PCIP Summer: International

Students receiving PCIP funding are expected to represent Pomona College with integrity in all off-campus conduct.  This includes abiding by the regulations and expectations (e.g. dress code, modes of communication, office conduct, etc.) set in place by your employer.

Per campus policy, students may participate in a stipend-based program (i.e. PCIP, SURP, Mellon-Mays, Humanities Studio, Beckman, departmental funding) OR work an on campus job (i.e. teaching assistants). If a student is offered both a PCIP stipend and another funded opportunity, they must make the necessary arrangements to select only one source of funding. This applies to all students including those on federal work study. 

Funding decisions are at the discretion of the Career Development Office.

Travel Advisory Procedures

We highly encourage students to research in advance of applying for PCIP Summer International; please see the following resources: travel advisories, travel preparation tips, Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) and the International & Domestic Programs Health and Safety.

Internships that involve travel to countries or regions for which the U.S. Department of State has issued

• Level 4 (Do Not Travel) – are not PCIP eligible.
• Level 3 (Reconsider Travel) – are not PCIP eligible.

For more information on the College’s approach, please review the Pomona College Policy Regarding College-Funded International Student Travel.

New Internship Experience Each Cycle

Students must have secured a new internship experience each cycle they apply for funding.

• Students returning to the same employer, in the same position/role will not receive funding.
• Students returning to the same employer, but in a new position/role or with increasing responsibility will be considered.

Hour Requirement

Students receiving PCIP funding are required to complete at least 240 hours at their internship over the course of the summer (minimum 6 weeks). Students & supervisors are encouraged to keep a log of hours completed. 

• Students should also account for holidays and any other planned absences when creating their internship schedule with their supervisor(s).
• Failure or refusal to complete the 240 hour minimum will result in termination of funding, loss of transcript notation, and will be considered in any future application for PCIP funding.

Assignments in Canvas

Students awarded PCIP funding must complete all required program assignments (available via Canvas). 

Failure or refusal to submit timely, quality, PCIP assignments will result in the termination of funding, loss of transcript notation, and will be considered in any future application for PCIP funding.

1. Enrolled full-time at Pomona College for Spring 2025 and returning in Fall 2025 (graduating seniors are not eligible to apply)
2. Good academic and judicial standing (not on academic probation)*
3. CPT eligible (applicable to F-1 International Students only); see International Student FAQs for additional information
4. Secured a PCIP-eligible internship (PCIP-eligible means the internship must be unpaid or low paid, withing the eligible industries, and that you aren’t receiving credit for it via a major/program). 
5. Minimum of 240 hours of supervised work, for a minimum of 6 weeks

*These items will be verified by the respective offices.

For PCIP Summer, internships must be unpaid or low-paid (compensation valued at $1500 or less in wages, stipends, housing, or other forms of compensation).

The CDO uses the definition of internships provided by the National Association of Colleges & Employers (NACE): 

An internship is a form of experiential learning that integrates knowledge and theory learned in the classroom with practical application and skills development in a professional setting.

Internships should:

1. Provide “real-world” experience beyond the classroom.
2. Involve reciprocity, i.e., a mutually beneficial experience for both the student and the internship provider.
3. Include a high level of supervision, training, and mentoring.

Opportunities being considered for PCIP must either be labeled as “PCIP Eligible” on Handshake or be an opportunity with a company in an eligible industry.

Eligible industries: Education (K-12 and Higher Education), Government (Local, State, and Federal), Healthcare (non-pharmaceuticals), Journalism, Law, Library Services, NGO, Non-Profit Organization, Performing and Fine Arts, Politics, Religious Work, and Research (non-7C affiliated).

Eligibility Clarification: A company’s industry is a classification that groups organizations with similar activities together and within that company they may have a variety of job roles.

Example:

• Not eligible – A finance intern role for a private, for-profit company in the finance industry.
• Eligible – A finance intern role for a non-profit organization.

Ineligible Opportunities

The following opportunities are ineligible for PCIP Summer: International funding:

• Paid opportunities that offer compensation valued at $1500 or more, including wages, stipends, housing, or other forms of compensation.
• Opportunities that fulfill the criteria of SURP (Summer Undergraduate Research Program)
  • If your opportunity fulfills the criteria of SURP, then you should apply for SURP
  • PCIP: Summer Experience will consider opportunities (like research experiences) that are INELIGIBLE for SURP
• Pre-thesis research without a significant experiential learning component
• Opportunities that are a requirement of a major/program (i.e. mandatory PPA internships for seniors in the fall semester)
• Opportunities where you’ll be receiving Pomona College course credit
• Opportunities where you’ll be receiving additional funding support (i.e. CDO Pre-Health Transportation Subsidy)
• Opportunities with any fee component (tuition, room/board, etc.)
• Independent projects with no supervision, program, or structure in place
• Non-credit courses or training programs
• Shadowing experiences
• Pomona College or other 7C-based opportunities (opportunities must be external & organized/administered by the employer/company/organization)
• Organizations run by members of students’ immediate family, or current undergraduate students
• Internships that involve travel to countries or regions for which the U.S. Department of State has issued
  • Level 4 (Do Not Travel) – are not PCIP eligible.
  • Level 3 (Reconsider Travel) – are not PCIP eligible.

Finding PCIP Eligible Internships in Handshake

To find opportunities that have been pre-approved as eligible for PCIP consideration, visit Handshake and navigate to the jobs page and filter for the label “pcip eligible”.

To filter, select “All Filters” and at the bottom of the dialogue box, under “Labeled by your school” select “pcip eligible”.

Please Note: While these opportunities have been labeled as eligible for consideration, it is not guaranteed that your application will be awarded.

Sourcing Your Own Internship:

If you are looking to find your own opportunity, it must with a company in an eligible industry, please see above for eligibility requirements.

Unsure of where or how to start?

Make an appointment with an advisor in Handshake or attend regularly scheduled drop-ins.

You can also check out the interactive map of previous employers that have hired students in past semesters, visit the student opportunities dashboard.

• Monday, January 27 – PCIP Application OPENS SurveyMonkey Apply [applications will be reviewed and awarded on a rolling basis]
• Sunday, March 23 @11:59 pm (PT)- PCIP application CLOSES
• Friday, April 4 – Last day for decision notifications
• Sunday, April 13 @ 11:59 pm (PT) – Deadline to accept PCIP offer
• Monday, May 19 – First day for summer internship hours to begin
• Friday, August 22 – Last day of summer internship hours to count (minimum of 240 hours over 6 weeks required)

Please note: Students interning abroad will be required to attend a pre-departure meeting tentatively scheduled for April

The application can be accessed via SurveyMonkey Apply and requires the following items:

• Résumé (the one used to apply to your internship opportunity)
• Cover Letter (the one used to apply to your internship opportunity)
• Video Interview (5-12 minutes)
  • Tell us about yourself and the company/organization you will be working with.
  • How did you find this opportunity and why did you choose to pursue it?
  • What do you hope to learn/gain from this summer opportunity and how will it fit into your career goals?
  • Explain what your major responsibilities during this opportunity will be. What will supervision look like?
  • How do you anticipate applying your liberal arts education to this experience?
  • What have you done so far to prepare to intern abroad?
  • Summer funding is made possible through the support of donors (alumni, families, friends of the college). If given the opportunity, what would you say to them?
• Official Offer Letter from Employer (not negotiable; internships must be secured at time of application)

Refer to the How-to Use SurveyMonkey Apply guide for step-by-step instructions.

Students who are awarded PCIP will be required to submit the following funding documents to accept the award:

• W9/Sprintax form
• Pomona College Direct Deposit Form
• Bank Documentation for Direct Deposit
• Pomona College Health Form

Please note:

• All materials must be submitted through SurveyMonkey Apply
• All applications & associated materials will be reviewed by Selection Committee
• No late applications or materials will be reviewed
• Students will be notified of funding decisions within 1 week from the application deadline
• Payments tend to be delayed by mistakes in funding paperwork: incorrect SSN, no bank documentation, missing account/routing numbers. When submitting an application, please ensure all forms are correctly and completely filled out.
• Submission of an application does not guarantee selection to receive a PCIP award stipend.

Funding varies from student to student and is based on a number of factors including the student’s submitted budget.

You may view sample budgets here.  We recommend using Numbeo and Interstride to create your budget proposal. Your submitted budget should be well-researched, detailed, and verifiable by the Selection Committee.

The Career Development Office (CDO) reviews every candidate’s budget when determining award amounts. In addition to the information and resources provided on applicants’ budgets, the CDO conducts additional research to ensure the amount awarded is commensurate with expenses associated with the location of the experience.

If awarded PCIP, the CDO has the right to modify applicants’ budgets as necessary.

Eligible expenses include:

• Airfare
• Housing (rent)
• Utilities (if separate from housing costs)
• Food & water (groceries)
• Local Transportation (bus pass, metro card)

All PCIP funding is disbursed via direct deposit and contingent on students completing required internship hours & assignments. Please note that PCIP funding is not intended to replace wages. Instead, the funding is meant to help alleviate supplemental costs associated with pursuing an unpaid internship.

Important: Students must commit to working a minimum of 240 internship hours during the summer.

• Please note: Recipients may not participate in both PCIP and any other Pomona College employment or stipend programs during the Summer.

Tax Implications: Based on the size of your stipend and the items you spend the money on, there may be tax implications. The IRS considers the award as income to the recipient. When filing tax returns, it may be required to report the amount of the award. Please consult a tax professional with any questions or assistance. Visit the Financial Aid website to learn more.

Students with a demonstrated financial need, as determined by the  Office of Financial Aid, may be eligible for additional funds.

Students must first secure an opportunity in order to apply to PCIP, as an offer letter is a required part of the application. Your offer letter should:

• Be on official letterhead
• Be signed & dated by a company representative
• Include your full name (first and last name)
• State your start date and end date
• State the expected number of internship hours to be completed during this time
• State that your internship is unpaid or the total amount of compensation you will receive (including wages, stipends, housing, or other forms of compensation).
• Clearly indicate whether your experience will be remote, hybrid, or in-person (For in-person internships, we ask that employers offer you the flexibility to work remotely, if needed. This option should be indicated in your offer letter.)

If you do not have an official offer letter at this time, we will accept an email screenshot/PDF containing the same information above.

• PCIP Summer: International is for opportunities that are outside of the United States, as well as your home country, if that is outside of the US.
• PCIP Summer: Domestic is for opportunities that are within the United States, or within your home country, if that is outside of the US.

International Student Scenarios:

• International student from Japan interning in the U.S. — Domestic Application
• International student from Japan interning in Japan — Domestic Application
• International student from Japan interning in France — International Application