Kansas businesses can hire community and technical college students for project based “Micro-Internship” projects for free through the Kansas Board of Regents.
Interns will work on professional projects designed by employers, receive pay, and “resume-able” experience, at no additional cost to employers, thanks to grant funding.
“This is a unique program for Kansas students to connect with far more Kansas employers today, tomorrow, and in the future, in a way that will hopefully provide immediate on-demand help for Kansas employers, seeking students to complete specific projects. said Tim Peterson, Kansas Board of Regents Senior Project Director. “This will hopefully also connect students with employers for full-time job opportunities,”
The program started several years ago as a more traditional internship program with 18 students and funding through the Kansas Department of Commerce. Four of the students were offered full-time positions but none accepted them.
The program transitioned to working with the DeBruce Foundation, which provided nearly $70,000 in funding. Under DeBruce funding, Kansas employers get their first two projects at no cost. In 2023, the Strada Education Foundation in Indianapolis granted $400,000 to connect more community college students with employers.
Additionally, employers who work with students from a community or technical college can take advantage of unlimited micro-internship opportunities at no cost. However, Kansas employers who select students from the six state universities and Washburn are limited to just two no cost projects.
“About 98% of these micro-internship opportunities are available for project-based, remote work. When projects are complete, students earn 90% of the pay, and the other 10% goes to offset the payroll cost of our platform manager company in Chicago, Parker Dewey,” Peterson said.
With a proposed half million-dollar budget for the fiscal year starting in July, 800 micro-internships will be available, paying students up to $500 or $20 per hour. Employers can select students for projects like website design or marketing research.
Employers also have the option to hire students to work remotely.
“With nearly 300 employers registered, and over 2,000 students interested, we need to get more employers onboard to take advantage of and benefit from this wonderful program,” Peterson said.
Half of undergraduate students in Kansas are enrolled in 19 community colleges, and six technical schools.
“This indicates that there is a significant amount of talent that many employers are unaware of. This program provides a way to connect with the students who don’t have access to the gigantic careers fairs that larger institutions have every year.”
To post a project, or to learn more click here.
