On-Campus Internships (UPIC)

Through the UPIC program, undergraduate students have the opportunity to secure an academic notation validating their internship experience on their transcript. Once students have secured a UPIC internship, interns are required to register for the online Internship (INT) Course and complete all related assignments.

Course Fee

The fee for the course is $200. The last day to withdraw from the class without a W Grade is consistent with the last day to withdraw from any course, according to the Clemson University academic calendar, which can be found on the registrar’s website.

INT Course Registration

Students must register for the required INT course through iRoar before the last day to add courses for the semester. If you are having trouble adding the following INT courses: INT 1510, 1520, 1530, 1540, 2510, 2520, 2530 or 2540 please contact upicpay@clemson.edu.

INT Course Sections

According to the CEIA (Cooperative Education and Internship Association), an internship is an academically recognized work experience directly related to a student’s major or field of interest. At Clemson University, the following criteria must be satisfied for an on-campus internship or co-op within the UPIC Program:

• UPIC Internships/Co-ops should be specifically and intentionally beneficial to the student’s educational goals and academic progress.
  
• Note: A UPIC internship experience should not displace a regular University employee position or be predominantly clerical/administrative duties.
  
• UPIC Interns must be an enrolled, matriculating, full-time Clemson University undergraduate student in good standing.
  
• UPIC Interns are required to enroll in the appropriate INT internship course based on a part-time or a full-time internship status.
  
• Note: All interns must be hired and enrolled in the UPIC INT course by the 1^st day of class for the internship semester. Mentors should verify their intern’s INT course enrollment upon completion of all hiring paperwork.
  
• Part Time interns are required to complete 160 site hours and Full Time interns are required to complete 320 site hours.

• Internships are either part-time (typically 12-15 hours per week for a total of 160 hours per semester) or full-time (28 hours per week for a total of 320 hours per semester). In addition, co-ops are typically differentiated from internships in that they are multi-semester commitments instead of single semester commitments.
  
• Postings/Recruitment will occur early in the semester prior to the experience. The department’s application deadline for Spring internship postions is October 1st, and the deadline for Summer & Fall intership positions is March 1st.
  
• Note: All interns must be hired and enrolled in the UPIC INT course by the last academic calendar day to drop a class or withdraw without a W. Mentors should verify their intern’s INT course enrollment upon completion of all hiring paperwork.

• Approved part-time assignments will pay 50% of $14 an hour. Part-time assignments require interns to complete 160 hours for the semester.
  
• Approved full-time assignments will pay 50% of $16 an hour. Full-time assignments will require students to work the maximum number of allowable hours (28 hours per week), however, students cannot exceed 28 hours per week. Full-time assignments require interns to complete 320 hours for the semester.
  
• Departments interested in hosting an intern will be asked to cover 50% of the student’s pay. The UPIC Program will contribute the remaining 50% up to 160 hours for part-time interns and 320 hours for full-time interns. Hours worked over 160 for part-time interns or 320 for full-time interns will be charged 100% to the department.
  
• To be considered for 50%/50% split funding, submission application must be submitted by the application deadline for each semester. Applications must be complete and provide a detailed job description.
  
• 5th Semester UPIC Interns Funding Change: Once an intern has completed 4 semesters as a UPIC Intern (cumulative of all semesters in ANY department), the 5th and all future semesters will not be fund matched by UPIC and the employing department will be responsible for 100% of the salary. Please note, the intern is still eligible to participate in the UPIC program, if the requirements are met, but they are not eligible for fund matching.
  
• Note: If an intern exceeds the maximum hours allowed hours for the semester, 100% of the intern’s salary would be billed to the host department. Interns cannot work over 28 a week; it is against HR/ACA policy.

Limited professional development funds are available to reimburse UPIC-approved purchases by internship providers for student internship needs, such as software, licenses, professional conference/webinar registration fees or certifications necessary for students to perform UPIC internship assignments.   These funds are to provide UPIC student interns with a “marketable career toolbox.”   These funds are NOT available to reimburse departments for conference or other travel, hotel expenses, meals, or office equipment.   As funds permit, reimbursement requests will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis.   Prior UPIC approval of purchases for reimbursement and copies of purchase receipts are required for reimbursement. Funds are reimbursed after approval.

To request an internship through the University Professional Internship / Co-op Program, hosting departments must apply for 50% funding and position approval through the online application form.

Once the position has been reviewed and approved, the UPIC program will advertise the position through ClemsonJobLink for students to apply. The host department’s mentor will facilitate the recruitment and selection process. Once a selection has been made, the host mentor will offer the internship position to their selected candidate(s) and then notify the UPIC program of their selection.