Summer Civic Leaders (SCL)
The Summer Civic Leaders Program is an internship program that connects UK undergraduate students with community organizations. The program matches Federal Work-Study-eligible students with paid internship opportunities at community organizations, school districts, or government agencies during the summer. These internship opportunities will be combined with civic engagement and professional development workshops as well as reflection to create a well-rounded service-learning and professional experience for students that help meet the needs of organizations in our community.
Program Goals
- To support community organizations and government agencies in their missions.
- To afford students the opportunity to develop and enhance their professional competencies, leadership abilities, and communication skills in the service of others.
- To form a supportive community of students focused on community service, civic engagement, and leadership
Program Elements
- Cohort-based internship program for Federal Work-Study eligible undergraduate students for Summer 2022.
- Paid Federal Work-Study remote internship with a community-based nonprofit in the Lexington area.
- Internships are for 8 hour/week
- Hourly rates based on Federal Work-Study guidelines ($9.50/hour to $10.00/hour)
- While working directly for an area nonprofit, the Center for Service-Learning and Civic Engagement would be the supervisor of record
- Learning Contract required
- This internship is not academic credit-bearing unless by request from individual students. While not credit-bearing, each student would be required to sign a learning contract at the beginning of their term to be a part of this program. The following are potential learning objectives to be included in the learning contract.
- Understand one’s role in society as an important contributing member
- Ability to relate to, and integrate with, diverse perspectives
- Connect social issues to underlying societal causes
- Communicate effectively across diverse mediums and forums
- Includes one written reflection and one verbal reflection as well as participation in related program co-curricular activities.
- This internship is not academic credit-bearing unless by request from individual students. While not credit-bearing, each student would be required to sign a learning contract at the beginning of their term to be a part of this program. The following are potential learning objectives to be included in the learning contract.
- Participation in 3 Center for Service-Learning and Civic Engagement workshops / meetings (1-2 hours each)
- Participation in 1 Leadership Education workshop (1 hour). Workshop could include one of the following:
- Cliftons Strengths Test and Coaching
- Conflict Negotiation
- Effective Communication
- Resiliency
- Resume review and participation in 2 Stuckert Career Center workshops (1 hour). Workshops could include one of the following:
- Interviewing
- Resume and Cover Letter Writing
- Reflection Presentation: At the conclusion of the internship each student is required to present a reflection presentation recounting the impact the student had on the community and vice versa.
- Upon completion, participants would be eligible for “Badge Blue” digital badging benefits that can be added to a student’s LinkedIn page:
- Humanitarian Badge (20 hours of internship or service)
- Service Engagement Badge (50 hours of internship or service)
Student Applications are now available. If interested, Apply Here! Please be sure to have your resume updated and available to upload with your application.
If you have any questions, please email Todd Stoltzfus at Todd.Stoltzfus@uky.edu.
Program Sponsors: Office of Community Engagement and the Center for Service-Learning and Civic Engagement