Public Affairs Conversation participants who are pursuing unpaid or underpaid internships relating to public affairs are encouraged to apply for the PACON Internship Grant Award.
Eligibility Guidelines
- Students must have completed the Public Affairs Conversation program as a first year. Students have until the of summer following their junior year to complete a PACON internship. Each PACON student is only eligible to receive one PACON Grant Award.
- See the Guidelines and Policies for PACON Internship Program (for 2023-24) document
- The internship must be a public affairs internship (as articulated in the Guidelines and Policies document). If you have a question about whether or not your internship meets the criteria for a “public affairs” internship, please email Professor Marsh > and Nate Jacobi <jacobi>, Associate Director in the Piper Center.
- Students completing internships or research on-campus or where the employer would be St. Olaf are not eligible for funding.
- International Internships:
- See the Guidelines and Policies document
- Students are generally not allowed to complete internships in countries with State Department Travel Advisory Level 3 or 4. Please email <jacobi> at least two weeks before the deadline if you would like to apply for special approval to complete an internship in a country with a travel warning.
Award Levels for 2023-24
Term | Minimum Weeks and Hours | Award | Minimum Award |
Fall or Spring | 4 weeks and 55 hours | Eligible expenses (commuting) up to $1200 | $600 |
J-Term | 4 weeks and 120 hours (some hours can take place during the breaks before or after Interim) | Eligible expenses up to $2,500 (up to $3,000 for international internships or high cost of living locations) | $1000 |
Summer | 8 weeks and 240 hours | Eligible expenses up to $2,500 (up to $3,500 for international internships or high cost of living locations) + $1,500 stipend | $1400 |
*Compensation received from the employer will be subtracted from the award amount
**If the PACON Award level is not sufficient to meet your financial needs, please be in touch with both Professor Marsh > and Nate Jacobi <jacobi>, Associate Director in the Piper Center.
****Funding to students could be subject to income tax withholding per IRS and Minnesota state guidelines.
Deadlines
Spring and Summer Internships: typically early April to Mid May (see here for specific dates)
Students must secure internship by the deadline. Late applications will typically not be accepted.
Academic Internship Requirement
- Students who receive the PACON Award are required to register for academic internship credit and follow the guidelines and deadlines for Academic Internships.
- When possible, students are asked to work with one of their PACON instructors as their faculty supervisor (this might not be possible for international students, see below).
- International students:
- You are required to earn academic internship credit for any internship in which you live in the United States for at least part of the internship.
- The internship must relate directly to one of your majors.
- Your faculty supervisor must be from the department that corresponds to your major (that relates to the internship).
- Please contact Nate Jacobi <jacobi> and Professor Marsh > if you are an international student who needs to find a faculty supervisor for a PACON funded internship.
Budget Worksheet
Application Process
Terms of Agreement