Partners and Donors
Home to Texas™ facilitates the summer internship placement process for partners, while undergraduate students gain the opportunity to engage in impactful work in their own hometown communities.
UT Austin freshmen bring curiosity and adaptability, making them excellent internship candidates for your organization. Employers consistently report being impressed by our UT Austin students. In our most recent intern evaluation, 97% of employers strongly agreed that hosting a Home to Texas intern positively impacted their team’s productivity, efficiency and/or capacity!
In an effort to develop talent, drive impact, and strengthen communities, Home to Texas connects employers with motivated, vetted students ready to contribute from day one. Our team supports partners throughout the entire process, from placement and onboarding to regular check ins during the internship, making it easy to host an intern. The result is a mutually rewarding experience: your organization gains fresh perspectives and reliable summer capacity, while students build professional skills and discover career paths.
Stay connected with the program by submitting your Interest Form! You can also find more details, including the program timeline, in our Partner Interest Book.
Interest Forms Partner Interest Book
Partner Application now open for summer 2027! Join us for a virtual Partner Info Session to learn more about Home to Texas and the process to host a UT undergraduate intern in their own hometown community.
- Sept 23 | Oct 7 | Oct 21 | Nov 4 — 12:00–12:30 PM
- Nov 11 — 12:00–1:30 PM (open Q&A, no presentation)
- Partner Application Deadline: November 13
- Register to the Virtual Session Here
- Can’t make it to a session? Request the recorded video by submitting an Interest Form.
Donors
As most of our placements are in unpaid internships, each intern receives a $5,000 scholarship, which helps us attract top student talent to participating communities. By investing in students who are early in their academic studies, you are shaping the very beginning of their professional journeys, which is an impact that will echo throughout their entire careers. Your contribution does more than fund a scholarship because it opens doors to exploration, confidence, and long-term growth. Our students are eager to return to their home communities, apply their emerging skills, and give back in meaningful ways. Your support truly makes that possible!
Donations may support a specific community or contribute towards the general student scholarships.
How It Works
How it Works
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:
- Partner Application: Partner submits an application with internship opportunity information. UT Staff reviews submissions and confirms next steps.
- Student Application: UT Staff recruits students, students submit their application and then it’s reviewed by UT staff and program alumni.
- Interviews & Matching: Selected students are invited to group interviews. Then, partners are asked to confirm their matched student and students to confirm their internship placement.
- Orientation & Funding: Virtual orientation for partners and Scholarship Contribution Forms are sent. Partners contribute $2,500 toward the student’s scholarship, with UT matching the remaining amount to support the internship.
- Program Active: Students engage in ther internship AND in their H2TX professional development class. Students receive their scholarship throughout the summer.
Partner Commitment
- Host an intern for the full program length (usually 9 weeks, 35 hours per week) at an official commercial place of business. Private residences are not permitted.
- Note: Interns generally work a standard 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. or 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. schedule, totaling 35 hours per week, with limited evening or weekend hours. Employers are welcome to work with their intern to set a schedule that fits well, keeping in mind that typical weekday hours tend to offer the best experience for students.
- Provide a clear learning component with impactful projects beyond routine administrative tasks.
- Assign a dedicated supervisor to meet with the intern early to discuss goals, provide regular check-ins throughout the summer, and complete a brief online evaluation at the program’s midpoint and conclusion.
- Process partnership funding promptly so students receive their scholarship on time and collaborate and communicate with Home to Texas staff to help ensure a successful internship experience.
Internship Opportunities
Students in this program bring a wide range of career interests and fresh perspectives. Since most are completing their first year at UT and still exploring majors and career paths, we focus on placements that build transferable skills like communication, project management, and workplace professionalism. We want students to gain real insight into your organization, and many past interns have discovered new career passions through this experience!
Students are eager to contribute meaningfully, so their time is best spent on substantive, professional level work rather than administrative tasks. We encourage employers to meet with their intern early on to discuss goals and tailor the experience where possible.
We welcome partners from all industries with a focus especially in Key Growth Sector Areas such as:
Community Agencies
- City/County/State Offices
- Chambers of Commerce
- Economic Development Councils
- Education Offices
- Non-Profits
Small Private Established Businesses
- Energy/Sustainability/Environmental
- Construction/Real Estate/Infrastructure
- Manufacturing/Logistics/Distribution
- Banking/Insurance/Financial Services
- Healthcare
Employer FAQs
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.