Communications Intern (SHIFT)

The Division of Student Affairs Internship Program allows students to spend a summer handling a special project for the university designed to prepare them for life after graduation. Interns will work 19 hours per week for 10-weeks. These part-time internship positions offer a competitive compensation package that includes an hourly wage and housing assistance. Undergraduate students are eligible to apply. The internship runs from June 1, 2020 to August 7, 2020. The application is due February 16, 2020.

Although internships range in subject matter and skill set, each position is designed to prepare all students for life after graduation. For this reason, each intern will submit various assessments relating to their development in the areas listed in the “What You’ll Learn” section below. These skills, otherwise referred to as the NACE career competencies, have been identified by higher education and corporate recruiting leaders as critical to a student’s career preparation.

Please contact utlei@austin.utexas.edu with questions.

SHIFT is a new initiative working collaboratively with partners both on and off campus to change the culture of substance use from one of default use/misuse, to one more grounded in holistic health and well-being. 

SHIFT is a new initiative at UT Austin that aims to shift the culture of substance use on campus from one of default use, to one that cultivates well-being. There are six pilots that will have launched by Summer 2020 that engage students, faculty, and staff in a different conversation around substance use, challenging the current norms. 

This internship will assist in the creation and strategic vision of SHIFT-related communications. This student will work closely with SHIFT staff, and other strategic campus partners, to develop impactful messaging to the UT community as it relates to SHIFT‚Äôs mission to change campus culture. Student will draw from various data to create informed messaging and bring their unique voice to inform student-centered communications. Communications will vary, but may include social media messaging, communications to targeted audiences, and/or messaging related to programming (i.e. tailgating, safer events, etc). 

Kate Lower, Director of SHIFT, University Health Services

Shifting the culture of substance use on college campuses has never been done in this way before, so cultivating innovation is at the core of this program. Branding and messaging is an essential part of expanding our efforts to gain recognition to affect change. Finding key strategic opportunities to connect with our unique message will be a huge contribution toward success.

This position would offer a student a tremendous opportunity to be part of building a brand new, innovative program from the ground up. The student will learn how to market a brand and ways to establish themselves as a professional. They will also get invaluable insight into what it takes to work as a team member across disciplines and get buy-in from across a system.