MUPP Internship Connection
In Fall 2019, I began to work with Ann Barnds, assistant to the head of UIC's College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs, on studying abroad the next year. Unfortunately the pandemic cancelled those plans, but my organizational skills and eagerness impressed her enough to recommend me as a Graduate Assistant for the Spring 2020 MUPP Internship Connection.
The MUPP degree requires 300 hours of internship credits, and the Internship Connection exists to help students find those internships. It is a one-day event in which employers interview MUPP students in order to hire them as interns.
This flyer was created by my Internship Connection mentor, Amber Forte.
2020 Tasks
The 2020 MUPP Internship was planned to be in person as it had been in previous semesters. I worked with a student who had been on the Internship Connection team the year before. Some of my duties were:
Solicit internships from employers
Follow-up with employers on documents and requests
Create an online sign-up form for students
Reserve rooms and luncheon catering
Create packets with student's cover letters and resumes for employers
Sadly, the in-person event was cancelled two days before it was to be held. Instead, we coordinated with employers and students to have the already scheduled interviews conducted online. We had 25 organizations offer internships with multiple students signed up to interview for each.
2021 Tasks
The 2021 MUPP Internship Connection was slightly different. Instead of another student, I worked with a professor and staff member from the Urban Planning Department. Now that we had spent over a year working online, we were prepared for setting up virtual interviews.
This event was divided into two days, with Day 1 being dedicated to 30 resume reviews and six mock interview sessions with MUPP alums. I handled the scheduling, Zoom meeting set up, and sign-ups for that event.
Day 2 was dedicated to interviewing for internships. I was the point-of-contact for all employers, soliciting them for internships, scheduling interview times that worked for them, and sending them student resumes. We had 111 interviews with 44 students for 33 internships in the Chicago region.
Banner for the 2021 MUPP Internship Connection website. Dominic Belcaster maintained the website while I handled organization on the back end.