Career Center Director Kino Ruth was interviewed for a Wall Street Journal article highlighting summer internships and the increasing demand by companies offering unpaid internships that students receive credit for their work.
Relying on a Labor Department finding that unpaid internships provide a "benefit" to the student, many companies are requiring that student interns receive credit for their internships. In some cases students are at risk of losing the valuable experience provided by internships if their school is unwilling to provide them with credit for their work.
Recognizing the importance of internships for students, Hamilton offers a free internship for credit program, awarding a quarter-credit for unpaid summer internships. Additionally, for students who might not be able to afford unpaid summer internships Hamilton has implemented summer internship stipends funded by donations from alumni and other sources. This year 13 students received stipends ranging from $1,000 to $6,000 to assist them with expenses associated with their internships. Commenting on the success of the program, Ruth stated that he is working to "expand the program to reach hundreds of students over the next five years."
