Thank you for visiting the RELIEF campaign page. Although the campaign has ended, you can still give to RELIEF through the College of Liberal and Fine Arts site by clicking on the following link: Colleges and Schools | College of Liberal and Fine Arts (tarleton.edu).
RELIEF is an opportunity for students to receive funding to help offset expenses associated with having an unpaid internship.
Students who take on unpaid internships are left with economic hardships that result from having to work at an unpaid job, therefore sacrificing opportunities to earn money elsewhere. RELIEF allows the College of Liberal and Fine Arts to incentivize these unpaid internships and relieve economic burdens on the students while also creating partnerships that boost local economies.
Purpose: To support students by providing financial stipends for ordinary expenses that students incur in unpaid internships.
Unpaid Internships: Unpaid internships benefit small businesses and nonprofit organizations. Interns provide skills and resources for unbudgeted needs. As businesses acquire valued assistance, students gain related work experience. Approximately 70% of COLFA internships are unpaid.
Benefits of Unpaid Internships: Real-world experience and applied learning. Networking with professionals. Acquire industry-needed professionalism skills. Resume and portfolio building. Potential job offers.
Rural Challenge: As a rural university, opportunities commonly available in urban areas are harder to find. With that in mind, we have to get creative and develop unpaid internship opportunities. In doing so, everyone wins.
Impact: Offset student costs associated with unpaid internships. Support rural students where economic hardships are frequent. Provide support for students in all majors across COLFA. Most unpaid internships are with small businesses and nonprofits, thus these partnerships boost local economies and enhance regional awareness.