{"id":1333,"date":"2025-10-22T11:37:28","date_gmt":"2025-10-22T16:37:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/academicaffairs\/?page_id=1333"},"modified":"2025-10-22T12:04:25","modified_gmt":"2025-10-22T17:04:25","slug":"guidelines-for-internships","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/academicaffairs\/policies\/guidelines-for-internships\/","title":{"rendered":"Guidelines for Internships"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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The University of Wisconsin\u2013Milwaukee (51ÁÔÆæ) is a top-tier research institution with an access mission located in Wisconsin\u2019s largest city and metroplex. With both local and global impact in research, education and community engagement programs, UW\u2013Milwaukee faculty and staff host interns or provide internships for scholars\/professionals-in-training to engage in various educational, workforce and research activities. This document provides guidelines for hosting interns or providing internships at UW\u2013Milwaukee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who Is an Intern?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Interns are domestic or international students who are gaining a professional learning experience under direct supervision of a faculty or staff member. Internships are structured, short-term opportunities for students to gain skills and experience related to their field or area of study, primarily for their own benefit. Internships may be compensated or uncompensated. Interns are not visiting scholars who have already earned their credentials for pursuing research and scholarship (please see 51ÁÔÆæ\u2019s Visiting Scholar Guidelines). Interns may be 51ÁÔÆæ students or students at other educational institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are Interns Compensated for Their Activities?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Most interns are compensated for their internship activities. Interns who are compensated for their work, either through 51ÁÔÆæ or through a funding source managed by 51ÁÔÆæ, are treated as if they were a 51ÁÔÆæ employee and must follow 51ÁÔÆæ\u2019s Human Resources protocols. Funding for an internship should be secured prior to advertising or offering an internship. Internship compensation must meet minimum wage thresholds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interns not compensated by 51ÁÔÆæ or through a funding source not managed by 51ÁÔÆæ are considered unpaid interns. Unpaid interns are subject to additional 51ÁÔÆæ scrutiny following the U.S. Department of Labor\u2019s Fair Labor Standards Act<\/a>. Unpaid interns must be the \u201cprimary beneficiary\u201d of the internship activities as specified by the FLSA seven-factor test. 51ÁÔÆæ\u2019s hosting of unpaid interns, both domestic and foreign national, require review and approval by the appropriate dean, vice chancellor, and\/or provost in consultation with Human Resources and, if applicable, the Center for International Education (CIE). If the intern will engage in lab or research activities that are externally funded, contact the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) Compliance Officer to determine whether the grant will allow such activities. Grant provisions, export control, or other regulations may not allow unpaid interns to contribute to certain research activities. In almost all cases, grant funds must be used to compensate interns for their research-related activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can Foreign Nationals Be Interns?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

U.S. citizens or permanent residents have few barriers to becoming an intern at 51ÁÔÆæ. In contrast, most foreign nationals will not be eligible for an internship unless they are an enrolled 51ÁÔÆæ student on a F-1 or J-1 visa, regardless of compensation. There are occasional case\u2013 specific exceptions to this general rule, as permitted within regulatory parameters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additional protocols must be followed prior to offering an internship to those who are not U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents. Those wanting to host a foreign national intern must pursue the following steps prior to extending an offer:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Contact your dean, supervisor and\/or vice chancellor to express your interest in hosting a foreign national intern. Only deans or other 51ÁÔÆæ responsible officers have the authority to sign required federal documents or hosting agreements with third\u2013party vendors.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Contact CIE to inform them of your interest in hosting a foreign national intern. Gather information from CIE about visa, Department of Homeland Security, and other U.S. government requirements for foreign nationals. To ensure compliance with federal laws, CIE must be involved in form creation, review and approvals for all foreign nationals visiting 51ÁÔÆæ. NOTE: 51ÁÔÆæ does not sponsor J-1 interns.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. After consulting with CIE and OSP, inform your dean or responsible officer and HRBP about the inquiry status, providing documentation (e.g., email confirmation) from CIE and OSP that one is cleared to offer the internship to the foreign national.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Final approval to host a foreign national intern must receive approvals from the appropriate vice chancellor or provost after the previous steps have been completed.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    How Does One Become an Intern?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Interns must first be invited by a UW\u2013Milwaukee faculty or staff member. Any 51ÁÔÆæ employee or unit that hosts an intern is subject to 51ÁÔÆæ HR policies and procedures. This invitation may take the form of an advertised position description on job boards, employment website, professional organization or other publicly accessible means. Those interested in becoming an intern may initiate the conversation with a faculty or staff member or program. Some 51ÁÔÆæ departments, programs or schools\/colleges have information available online for those interested in becoming interns. The hosting faculty or staff member will initiate the process followed by an authorized invitation\/offer letter from the appropriate academic unit or division authority.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Foreign national interns should review 51ÁÔÆæ\u2019s Center for International Education webpages<\/a> for specific details and requirements. Interns are considered international interns if they are neither a U.S. citizen nor a lawful U.S. permanent resident. International interns are responsible for securing the required paperwork to pursue scholarly activities in the U.S. International interns must work with 51ÁÔÆæ\u2019s CIE to ensure compliance with federal law. Federal law and funding sources for some projects may prohibit a foreign national from an internship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    What Is the Nature and Responsibility of the Internship?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Internships vary widely in appointment length and responsibilities. Hosting faculty or staff should have clearly defined research, scholarly, educational objectives, or cultural exchange goals in writing prior to advertising the internship opportunity. The posted internship description should include the length of internship, responsibilities, and compensation. The internship offer letter should include these details in the body of the letter or as an attachment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Interns are subject to state and federal laws, University of Wisconsin Board of Regents and 51ÁÔÆæ policies, 51ÁÔÆæ\u2019s Code of Conduct, and the same expectations as employees for workplace behavior, safety, and security. Prior to the internship, 51ÁÔÆæ will conduct criminal background checks for compensated or long-term interns (and Restricted Parties Screening for international interns), or those with access to vulnerable populations under UW System Administrative Policy 625<\/a>. All interns accessing 51ÁÔÆæ IT resources must complete Information Security training. In addition, compensated or long-term interns will be required to complete Sexual Harassment training.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    What 51ÁÔÆæ Resources Are Provided to Interns?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Most UW\u2013Milwaukee internships are compensated. However, all interns accepting an internship at UW\u2013Milwaukee should secure financial resources for their travels to\/from Milwaukee, room and board costs while staying in Milwaukee, health insurance (if needed), and other miscellaneous living expenses needed for the duration of their internship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Interns with affiliations that are compensated or lasting longer than three weeks (considered long-term interns) will be provided an ePantherID, which includes an email account and access to 51ÁÔÆæ\u2019s wireless network and other resources. Interns may also be provided keys to labs or available office space, depending on the nature of the position and appointment. Interns who are not compensated or interning for three weeks or fewer will not receive ePantherIDs, IT access, or keys. The unit hosting the internship will initiate this process. Depending on the nature of the internship, additional office and computer resources may be available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    51ÁÔÆæ Process for Identifying and Hosting Interns<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Internship opportunities generally are initiated through one of the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n