Partners and Donors

We are glad that you are interested in hosting an intern! Here are the steps for engaging as a partner in the Home to Texas program:

1. If you are new to the program, please submit your interest through our contact form. We will connect to discuss the type of partnership, interest, and tentative number of internships. For returning partners, notifications will be sent when employer applications open.
2. Once Employer Applications open, submit an application form to confirm internship information and eligibility. This will support the funding assessment and internship matching process. The application opens in the Fall around September/October.
3. Employers receive application status notifications.
4. UT Staff recruits student candidates from selected communities and matches them to the available internships from selected employers. Through the employer application that you complete, we will learn about your organization and opportunity in order to make the best match based on the student’s interests, skills and hometown location. The matching component typically takes place around March/April.
5. Internship placement confirmations occur, partner funding is processed, and students begin their internship. Students receive their scholarship throughout the summer and participate in a UT professional development course.

Types of Opportunities

Students in this program bring a wide range of career interests and are open to internships across for-profits, nonprofits, and government agencies. Because they are completing their first year at UT and still exploring majors and career paths, we prioritize placements that offer broad professional development skills such as communication, project management, and general workplace professionalism. We want students to learn the inner workings of your organization, and many past interns have even discovered new career passions through this experience. You may be helping develop a future colleague.

Each internship should have a clear learning component. While students will contribute meaningfully to your organization, they should not spend significant time on administrative or non-professional tasks. We encourage employers to meet with the intern early to discuss goals and tailor the internship where possible. To support their growth, each student should have an assigned supervisor and regular check-ins throughout the summer.

Scheduling

Summer internship dates typically run early June to late July or early August. Interns should work a standard 8 a.m.-4 p.m. or 9 a.m.-5 p.m. schedule for 35 hours per week, with limited evening or weekend hours. The internship should run for the full length of the nine-week summer program. Employers are welcome to work with the intern to set their hours, but in general interns should be working typical weekday hours.

To support the program’s mission, student experience, and partner experience, we have set Partner Tiers and priority levels. Please visit our Partner Interest Book for more information.

Each partner may manage the financial contribution in a different way as some communities have one or two organizations who cover the full amount, while other communities split the cost amongst participating employers. If you have local donor support, we can also work with you to coordinate funding.

Why should I host a Home to Texas intern?

Many benefits exist by hosting a Home to Texas intern:

• Supported recruitment efforts for high achieving UT Austin students.
• Ability to support local economic and talent development.
• Summer workforce to fulfill pending/priority projects.
• Provide current employees a professional development path by managing interns.
• Connections and collaboration between education, community, and business.
• Strengthen your brand as a positive steward who mentors the next generation (community-invested & forward-thinking).

The Home to Texas program has the potential to plant a seed that will attract talented UT Austin graduates to your community – and your talent pool – in the years to come.

Can a student who is early in their academic journey or whose major is not aligned with my organization be an effective intern?

Yes. Students early in their academic journey, even those whose majors do not directly align with your organization, can definitely be effective interns.

Our program is intentionally designed to recruit primarily first year students, with opportunities also available to second year students. Although these students may have limited professional experience, employers consistently share how impressed they are with the motivation and adaptability our UT Austin students bring to their internships.

A central part of Home to Texas is placing students in roles that emphasize broad professional skill building. Even when a student’s major differs from the organization’s focus, the internship still provides meaningful opportunities for the student to grow while contributing to the daily work and long-term goals of the organization.

In addition, all interns participate in a virtual UT Austin professional development course during the summer. Through weekly meetings with Home to Texas staff, students reflect on their experiences and receive guidance they can immediately apply in their internship.

Is there anything I need to know about compliance?

As with any intern, employers should consult with their organization’s human resources department to ensure compliance regarding benefits and unpaid or paid internships.

May we hire the student to work for us for additional weeks in August?

Many employers have done this, and that arrangement would be managed between the employer and the student. Some employers have even invited their interns to continue to work remotely during the school year, or to return to work during holiday breaks.