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USF English Department – Writing Commons Intern

University of South Florida (USF) - Mellon Humanities Internship Program
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University of South Florida (USF) - Mellon Humanities Internship Program

Mellon Humanities Internship Program
Title: USF English Department  – Writing Commons Intern
Internship Site: Tampa , FL (On campus) 
Field: Health
Total Internship Hours: 50-100 (negotiable)
Location: Hybrid – Tampa, FL

MHI Compensation: This position is eligible for the MHI $1000 Scholarship. Students who receive an offer for this position will be required to enroll in the Mellon Humanities Internship course to receive the $1000 scholarship disbursement. As referenced in the Student Interest Form that you filled out to sign up for participation in MHI, this scholarship can impact, or be impacted by, other financial aid you receive. 

If an internship requires out of pocket costs, students may apply for reimbursement for expenses including background checks, qualifying travel, or equipment. All applications will be reviewed and processed for eligibility. Please contact your departments internship coordinator for more details.

The $1000 scholarship offered for this position is intended to provide financial assistance for the pursuit of your education; it is not compensation for the performance of any services and does not create an employment relationship between the you and the Site.

This position is an experiential learning opportunity and receipt of the scholarship is tied to an academic course (IDS 3947). If you do not complete your registration for the course in a timely manner, your internship offer may be withdrawn, and your department’s Internship Coordinator may notify the host organization that the position has reopened.

Job Description:                                                                                                      

Writing Commons is an award-winning, peer-reviewed, open-access encyclopedia for writers that serves a global audience of college students, instructors, and professional writers. As an Open Educational Resource (OER) rather than a commercial enterprise, our mission is to democratize education by providing free, high-quality textbook alternatives. To help offset hosting and infrastructure costs, the site utilizes minimal advertising, but its core focus remains pedagogical equity, public scholarship, and human agency in writing.

Currently, Writing Commons is directing its editorial and creative energy into two major macro-projects. Rather than asking an applicant to tackle everything, this internship offers focused tracks. Successful proposals should identify which project and specific role best aligns with the applicant’s skills, allowing them to take complete ownership of a defined portfolio piece during their tenure.

Core Projects & Intern Work Activities

Project 1: Multimodal Modernization & Content Refresh

The Goal: To adapt legacy articles for modern, multimodal learners by developing video summaries, graphics, and instructional assets, while simultaneously updating the text for search visibility and clarity.

Available Intern Roles:

  • Video & Visual Asset Creator: Scripting, recording, and editing short educational video modules, micro-lectures, or visual infographics to be embedded directly into high-traffic articles (e.g., teaching style, rhetoric, or the writing process).
  • Developmental Editor & WordPress Producer: Proofreading and revising legacy articles to ensure an authoritative, inclusive voice; verifying compliance with style guidelines; and staging the updated content within WordPress.
  • SEO & Digital Strategist: Auditing heading architectures, conducting keyword research to match student search intent, and mapping internal hyperlinked networks across the site's 2,500+ link topology.

Project 2: The "Writing with AI & Critical AI Literacy" Initiative

The Goal: To build out an entirely new, cutting-edge section of the encyclopedia focused on how generative AI reshapes composing, learning, and ethics. This project directly addresses the intersection of human authorship and algorithmic tools (covering AI Theory, Ethical Prompting, Rhetorical Stances with AI, and Policy/Integrity).

Available Intern Roles:

  • AI Content Writer / Researcher: Reviewing current scholarship (such as guidance from the MLA-CCCC Task Force on Writing and AI), drafting fresh introductory copy, and creating new instructional modules or pedagogical prompting exercises for students.
  • Editorial Liaison: Reviewing and copyediting newly submitted essays, research overviews, or tools guides within the AI subsection to ensure continuity, flow, and clarity for a global undergraduate audience.

Clear Deliverables & Intern Ownership

To guarantee definitive project ownership, the intern will be responsible for completing one of the following milestone deliverables based on their selected role:

  • Multimodal Creators: A finalized library of 4 to 6 fully produced, professional-grade educational videos or infographics successfully integrated into live Writing Commons articles.
  • AI Content Writers: A portfolio of 3 to 5 newly authored, peer-reviewed modules published on the live site under their own byline within the Writing with AI section.
  • Editorial/SEO Tracks: Full developmental editing and metadata optimization ownership over a targeted category folder (approx. 15 to 20 articles), taking them from legacy status to fully optimized, published updates in WordPress.

Qualifications:

  • Strong independence, reliability, and the ability to manage project milestones.

Track-Specific Requirements

For Content Writing & Editorial Roles

  • Required: Exceptional written communication and copyediting abilities, with a strong eye for clarity, mechanics, and audience-appropriate tone.
  • Desired: Interest in pedagogical writing or the intersection of composing and Generative AI.

For SEO & Digital Strategy Roles

  • Required: A strong willingness to learn search engine optimization (SEO) strategies and hyperlinking architecture.
  • Desired: Prior familiarity with content management systems like WordPress is a plus, but not required.

For Video & Visual Asset Creation Roles

  • Required: A strong willingness to learn basic video production, screencasting, or visual design workflows.
  • Desired: Prior experience with tools like Canva, Camtasia, or Adobe Creative Cloud is helpful, but motivation to learn the tools is most important.