Campus As A Classroom
Student Innovation. Campus Collaboration. Sustainable Impact.
Campus As A Classroom provides experiential learning opportunities for students that support the university’s sustainability goals while fostering collaboration between students, faculty and staff. The program is coordinated by the University Sustainability Office and includes three pathways: Internships, Courses and Student-Led Projects.
Internships
The internship program provides on-campus, real-world learning opportunities about sustainability. The paid internships are for the academic year (fall and spring semesters) and pair students with operations-focused projects that improve campus sustainability.
The internship experience includes the opportunity to:
Learn From Experts
Each project is proposed and led by a university employee with expertise in the project topic to facilitate student learning and project success.
Make An Impact
Students work independently on their assigned project with an opportunity to present findings and recommendations to stakeholders.
Grow Together
A year-long cohort experience allows students to develop professional skills and grow in their understanding of sustainability.
University employees are encouraged to participate in Campus As A Classroom by submitting proposals for on-campus sustainability projects that could benefit from having a student intern. Those who submit proposals should expect to act as the intern supervisor. In doing so, you can facilitate meaningful professional development and educational opportunities for students while taking advantage of an internal support network of faculty and staff across campus.
Submitting a Project
Prior to submitting a project proposal, please review our project guidelines and expectations document to ensure your project aligns with the program. You may submit your project application prior to identifying your funding source, and the Sustainability Office can offer support in applying through the various funding sources above. However, your project will not be eligible to be accepted as part of Campus As A Classroom until funding is finalized.
Project applications will be accepted from December 4, 2023-May 31, 2024.
Supervisor Requirements
- Participate in the student interview and selection process (late June-late-July), which will be facilitated by the University Sustainability Office
- Meet with the intern(s) at least once a week
- Approve students’ timesheets on a weekly basis
- Provide general project oversight and resources when necessary
- Set clear project expectations at the beginning of the academic year
Funding
Because Campus As A Classroom internships are paid, those interested in submitting project proposals must also identify funding. In order to determine the amount needed for student compensation, project supervisors must first decide if their project will require either undergraduate or graduate-level students. Undergraduate students should be paid $13/hour, while graduate students should be compensated $15/hour.
Campus As A Classroom interns work 5 hours/week on their project and 1 hour/week on readings and activities associated with the cohort experience. Since students do not work over university holidays and breaks, they will work approximately 28 weeks throughout the academic year. Based on the 6-hour/week model, partners should request $2,184 for an undergraduate student and $2,520 for a graduate student for one academic year. Partners may request that students work more than 6 hours/week, however, this will require an adjustment for any funding requests.
Depending on the funding source pursued, the financial details above will be required when you complete the various funding application. Below are the funding avenues with more details and application instructions for each option:
| Funding Option | Description | Application Instructions | Application Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sustainability Fund | Partners must submit a detailed application to NC State’s Sustainability Fund. Those who apply through the Sustainability Fund will NOT need to complete a separate Campus as a Classroom project application. Applying through the Fund allows partners to also request funds to pay for additional resources associated with the project beyond student compensation. | When applying, mark “Yes” next to the Campus as a Classroom option on the “Application Information” section of the application. Specify the desired number of internships under the “Personnel” area of the “Project Budget & Justification” section of the application, but create separate line items if requesting more than one internship. | February 1, 2024. You will be notified in April 2024 if funding is granted. |
| Provost’s Professional Experience Program (PEP) | Partners must submit a detailed job description for the work that the student intern(s) would complete. PEP is also limited to undergraduate students, so projects that require a graduate student should not pursue PEP. PEP will fund 75% of the position, while your department must cover the remaining 25%. | In the job description, indicate that you are submitting for a year-long position AND that you are interested in having the position be part of Campus as a Classroom program. | May 31, 2024. You will be notified in June if funding is granted. |
| Federal Work Study (FWS) | Partners must apply to be a work study location. Your selection of students will be limited to those who have qualified for FWS. FWS will cover 75% of student compensation, while your department must cover the remaining 25%. | N/A | Applications can be submitted and approved on a rolling basis. |
| Department Funding | This funding avenue requires no application to an external funding source. Internal funding also allows partners to compensate students in the event that their student(s) must work more than 6 hours/week. | N/A | N/A |
For any questions regarding the proposal, please contact Jessica Bast at jmbast@ncsu.edu.
Meet The Students
The Campus As A Classroom application opens each summer. Sign up to be notified when applications open.
Campus As A Classroom interns apply classroom knowledge and develop meaningful skills in a hands-on environment while making an impact at NC State. In addition to working on their assigned projects, students are part of a year-long cohort. Through this cohort, interns participate in monthly meetings with fellow interns and complete supplementary workshop modules intended to enhance students’ knowledge and skills in the areas of sustainability principles, project management and professional development.
Internship Requirements
- Attend all monthly cohort meetings
- Complete supplementary workshop modules
- Remain communicative and open-minded with all teammates and project advisor(s)
- Maintain accountability for duties and responsibilities
- Attend kick-off retreat in the fall semester
- Dedicate 5 -6 hours per week for intern work and assignments
- Complete timesheets on a weekly basis
- Present project findings and results at the end of the academic year
Compensation
Students are paid bi-weekly as hourly employees through the PackPortal System, which requires students to enter their hours directly on a weekly basis. As a paid employee of the university, interns are required to complete an I-9 Form and to be onboarded into the NCSU payroll system. Interns will be required to provide 1) a current resume with appropriate address, 2) a passport or picture ID and Social Security Card, and 3) a NCSU ID number.
Academic Credit
Some degree programs require an external learning experience. Students selected for participation in the Campus As A Classroom internship program are encouraged to initiate opportunities for relevant academic course credit through their college or school.
Timeline
Internships are for one academic year starting in the fall semester. Interns will not be required to work over any university breaks. Note that you will be asked to upload a resume as part of the application form. If you are selected for an interview, you will be contacted by email.
Student applications are accepted each summer. Sign up to be notified when applications open.
Any questions regarding the application or program can be directed to Jessica Bast at jmbast@ncsu.edu.
Courses
In addition to internships, on-campus student sustainability projects can begin in the classroom through a variety of courses. Most frequently, such projects are completed by students in capstone and senior design courses and are led by an NC State faculty or staff member. While the Sustainability Office does not oversee every project, it works to archive this interdisciplinary work at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.
If you have a sustainability project idea, you can submit a proposal to the appropriate department. If you are a faculty member interested in adding a sustainability project to your course, reach out to the University Sustainability Office.
Student-Led Projects
Students with ideas for sustainability-related research or other projects on campus are encouraged to contact the University Sustainability Office. Depending on the project’s focus and scope, funding opportunities may be available through campus initiatives such as the NC State Sustainability Fund or an Office of Undergraduate Research Award.
Project Database
Browse the list of current and past projects that are part of the Campus As A Classroom initiative since it launched in Fall 2021. The database includes both internship projects, as well as student involvement as part of university coursework.