The CU Public Interest Internship Experience (PIIE) program is seeking applicants who are interested in making a positive impact in their communities this summer. CU PIIE provides paid internships ($4,680 stipends) to nonprofit and government agencies in the Denver and Boulder metro areas for full-time summer internships.
The application deadline is 4 p.m. Friday, Feb. 2. Find applications, internship descriptions, qualifications, the list of 2018 host organizations and more at the link below.
PIIE was established in 2006 to connect students interested in civic engagement with paid summer internships. The program was the first of its kind among public universities in the nation and has become increasingly competitive since its first summer.
Now in its 13th year, PIIE has provided more than 100 internships in fields ranging from animal welfare to education, health, law, sustainability and more. These enriching opportunities broaden students' professional skills while making a real impact at organizations with positive missions.
Not sure if this is for you? See what CU PIIE alumni are saying about the program.
Make a difference
In addition to the experience you get at PIIE, you’ll also have the chance to create your own impact. You’ll find lots of opportunities to help out the Boulder and Denver Communities with your organization in one way or another!
My internship through the local health department allowed me to explore a lot of different departments and programs, and with this broad exposure, I was able to see many different ways that one can make a positive impact on the community. It was powerful to see the translation of a collection of individual's work into tangible community outcomes. This really showed me that one person's work can truly make a difference and has motivated me to stay in the social service sector.” –Katie McCune, summer 2009
Network, network, network!
Like any other internship opportunity, networking is extremely important component! However, what sets PIIE apart from the rest is the community it has developed between CU, students, and all of their partner organizations.
The contacts you make and the work you do have the ability to result in the job of your dreams. It did for me. Also, the non-profit community is a tight-knit one. Good word gets around quickly, and even if your organization doesn’t have openings afterward, you’ll end up with amazing references and great contacts!” –Andrea Merrill, summer 2012
Test the waters
A huge part of internships is finding out what your passion is. Use this opportunity to find out more about the goals you want to pursue. PIIE is a great place to test out different career fields, and figure out what works and what doesn’t. The only way to go from here is up!
You should define for yourself what kind of roles you enjoy and what your strengths are in order to help you not only find a ‘perfect’ job but also to help with interviews and networking.” –Mindy Bridges, summer 2010
Build your résumé
Each organization is dedicated to the improvement of their interns. Not only will you polish skills you already have, but you will for sure learn something new to put on your résumé.
One of the most important aspects of my job was analyzing Google Analytics data to plan effective social media outreach. I really enjoyed the process of using insights from data to guide business strategy. In this way, PIIE gave me my first experience of working with data, which inspired me to get my master’s in business analytics at the Leeds School of Business. Now I get to work with data every day!” –Emily Boyer, summer 2012
Join a growing community
PIIE has had over 100 participants since its conception in 2006. You can join a growing list of alumni that have benefited from the program. Make lasting memories, but also create new relationships that will help you on your path.
My fondest memory isn’t the work I did or the stuff I learned, but—rather—the interactions I had with everyone involved with the PIIE program. I remember the baseball games, dinners and coffee breaks with my supervisor, the other PIIE students, the PIIE mentors and everyone else involved in the PIIE program.” –James Skeffington, summer 2007
