For Employers

A strong internship offers students meaningful learning experiences that expand their skills and deepen their understanding of the field. Interns should engage in projects that support their growth, connect with their academic coursework, and help them build transferable skills for future employment. While interns can certainly support your team and assist with day-to-day tasks, their role shouldn’t mirror that of a full-time staff member nor be limited to purely administrative duties. The goal is to create a mix of hands-on project work, professional development, and opportunities to learn from your team. To support this balance, all approved internship sites must offer learning-rich, project-based experiences that integrate both contribution and growth.

Effective supervision sets the tone for a high-quality internship. Students thrive when they work closely with a professional who has the experience and expertise to guide their development. Consistent feedback, coaching, and opportunities to reflect help interns build confidence and deliver stronger work. In turn, supervisors benefit from fresh viewpoints, meaningful leadership experience, and the satisfaction of shaping the next generation of creative professionals. To ensure this level of support, active and engaged supervision by a qualified professional is a required component of all approved internship sites.

To set the stage for a successful experience, supervisors are asked to submit a Student Learning Plan within the first two weeks of the internship. This short document outlines the student’s learning goals, the types of projects they’ll take on, and what both parties hope to accomplish. It’s a chance to collaborate early, clarify expectations, and create a shared vision for the internship journey.

Internship site supervisors will submit a document outlining learning outcomes and internship expectations within the first two weeks of the internship. This plan gives the student and the supervisor a chance to look ahead at the goals for the internship and ensures everyone is on the same page.

Once a student notifies CAPX of their internship, staff will review and email the internship site to confirm the internship and provide the program agreement form. An Internship Agreement Form must be completed and signed by the internship site and approved by SAIC prior to the student participating in the internship. 

SAIC’s internship hour guidelines are designed to help students stay fully engaged in their learning while maintaining a healthy balance with their coursework. These structured limits support sustainable experiences for everyone involved.

• Fall & spring semesters: Students may work up to 20 hours per week.
• Summer & winter terms: Students may work up to 40 hours per week.
• International students (F-1 visa): Federal guidelines allow up to 20 hours per week during the fall and spring semesters.
   

Paid internships promote equity among students who could not otherwise afford an internship opportunity, especially given that students with internship experience have a significantly higher rate of obtaining jobs upon graduation than those who do not. Research also shows that paid interns have more motivation and commitment to their internship and thus contribute more to an organization than unpaid interns.

SAIC recommends that for-profit companies offer paid internships. In order to be considered paid, an hourly rate of at least $16.20 per hour (Chicago minimum wage) must be provided. For not-for-profit organizations that are unable to afford this rate, please see the not-for-profit drop down. 

We acknowledge and support that not-for-profits have limited funds to provide fully paid internships, and we also recognize that our students are drawn to the incredible missions that drive the not-for-profit sector.

With this in mind, SAIC is able to offer a payment collaboration with not-for-profit organizations that cannot afford to pay the hourly minimum wage for an interns’ internship hours. If agreed, SAIC will initially pay 75 percent of a students’ internship hourly wages, and upon completion of the internship, the internship site will pay 25 percent of those wages. 

SAIC has a large population of international students that gives us a culturally diverse and dynamic exchange of ideas and perspectives. Our international students are absolutely eligible to do internships, and we encourage them to do so!

As part of federal regulations, international students must be enrolled in a for-credit internship course, whether remote or on-site, paid or unpaid, and they must also complete CPT paperwork prior to beginning any internship. As part of that paperwork, international students will need an offer letter from their internship site that outlines the internship. Beyond that, no additional paperwork is needed from the internship site. International students are responsible for completing this paperwork, and will work with our team to complete prior to the start of their internship. 

The internship site must provide supervised work in a safe environment with necessary equipment, ensuring no discrimination based on race, color, creed, sex, disability, sexual preference, or national origin. It will maintain a harassment-free workplace, comply with all relevant laws, including equal opportunity, minimum wage, and safety regulations.