Loyola Marymount University’s Career and Professional Development (CPD) office awarded 73 LMU students up to $2,500 to pursue an unpaid or underpaid summer internship, providing just under $100,000 to students in 2024. The funds allowed students to pursue internships that may not have been possible due to the cost of living, lack of income, or other factors.
The Summer Internship Funding Program has been running since 2018, and student participation has increased each year. This summer was the first time students could use the Career Launch assessment tool, which allows them to assess their career readiness before and after their internship experience based on the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) career readiness competencies.
“The summer internship fund is a program that truly supports the mission of both CPD and LMU, igniting a brighter world through our dedicated students and their commitment to social impact,” said Audra Verrier, Associate Vice Provost of Career and Professional Development. “It is a signature offering of LMU that supports the personal and professional development of students and engages our great institution with meaningful work all around the world. We are eager to grow these funds and support more students each and every year to continue doing this meaningful work each summer that bridges the academic with real world experience and builds professional connections for all LMU students.”
Career readiness is crucial for a seamless transition from undergraduate or graduate studies to a thriving professional life, and internships are one of the most effective ways for students to gain valuable experience. However, paid internships can be limited, and even those that are paid often come with financial challenges.
“With this being my first summer staying in Los Angeles as an out-of-state student, I was concerned about a plethora of expenses, from housing to commuting,” said Parker Alexander, a screenwriting major and animation minor in the LMU School of Film and Television. “The Summer Internship Funding helped alleviate those worries so I could focus my energy on doing a good job at work and making the most of the experience.”
Alexander, a rising senior, interned at Warner Brothers Animation.
All Summer Internship Funding participants register for the academic internship course led by the CPD career coach associated with their college or school. The course is focused on bringing an academic lens to their professional experience. Reflection sessions after the conclusion of the internship allow students to process their experiences and share key insights about their career goals and path.
“One of my favorite facets of the program is seeing how students evolve their self-awareness over the summer,” said Thuy Le, Associate Director of Internships and Social Impact Professions. “This year, we incorporated the Career Launch assessment to help our students gain insight into their career readiness. The integration of this process includes a pre-internship and post-internship written examen, which creates space for our students to evaluate their personal and professional growth.”
According to CPD, two-thirds of the class of 2023 participated in at least one internship experience during their time at LMU. The Summer Internship Funding Program allows students to participate in unpaid and underpaid internships, increasing access to internships for all LMU students and reducing the financial barriers to internship participation.
“This internship has been so helpful in understanding more about the animation industry,” said Alexander. “I’m ending my experience sure about how to tackle my last year at LMU and set myself up for success.”
To support CPD’s Summer Internship Funding, you can make a gift here.
The copyright above was sourced from the LMU Newsroom.
