Center for Career Development Opportunity Fund

The Center for Career Development’s Opportunity Fund was created to remove some of the barriers undergraduate students may face when participating in experiential learning. Through the Center for Career Development Opportunity Fund, students can apply for financial support to make professional opportunities, such as an internship or traveling to an interview, a reality.

Qualifying experiences include and may not be limited to internship or co-op-related expenses, job shadows, attending conferences, participating in interviews, engaging in training sessions, and professional development opportunities. Experiences must be in a field of the student’s interest and must feature quality supervision and/or a career-development component, but need not be directly related to one’s major or academic program. Experiences will be vetted for quality by Center for Career Development staff.

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis, until that semester’s allocated funds are exhausted. First-year undergraduate students, sophomores, juniors, and first-semester seniors from all academic programs are eligible to apply. Please email internships@uconn.edu with any questions or for more information.

Please note: Spring 2020 funds are current exhausted – but Summer 2020 applications are now being accepted.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):

• 1. What are the application components?
  A successfully completed application requires:
  1. A description of the experience for which funding is being requested;
  2. A budget, describing what funding will be used for; and
  3. A description of what this experience will bring to the requestor, both personally and professionally.Please note: funds may be used for housing and housing-related utility expenses, travel expenses (such as parking or public transportation cost), meals during the experience, and necessary clothing and/or uniforms.
• 2. What types of opportunities are eligible for funding?

  a. Qualifying experiences include but are not limited to internship and co-op-related expenses, job shadows, attending conferences, participating in interviews, engaging in training sessions, and professional development opportunities.b. Experiences must be in a field of the student’s interest and must feature quality supervision and/or a career-development component, but need not be directly related to one’s major or academic program.

  c. Experiences will be vetted for quality by Center for Career Development staff.

• 3. Do I need to be a Storrs-based student to apply?
  a. No, undergraduate students from all UConn campuses are eligible to apply.
• 4. If selected for funding, will I receive the full amount I request?
  a. Possibly. The application review committee will closely examine the budget you submit with your application. Generally, the more detailed your budget, the stronger your application. Based on the information you provide and available funds, an amount may be awarded to you, equal to or less than your request.
• 5. What class years are eligible for funding?
  a. First-year students, sophomores, juniors, and first-semester seniors are eligible to apply.
• 6. Can I be an undeclared or ACES student and receive funding?
  a. Absolutely – undergraduate students from all academic programs, including those not yet decided, are eligible to apply.
• 7. What types of activities are not eligible for funding?

  a. Awarded funds may not be used for any of the following: purchasing or leasing a vehicle, tuition at the University of Connecticut or another institution, personal expenses deemed unnecessary to completing the experience, and other discretionary expenses deemed unrelated to the opportunity. Please be mindful of this when submitting your application.b. Experiences funded through the UConn IDEA grant, or other University funding mechanisms, are not eligible and will be referred to other departments, as appropriate.

• 8. Who decides who receives funding?
  a. The Center for Career Development has developed a committee to closely and carefully review student applications. The committee consists of career coaches and those who work closely with our corporate partners.
• 9. How long does it take to hear back about my application?
  a. The application review committee will strive to let students know within three business days of submitting their application, but may take up to seven business days.
• 10. What do I do if I have questions?
  a. Please email internships@uconn.edu with questions about the Center for Career Development Opportunity Fund.

Prior Recipients:

“ The Fund makes the impossible possible; offering the keys to doors for future careers and life experiences. I would not have been able to have such a fulfilling internship this past summer. “

– JOEL

Communication and Psychological Sciences Major,
Social Media Management Intern with the Professional Fighters League

“ The UConn Center for Career Development and their Opportunity Fund gave me the chance to take this opportunity without fear, changing the trajectory of my future fundamentally. “

– SHELBY

Political Science Major,
Intern with Senator Maggie Hassan