Alumni Sponsored Internship Program
The Alumni Sponsored Internship Program (ASIP) awards summer internship grants between $2,000-$5,500 to currently enrolled first-years, sophomores, juniors, and 1st-semester seniors completing unpaid or minimally paid summer internships. ASIP funds can be applied to a multitude of industries and are increasingly sought after and thus highly competitive- requirements and application instructions are detailed in the sections below. Any and all questions can be directed to the ASIP Committee at asip@williams.edu.
Please go to the 2024 ASIP Live Spreadsheet (NEW Summer Internship Postings-May 2nd!!!) to view summer internship opportunities posted by “ASIP Eligible Employers.” If a student is offered one of these summer internships and accepts it, then the student must submit an ASIP application to be considered for funding. Please check back frequently. New summer internships will be posted soon! In addition, students can identify/develop their own summer internship. For more details, please read the tab, “Criteria For Funding Eligibility.”
Questions about ASIP? Three 2024 Virtual ASIP Application Workshops have been scheduled this year (One Workshop per month in February, March & April). To register via Handshake, please select one of the links below. Also, Dawn M. Dellea, Manager of Alumni & Parent Engagement Programs, will be tabling in Paresky and answering any questions you have about ASIP. Tabling dates and times will be posted soon.
- First-years, sophomores, juniors and 1st-semester seniors must be currently enrolled in Williams College classes or in Williams-approved study away/abroad programs during the 2024 spring semester, will enroll in the 2024 fall semester, and must adhere to the Williams College Code of Conduct.
- Students must obtain a confirmed summer internship that is at least 4 weeks for 140 hours minimum. Internships must occur between Tuesday, May 21, 2024 and Friday, August 30, 2024. Students applying for a short-term, 4-week internship may submit a separate application for a second 4-week short-term internship at another organization.
- Students are welcome to find their own internship opportunities or apply via ‘68 Center ASIP Eligible Employers. In either situation, students must submit an ASIP application in order to be considered for funding. The internship can be located within the United States or internationally*, and can be on-location, hybrid or remote.
- *Students interning in a country on the US State Department Travel Advisory List with a Level 3 or Level 4 warning will be required to submit a supplemental document with details concerning safety/housing information and travel schedule.
- Supervisors must develop substantive projects/assignments with specific learning goals/objectives and deliverables for the duration of the student’s summer internship. The Internship Supervisor must also have at least two consecutive years of full-time work experience. We prefer that an internship supervisor is not a family member. Supervisors must provide ongoing mentorship and guidance throughout the summer by:
- Building and supporting an effective relationship - supervisors may discuss learning goals and objectives to help guide student success
- Facilitating reflective thinking- asking thought-provoking questions to facilitate learning and asking reflective questions to encourage self-awareness of learning/growth opportunities.
- Providing objective guidance and feedback on a regular basis (preferred weekly)
- Priority is given to students who have not yet received an ASIP award. If students are returning to an organization after previous internships, students must have increased responsibilities from their previous internship or are starting a new project within the organization.
It should be noted that meeting the above requirements does not guarantee funding which is solely at the discretion of the selection review committee.
- ASIP funding cannot be awarded concurrently with another full-time funded opportunity through Williams College. Since there is limited ASIP Funding available, students who are not already receiving funding from other sources will be given priority.
- Summer coursework and/or self-directed/independent research projects that are led by students do not qualify as summer internships and are not eligible for ASIP funding.
- If the internship organization does not have a web page, students must provide some other indication that this organization is active and functioning such as a link to an article about the company, the organization's Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN), or any other proof this is a legitimate organization.
- Since we have limited ASIP Funding available, you are not eligible to apply for the ASIP grant if you accept a summer internship or summer academic research with other Williams College academic departments/programs or administrative offices because they select their own students and allocate their own funding for their summer internships/summer academic research assistants.
- Cannabis Policy: The ‘68 Center will not accept applications related to cannabis growing, testing, production, distribution, retail sales, promotion, and tourism. We will accept applications related to compliance, regulation, research, and development within the cannabis industry.
- Application
- Once you’ve secured an internship, simply fill out the ASIP application here. Note that you must have your supervisor’s contact information in order to complete the application, as we will send them a verification form (see below).
- Employer Verification Form
- Upon submission of your application, your supervisor will be emailed a form to verify the details of your internship experience and answer a few questions about their mentorship process. They must complete this in order for your application to be considered for funding. We highly recommend you reach out to your supervisor in advance to let them know they will need to complete this form, as it is ultimately your responsibility to ensure this is submitted, much like a letter of recommendation.
- 1st Application Deadline:
Sunday, February 25, 2024* - Decisions Released:
Wednesday, March 6, 2024
*Students offered ASIP Grants on Wednesday, March 6th must accept or decline this offer by Friday, April 5th at 4:30 p.m. (EST)
Some applicants may be placed on a waitlist and re-evaluated as part of the 2nd applicant group in April.
- 2nd Application Deadline:
Sunday, April 28, 2024 - Decisions Released:
Friday, May 10, 2024
*Students offered ASIP Grants on Friday, May 10th must accept or decline this offer by Sunday, May 12th at 9:00 p.m. (EST)
- 3rd Application Deadline:
Monday May 20, 2024 - Decisions Released:
Friday, May 31, 2024
*Students offered ASIP Grants must accept or decline this offer within 48 hours of receiving this offer.
If you accept an ASIP Grant, you must complete and submit the ASIP Contract and Agreement Form & Williams College Waiver Forms within 48 hours of your acceptance.
Applications will be reviewed based on a specific set of criteria, including:
- Student’s level of financial aid
- Student’s class year
- Number of previous internship experiences student has had
- Whether the student has previously received ASIP funding
- Whether the student is returning to an organization at which they’ve previously interned or are seeking a new opportunity
- How well the student articulates their:
- motivation for pursuing this particular opportunity;
- connection of this opportunity to academic, extracurricular, and career interests;
- career exploration and internship search process, including engagement with the ‘68 Center.
- Students applying for internships in fields where more funding is available will have a greater chance of receiving funding. (See below: “Funding Sources”)
- ASIP grants will be awarded between $2,000 - $5,500 and will be evaluated based on a specific set of criteria, including:
- Number of weeks and number of hours/week
- Modality of internship (in-person, remote, or hybrid)
- Whether a student is receiving any compensation or is provided housing
- Location of internship and transportation required to relocate to that location
- Student’s level of financial aid
- ASIP grants will be issued through Accounts Payable (AP). In order to process your payment, students will need to have Direct Deposit set up for their student accounts. For more information on how to fill out the form or update banking information, please visit the Student Financial Services website.
- ASIP grants are classified as taxable income. Students will be responsible for claiming their ASIP grants on their taxes. At the end of the year, domestic students will receive a 1099 form, while international students will receive a 1042-S.
- Previously ASIP Grants have been awarded in the following industries/areas: arts/museums/film/theatre, entertainment, sports, community service/public service/non-profit, education/teaching, economic development, environment/sustainability, international affairs, international development, journalism, municipal/state/federal government, law/public policy/public policy consulting, non-governmental organizations, public health/mental health/medicine, scientific research, racial justice/social justice/DEIA, startups/entrepreneurship/social entrepreneurship, technology and more! If you have any questions, please schedule an appointment with a career advisor.
Disclaimer: The above chart is meant as a guide only to show broadly how much funding exists in various areas, as there can be much nuance and crossover among industries.
What are my chances of receiving funding?
The ASIP funding program is a very competitive process with many variables that go into the decision-making process. That said, we have expanded the eligibility requirements to capture a broader variety of summer experiences and have moved to a variable award structure that will allow us to award more students based on their needs for their specific internships. We always endeavor to award as many students as much as we are able, and so we encourage you to apply!
ASIP typically disburses about $1.3 million. In 2023, we were able to award 203 students all at the same rate. For 2024 with our expanded program, we hope to be able to award even more students.
Previously ASIP Grants have been awarded in the following industries/areas: arts/museums/film/theatre, entertainment, sports, community service/public service/non-profit, education/teaching, economic development, environment/sustainability, international affairs, international development, journalism, municipal/state/federal government, law/public policy/public policy consulting, non-governmental organizations, public health/mental health/medicine, scientific research, racial justice/social justice/DEIA, startups/entrepreneurship/social entrepreneurship, technology and more! If you have any questions, please schedule an appointment with a career advisor.
Disclaimer: The above chart is meant as a guide only to show broadly how much funding exists in various areas, as there can be much nuance and crossover among industries.
One of the application questions asks me how my internship relates to my career, academic, and extracurricular interests. My intended major and extracurricular activities don’t directly relate to my potential career path. How do I answer this question?
The goal of asking you this question is not for you to choose internship opportunities that directly connect to the subject matter you’re studying or the student groups you’re part of. Instead, it’s to encourage you to reflect on the ways in which the transferable skills, interests, and values you’re exploring could connect to the skills, interests, and values you’d like to explore in this internship. In the spirit of the liberal arts, we want you to explore broadly, but also to be able to articulate your unique story.
How much detail should I provide about my career exploration and search process?
Reviewers will be looking for all of the ways you actively engaged in the exploration and search process. Points will be awarded for: specific examples of engagement with the ‘68 Center through appointments or programs, seeking advice from various mentors within and outside of Williams, networking (whether it’s with people already in your network or expanding into the Williams network), and having put effort into your search as evidenced by having applied to several formal and/or informal opportunities. The more you can highlight your process and engagement, the better. Of course, there is a word limit/character count, so articulating your process clearly and succinctly is important.
When can I expect to know if I will receive funding, and how much?
Students will be made aware of the status of their application on the following timeline:
- Deadline #1 (Applications submitted by February 25): March 6, 2024.
- Students offered ASIP Grants on March 6th will have until Friday, April 5th at 4:30 p.m. (EST) to accept or decline this offer.
- Deadline #2 (Applications submitted from March 1-Apr 28): May 10, 2024
- Students offered ASIP Grants on Friday, May 10th will have until Sunday, May 12th at 9:00 p.m. (EST) to accept or decline this offer.
- Deadline #3, First Come, First Serve (Applications submitted from May 1-May 20): May 31, 2024
- Since we will be reviewing applications on a first come, first serve basis, students offered an ASIP Grant during this time will have 48 hours of receiving this offer.
Award letters will contain your specific grant amount. Grant amounts are determined by a number of factors including things like length of internship, financial aid status, modality of internship, travel expenses, and more.
If I am not on financial aid, can I get funding?
Yes! Financial aid is just one of the many things we look at when reviewing and awarding ASIP applications.
If I’m getting paid, can I get funding?
Yes! Students receiving pay may still receive funding from ASIP on a pro-rated scale. Based on our funding formula, payment amounts may be subtracted from the overall amount we’d consider funding. Since our top award is $5,500 this year, if you’re making more than that, it’s much less likely that you would receive funding; however, your internship payment is just one of many factors contributing to our funding formula.
Because funding is limited, preference is given to students with unpaid internships or internships that only provide a small stipend. If you have questions about your specific situation, please feel free to email asip@williams.edu and we’d be happy to help you figure out if applying to ASIP is right for you.
Do I have to have an internship secured in order to apply for ASIP?
Yes. ASIP is providing funding for an existing internship. While we have sourced certain internships with employer partners help you in your search, you cannot apply for ASIP funding until you’ve been hired. In addition to our live spreadsheet of ASIP-eligible internships, we encourage you to work with one of our career advisors to find your own internship that best fits your goals.
If I’m receiving funding from another Williams College source, can I still apply for ASIP?
It depends. As long as the funding from another office is for a separate opportunity that is not full time, thus not happening concurrently with your internship, this year ASIPs can be granted to students receiving funding from another Williams College source.
If I have secured an ASIP-Eligible opportunity, do I still need to apply to receive ASIP funding?
Yes! We’re so glad you landed an internship with one of our employer-partners; however, ASIP is a funding program. Therefore, if you need the funding in order to participate in the internship, you must apply to be considered.
Who do I contact if my internship situation has changed? Will I have to refund the funds if I am unable to complete the internship?
On rare occasions, there have been issues during an internship that change the nature of your involvement or may cause you to have to drop the internship altogether. That’s ok! As long as you contact us right away, we can work with you to figure out a solution and work on the best way forward.
If any changes do occur, please email asip@williams.edu as soon as possible. Depending on the circumstances, we may be able to help transition you to another opportunity, or figure out another way you can use the ASIP funding. There have been instances where students have been asked to return all or a portion of their ASIP funds, but those situations are rare and we try to avoid them if at all possible.