IIC Provides Record Number of Internship Pathways for SUU Students
Published: December 16, 2019 | Author: Connor Aste | Read Time: 2 minutes
Southern Utah University’s Intergovernmental Internship Cooperative continued its tradition of excellence in the summer of 2019 by providing 222 students with internship opportunities to prepare them for careers as public land stewards.
Over the summer, 20 total agencies offered 42 paid internship categories throughout southern Utah, northern Arizona, and eastern Nevada. Students accumulated 121,792 hours of professional development and leadership opportunities.
“The experience you get as an IIC intern makes a huge difference,” said Briget Eastep, director of Outdoor Engagement at SUU. “We recently asked the internship cohort from five years ago what they are doing now and 67% are still working in the field their internship was in.”
The IIC is the premier national partnership model in youth leadership and educational development for public land stewardship. SUU partners with various regional and federal land management agencies, as well as local Native American tribes. The valuable work that interns perform creates a sustainable and effective network of land management and education partners.
"The IIC is what ultimately made SUU stand above other universities when I was deciding where to attend,” said student Parker Vesely. “I have been given countless opportunities to grow as a professional and as an individual throughout my time in the program and have made lasting memories and friendships with fellow interns and agency professionals. I would highly recommend an IIC internship to other students passionate about public lands or the variety of disciplines involved in their management."
Federal agencies represented the largest share of interns, 83% of students spent their summer learning with the National Park Service, United States Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management. Available internships are designed for college students, high school students, and recent graduates. These unique internships provide students the needed skills and academic credit to pursue potential career opportunities as well as the chance to explore fields of their own interest.
The IIC places students on career pathways for high demand positions across all facets of public land management. Internships are offered in fields such as biology, accounting, wildlife, natural resources, maintenance, engineering, interpretation, recreation, administration and much more. To apply for summer internships in 2020, visit the Intergovernmental Internship Cooperative internship website or contact IIC Internship Coordinator Tayia Burge at tayiaburge@suu.edu.Tags: Regional Services Intergovernmental Internship Cooperative SUU Outdoors