More than 30 undergraduate students displayed the work they completed as interns in schools and programs across the campus during the recent Student Success Internship (SSI) Research Symposium.
The SSI program, now in its third year, allows departments to design internship positions for undergraduate students who complete professional projects for departments The interns are paired with mentors who provide guidance and advice throughout the projects.
One student served as an outreach coordinator to help spread the word to fellow students about food-security resources.
Another worked with School of Engineering faculty members to determine how to improve motor gear design in electric vehicles to increase efficiency, while one gathered input from campus community members and nearby neighbors to develop a proposal to create trails in and around UC Merced.
The SSI program is designed to create collaborations between undergraduate students and campus administration to enhance young scholars’ academic and career development. Students gain valuable experience that relates to their professional goals in an environment that promotes experiential learning.
The internships last about eight months, during which students can earn up to $4,000 for their work. Program funding comes from the UC Office of the President, the Office of Undergraduate Education and the Division of Student Affairs.
The program is open to undergraduates who are enrolled for at least one semester at the time of application and have a minimum of a 3.0 GPA. Applicants must be in good standing academically and in terms of conduct, be able to carry a full course load and still be able to devote 10 to 18 hours weekly to the internship.
The application process for the 2018-19 program is expected to launch in early September.
