colorado state flag at capitalThe CU Public Interest Internship Experience (PIIE) Program was established in 2006 to connect students interested in civic engagement with paid summer internships at non-profits and government agencies. PIIE was the first of its kind among public universities in the nation and has become increasingly competitive since its first summer. Now in its 18th year, PIIE has provided more than 100 internships in fields ranging from animal welfare to education, health, law, sustainability and more.

Applications for summer 2023 have closed.

Once students submit their full application, they will be initially reviewed by the PIIE board to identify potential candidates. Successful applications will then be sent to host organizations. Employers will then contact candidates to set up interviews.

By the middle of March, all PIIE internships will have offers made and accepted. The CU PIIE director will work with applicants who do not receive an internship offer by providing resources that may help them in their future .

Important Dates
  • Jan. 9: Applications open
  • Feb. 13: Applications due by 5 p.m.
  • Feb. 13–March 3: Applications reviewed by PIIE and host organizations. Interviews conducted during this time and offers will be made.
  • March 10: Deadline for students to accept or decline received offers.

In order to be eligible for a CU PIIE internship, a student must

  • Be a full-time undergraduate at CU Boulder. Student must also be continuing enrollment (study abroad counts) for the following fall semester after the internship takes place.
  • Be in good academic standing with a GPA of 2.5 or higher.
  • Be in at least their second year of college (not just in credits) at the time of application.

Stipend
Interns are awarded a total of $7,560 if chosen for the PIIE program. Payment is distributed in the form of stipends, split by both the host organization and PIIE program. Interns receive their stipends in monthly or bi-weekly increments. The internship requires completion of 360 hours over the course of 9-12 weeks. This equates to approximately $21 an hour.

  • View the internship descriptions above and pick your top two choices.
  • Complete all necessary forms and create materials needed.
  • Submit your application no later than 5 p.m. on Feb. 13.

Application Materials

If you are a recipient of a CU PIIE internship, you must be able to

  • Fulfill all responsibilities of their internship, including traveling to and from their host organization.
  • Complete all 360 hours at the host organization.
    • It is possible to study abroad, take vacations or miss part of the summer and still meet the 360-hour requirement.
  • Attend a PIIE orientation, mid-summer workshops, recognition dinner, as well as any other summer events to be determined.
  • Meet with their designated advisor at least twice throughout the summer.
  • Fill out an internship learning plan at the beginning of the summer, an evaluation at the end and send a thank-you letter to donors/the CU PIIE Board.

The CU PIIE Advisory Board reserves the right to refuse any internship based on the consensus of the committee.