Frequently asked questions

To watch the recorded information session from 3/18/2021, click here.

To watch the recorded information session from 3/10/2021, click here.

Click here to view the slide deck used for both information sessions.

Please reach out to the covidinterns@osbm.nc.gov if you would like to set up a meeting. Office hours are now on a rolling basis.

What will interns do?

Host organizations determine work scope and provide information for prospective interns through the interest form. In 2020, the first year of the Response Corps, interns worked on projects related to policy research, outreach, communications, database management, community partnerships, grant management, survey research, and more. For example, interns provided Spanish language translations for US Census recruitment efforts with rural Latinx populations; helped redesign websites; and secured funds through grant writing. Click here to learn how the COVID-19 Student Response Corps increased organizational capacity across the state.

What is the timeframe for the internships?

Most internships will run from approximately early June through mid-August. Host organizations and their interns will determine the exact timeframe for each opportunity.

How are interns matched with organizations? 

Host organizations submit internship opportunities through an interest form. Students apply to one or more opportunities. Host organizations handle the applicant review and selection process, including screening applications and communicating with applicants. When a candidate is selected as an intern, the host site should send the intern name(s), email address, host organization name and supervisor name and email address to carroll@sog.unc.edu. This will ensure that the intern and host organization receive Response Corps information, including invitations to ongoing educational opportunities and trainings.

Are internships full-time or part-time? 

There are both full-time and part-time internship opportunities. See the database for information about each opportunity.

Are internships paid or unpaid? 

There are both paid and unpaid internship opportunities. See the database for information about each opportunity.

Are the internships remote or in-person? 

Host organizations decide whether internships are remote, in-person, or a combination.

Are there training/professional development opportunities for interns?

Yes, interns will be invited and strongly encouraged to attend training sessions and ongoing professional development opportunities. See the 2020 training agenda at this link for an example of topics covered. Host organizations are encouraged to provide training and/or professional development opportunities for interns.

Do interns need to live near the host organization? 

Host organizations will indicate whether their internship will be in-person, remote, or hybrid and whether their intern must live in the area where the organization is located. In 2020, the first year of the Response Corps, host organizations were flexible about where interns lived. See the database for information about each opportunity.

Is equity a consideration for the Response Corps?

The Response Corps team has worked to develop a transparent, accessible process and database. If you have questions, suggestions, or need assistance with accessing information, please email carroll@sog.unc.edu.

I am a host organization. What if I don’t receive any applicants?

Response Corps organizers widely share the opportunities in the database. We encourage host organizations to do so as well, particularly through outreach to the two- and four-year colleges and universities in your area. There is no guarantee that all host organizations will receive applications. If you do not receive enough applicants, please email covidinterns@osbm.nc.gov and the Response Corps team may be able to assist you with publicizing your internship opportunity more widely.

How can a host organization modify its internship database posting?

Host organizations can request changes by sending an email to covidinterns@osbm.nc.gov.

What if I have other questions? 

Please direct questions to covidinterns@osbm.nc.gov.