Information & Application
Application Requirements:
- Students must apply for funding for a specific internship. The Bailey Scholarship program does not place students in internships. Students may only receive one unpaid internship scholarship during their tenure as a UIUC student
- Student must be enrolled as an undergraduate student in good standing at the University of Illinois – Urbana Champaign campus during the current or previous academic semester. Student need not be enrolled in classes at the time of the internship but must be working toward a degree at UIUC. Students who graduate prior to the start date of the internship are not eligible to apply. Graduate students are not eligible for this scholarship.
- Internships may be for credit or no credit but must be an unpaid internship with a nonprofit organization or government agency. Unpaid internships at for-profit business are generally not eligible.
- Students completing internships that are part of an academic program's graduation requirements (community health practicum, social work internship, student teaching, etc.) are eligible to receive the Bailey Unpaid Internship Scholarship. The Bailey Program Director highly encourage students in these programs to consider applying for the Bailey Undergraduate Scholarship, due February 28. For more information on the Bailey Undergraduate Scholarship program, click here.
- Students will be asked to describe the learning objectives of the internships they are pursuing and how the internship is connected to their educational and career interests in activism or community development in the application essay section.
- Preference will be given to unpaid internships in non-profit or government offices and for students who have not previously held an internship. Students applying to intern at for profit businesses must demonstrate a direct relationship between the internship experience and future career goals in the non-profit or public sectors.
- Students must demonstrate financial need. Scholarships are reported to the UIUC Office of Student Financial Aid and may affect aid packages. Please contact the Office of Student Financial Aid to determine if this scholarship negatively affects aid packages.
Program Requirements
- All recipients must include a recommendation letter.
- All internship scholarships are contingent on an official offer of employment from a nonprofit or government agency. Student must identify a "Site Sponsor" at the organization where the internship takes place.
- Student is asked to discuss their learning objectives for the internship in the application essay. (Sample Learning Goals)
- Student must submit a job description for approval to the Bailey Scholarship internship committee. Failure to obtain an approved internship job description will result in forfeiture of the unpaid internship scholarship award.
- Site sponsor must agree to and sign a site Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the University YMCA and provide intern evaluations as requested by the Bailey Scholarship Director. For more information on the role of the site sponsor, download the “Site Sponsor Information Sheet."
- Student must complete a one-month evaluation of the internship as well as an exit survey at the completion of the internship. Evaluation form and exit survey will be provided by the Bailey Scholarship program.
- Student is expected to complete an exit survey of their internship experience that may be shared in a digital archive or sharing space/symposium as directed by the Bailey Program Director.
- Student is encouraged to submit an updated resume incorporating their internship experience to the Career Center for review.
