IOWA ENTERPRISE INTERNSHIPS
Students, use the form on the right to indicate interest for a possible internship.
JOHN PAPPAJOHN ENTREPRENEURIAL CENTER | INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
The business application should be completed by a company, business, startup or non-profit organization interested in participating in the University of Iowa John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center’s (Iowa JPEC) Iowa Enterprise Internships program. The goal of this program is to provide a low cost solution to businesses across Iowa that need assistance on special projects while providing University of Iowa students with real-world learning opportunities.
Students may indicate interest in an internship by following the form above.
How the Program Works
- Iowa JPEC assists in helping your company become an approved employer at the University of Iowa and gives you the tools to post your internship opportunities on the university’s hiring platform, Handshake.
- Your job postings are then marketed to students to help fill these internship roles.
- The hiring and interviewing process is between your company and the student, giving your company complete control on who you select.
- Internships should be at least 30 hours a week over an 8-to-12-week time period. These 8 to 12 weeks must fit within the dates of academic summer term: May 13-Aug. 1, 2024.
- Iowa JPEC will provide a stipend to cover a portion of the cost to pay your intern, your company will need to invoice Iowa JPEC to receive these funds prior to the student's start date. Your company is responsible for covering the remaining payment for your student intern.
How Payments Work
Iowa JPEC will provide a lump sum stipend that covers a portion of the gross wages of an internship that is at least 30 hours a week for 8-12 weeks during the summer academic semester. Internships must comprise a total hourly wage of at least $17/hour for undergraduates or $22/hour for graduate students. Employers may choose to pay interns a higher hourly wage and are responsible for those additional wages. University funding will be a maximum of $3,400 for an undergraduate student intern or $4,400 for a graduate student intern. See an example below.
Undergraduate Student Payments
$17/hour total pay rate for student intern
40 hours a week x 10 weeks = 400 hours
$17/hour x 400 hours = $6,800 total payment to student intern. Iowa JPEC will contribute a total of $3,400 for an undergraduate student
Graduate Student Payments
$22/hour total pay rate for student intern
40 hours a week x 10 weeks = 400 hours
$22/hour x 400 hours = $8,800 total payment to student intern. Iowa JPEC will contribute a total of $4,400 for a graduate student
Sample Projects for Interns
Below is a list of potential student projects and duties that past entrepreneurship interns have completed. This list is an example, but can be expanded based on your business’s needs.
- Project development
- Project management
- Market research
- Technology commercialization
- Product design
- Social media marketing
- Software development
HEAR IT FROM JOHN MICKELSON
“The Entrepreneurship Interns program has been instrumental in allowing Midwest Growth Partners to scale and compete with institutional private equity funds in big cities, while being able to do it in Iowa. The students function as legitimate members of our deal teams and participate in underwriting and structuring new private investment opportunities. Having access to that trained talent is a unique advantage for us and something we value greatly.”
IOWA ENTERPRISE INTERNSHIPS SPOTLIGHT
University of Iowa student Kayla Jensen started a job with her dream company a semester before her graduation. She credits her success, in part, to academic and internship opportunities she found through Iowa JPEC.
Jensen, an Ankeny, Iowa, native, is working as an onsite specialist for Stryker, one of the world’s leading medical technology companies, while completing coursework for her health and human physiology major and entrepreneurial management certificate. Entrepreneurial courses helped Jensen realize that she wanted to pursue a career in sales, and she believes the certificate helped set her apart from the crowd.
HEAR IT FROM ALMOST FAMOUS POPCORN
“Many of the projects we developed during the internship are still being used to help our business continue to grow. We now have two shops, one in Cedar Rapids and one in Des Moines. The resources at JPEC are unmatched and the internship program is something all Iowa small businesses should take part in.”
Questions? Contact Jeralyn Westercamp via email.