the academic semester. The goals of the program are to provide Fellows with enterprise systems, conservation, science, and applied technologies exposure in a GIS department that is at the forefront of the GIS enterprise landscape. Experience with GIS server technologies, cloud servers, database management systems, application development, and account management will be gained through hands-on application of skills and knowledge with a professional team. Through the fellowship, Audubon wants to bring together individuals from diverse disciplines, including but not limited to geodesy, computer science, cartography, human geography, physical geography, climate science, photogrammetry, remote sensing, and geospatial information science. As a Fellow, your potential to further GIS work in connection with Audubon’s conservation strategy will be a strong consideration during the selection process.
This includes:

Friday, February 15, 2019

Administrative Internship - City of Highland Park

Who: City of Highland Park, City Managers Office

What: The Administrative Intern assists in the general administration of local government through special projects and assignments. Responsibilities include:
  • Assists in communicating City policies to departments, City Council members and the general public; this may include drafting correspondence, preparing presentations and formulating new policies. This employee prepares various correspondences under the signature of the City Manager. This employee is also responsible for collaborating with department directors to compose a weekly report to the City Council. 
  • Assists in the preparation and dissemination of press releases and weekly electronic newsletters. The employee is also responsible for providing regular updates to the website and writing articles for the City's monthly newsletter, the Highlander. Other communications work may include assistance with the Public Access Studio, public service announcements, developing and maintaining a current library of City videos and photography, and procuring grants for funding.
  • Handles inquiries from citizens regarding refuse and recycling collection, power outages, cable television, and is responsible for coordinating responses to general complaints received by the City Manager's Office. 
  • Assists in the planning and implementation of special events including July 4th festivities, the holiday lighting ceremony, and various employee events. 
  • Supports and assists in the Sustainability Work Plan. The employee will also maintain oversight on sustainability programs such as electric charging stations, car sharing agreements and recycling partnerships with outside agencies. 
  • Provides staff support to City commissions as necessary. Special projects will be assigned to provide experience working with other City departments.

Sustainability Fellow - Forest Preserve District of Cook County

Who: Forest Preserve District of Cook County

What: Under the general supervision of the Policy & Special Projects Manager, the Sustainability Fellow will support the day-to-day sustainability and climate resiliency activities for the District. The Office of the General Superintendent seeks a motivated candidate with strong multitasking skills, great attention to detail and strong interpersonal and written communication skills. The Sustainability Fellow will support the Green Sustainability Committee and the Office of the General Superintendent in the implementation of the Forest Preserves Sustainability & Climate Resiliency Plan. The Sustainability Fellow will be directly involved in planning, implementing, and monitoring sustainability projects that will meet the goals outlined in the Forest Preserves Sustainability & Climate Resiliency Plan. Other duties may be required. This is a part-time, year-round position, up to 20 hours per week. $17/Hourly.
Typical duties include:

Design Studio Fellowship - Future Leaders in Action @ Territory (Chicago)

Who: Future Leaders in Action (FLIA) cultivates leaders and strengthens youth-oriented nonprofits through a fellowship program. Fellows, individuals interested in entering the social sector, work on-site full-time at a partner nonprofit to develop or implement a pre-determined enrichment program. Territory will be hosting a fellow this summer through Future Leaders in Action.

Territory is young people building voice, vision and agency through the practice of design in our communities. Through Territory's design studio programs, young people practice urban design, public art and community planning in the neighborhoods where they live and learn. Through Territory’s apprenticeship design team model, young people find and amplify their voices to step up to lead, using design as a platform for civic engagement. Through Territory, young people develop the tools, resources, and power to transform their neighborhoods and the city.

What: The fellowship is a 3-month paid position, running mid-late May through August. The opportunity is a full time job with Territory, a combination of design studio facilitator and design program research and development. Throughout the fellowship, fellows gain various professional skills including fundraising, communication, program development, in a fast-paced, hands-on learning environment.
The fellow will:

Tuesday, February 12, 2019

Grant Funding - The Clarence S. Stein Institute for Urban and Landscape Studies

Who: The Clarence S. Stein Institute for Urban and Landscape Studies at Cornell AAP. Grant funding is intended to support scholarship in the fields of urban and regional planning, historic preservation, landscape architecture, and urban design.

What: The 2018 grant cycle awarded more than $100,000 in grants to studies of Irvine, California; new towns in Morocco; Tennessee Valley Authority landscapes; the work of landscape architect Warren Manning; access to school, food, and healthcare along an urban/rural gradient; Lathrop Homes in Chicago; and the preparation of historical documentation for the HABS/HAER/CRGIS programs for the Garden Cities of Clarence Stein.

Applicants are invited to apply to one of the four funding categories:

Davis-Putter Scholarship for Students Working for Social Change

Who: The Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund aids people active in movements for social and economic justice. These need-based scholarships are awarded to students who are able to do academic work at the college or university level or are enrolled in a trade or technical program and who are active in the progressive movement. Early recipients worked for civil rights, against McCarthyism and for peace in Vietnam. Recent grantees have been active in the struggle against racism, sexism, homophobia and other forms of oppression; building the movement for economic justice; and creating peace through international anti-imperialist solidarity.

What: The maximum grant available from the Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund is $10,000 per year (from July 1 through June 30). Grants are disbursed to cover each separate semester, quarter or term during which the grantee is attending school. Grants must be used in the year they are awarded and cannot be deferred or carried over. Recipients must reapply each year support is sought. Applications must be submitted no later than April 1. Applicants will be informed of decisions in July.

Summer Internship - Occupational Health Internship Program (CLOSES 2/15)

Who: The Occupational Health Internship Program (OHIP) is housed within the Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics (AOEC) and has training sites across the country including: the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, DC, and New York City. New sites for 2019 include: Hartford (CT), Cincinnati (OH), Las Vegas, and Philadelphia -- other sites may be announced.

What: The Occupational Health Internship Program (OHIP) is a national summer program dedicated to help students learn about the field of occupational safety and health (OSH) from those most at stake: working people. Since 2004, OHIP has played a key role in training, mentoring, and inspiring a new generation of OSH professionals to prevent job injury and disease through partnerships with worker and community based organizations.

Our 2018 projects included the examination of San Jose bus operators’ health perspectives on split shifts, the investigation of health and safety hazards in the meatpacking industry in Southern California, a health and safety needs assessment of New York nurses, and the identification of health and safety hazards of Puerto Rican public sector workers post-hurricane Maria.

Thursday, February 7, 2019

Graduate Summer Internship - U of I Press (Urbana-Champaign)

Who: Established in 1918, the University of Illinois Press supports the mission of the entire University of Illinois System through the worldwide dissemination of significant scholarship, striving to enhance and extend the reputation of the system. A leading publisher in music history; African American studies; film and media; labor history; women, gender, and sexuality studies; sports history; American ethnic studies; and foodways, Illinois currently publishes 100 books and 40 journals annually. The Press is proud to serve the University of Illinois System and the broader scholarly community in advancing the development and circulation of knowledge and pursuing the twin goals of scholarly communication and an informed citizenry.

What: The Press invites University of Illinois at Chicago graduate students to apply for an 8-week, half-time internship at the UIP offices located in Urbana-Champaign. This internship offers the opportunity to work with publishing professionals at the Press, gaining hands-on experience and an introduction to the nuts and bolts of academic publishing, exposure to the rich intellectual content of scholarly publishing, and opportunities for special projects as well as intensive immersion in day-to-day publishing activities.

Qualifications:

Part-Time Community & Economic Development Coordinator City of Des Plaines

Who: City of Des Plaines – Community and Economic Development Department

What: This part-time position assists Community and Economic Development (CED) Department staff with various tasks including: planning and zoning related matters, maintaining databases, record keeping and filing, reviewing building permits and Planning and Zoning Board Application requests, front counter related tasks, modernizing codes and policies, and assisting with other CED related responsibilities. This position works under the general supervision of the Economic Development Coordinator/Development Manager.
Examples of Duties include:

State Policy Fellowship - Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CLOSES 2/10)

Who: The State Policy Fellowship Program is now accepting applications for its 2019-2021 class of State Policy Fellows! This an exciting career opportunity for master’s level students and recent graduates to develop firsthand expertise in state-level policy analysis and research.

The Fellowship is a project of the State Priorities Partnership, a national network of independent state policy organizations in 43 states coordinated by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP), one of the nation’s premier policy institutes. The Iowa Fiscal Partnership, which includes the Iowa Policy Project and the Child and Family Policy Center, is part of this network and we are excited to be a potential fellowship location for 2019-2021.

Since 2010, CBPP and the State Priorities Partnership have placed fellows in leading state-based policy organizations across the country. Program alumni have assumed leading roles in many policy, advocacy, and philanthropic organizations, actively shaping policy and political debates at the federal and state levels.

What: The fellowship is designed to: