Internships

This page provides an overview of districtwide, cross-college internship initiatives and information. 

Internship infrastructure needs, data insights, student access, and success are informed by the Districtwide Career Services Committee and Districtwide Career Services Committments.

SDCCD Internship Committments

The SDCCD is committed to expanding internship opportunities for all students. 

Each SDCCD college is each at a different stage in formalizing internship opportunities, developing internship services, and providing internships to students at scale.

The SDCCD recognizes that: 

1. Internships are critical to students’ career success.
2. All students should have the opportunity to participate in an internship.
3. Shared internship commitments are needed for current capacity building, securing future investments, and providing equitable access to internships for all students.

Approved Districtwide Internship Committments

1. Readiness. Provide support services focused on career readiness components to ensure all students who want an internship are prepared for the internship.
2. Academically Embedded. Support faculty leadership in prioritizing academically embedded internships within degrees & certificates. Utilize Work Experience (WE) as a primary strategy for scaling internships, including a commitment to develop noncredit WE opportunities for all students and to expand integration of Work Experience into non-WE courses. Work Experience regulations provide a foundation for ensuring safe, structured, and instructionally led internships.
3. Internships with Intention. Support students in securing internships with employers who are equipped to provide high-quality learning. Match students with mentors who reflect their experiences to foster a sense of belonging, representation, and encouragement. For students not ready for external internships, provide on-campus internships within SDCCD that offer career-relevant learning.
4. Equitable expansion via paid opportunities. Recognize that community college students face significant financial barriers to participating in internships. Commit to advancing paid internship models and offsetting participation costs so that all students—regardless of economic circumstance—can access meaningful internships. By valuing students’ time, labor, and lived realities, serve as a champion for equitable access and a leader in redefining how student participation in internships is supported and compensated.
5. Cohort-based support. Provide access to cohort-based internships for priority populations and affinity groups when possible. Cohort-based models allow for peer support and tailored faculty mentorship. 
6. Internships as a workforce priority. As one of our region’s largest employers, set a regional standard for embedding students into workforce development goals. Include student interns as valued members of the SDCCD workforce. Provide regular and recurring district office and on-campus placements. 

Models, Terms, and Resources

Work Experience Education (WEE)

The leading instructional model providing access to paid and unpaid internship placements across City College, Mesa College, and Miramar College. Learn more about WEE.

Mesa Impactship Program

Leverages WEE to provide wrap around and cohort based internship placement services

• The Mesa Impactship Program (MIP) supports students with exploring careers, developing professional skills, and compensating hands-on industry experiences through internships, volunteering, or Directed Clinical Practice (DCP). MIP is designed to promote workforce training & employment opportunities with focus on underserved student populations.
• Eligible Mesa students may receive a one-time $1000 payment (also called a stipend) OR hourly compensation for student workplace training & enrollment in a Work Experience or Directed Clinical Practice (DCP) course. Funding is intended to support students with reducing or eliminating out-of-pocket expenses such as childcare, equipment, fees, meals, professional attire, & more.
• MIP students will be part of a cohort community supported by Mesa faculty to help them prepare for career pathways.
• Learn more here.

Career Pathways Grant Funded Internship Opportunities

Models and opportunities currently being collected via the Districtwide Career Services Committee

Placement Types

• Paid Placements - defined as employer paid (paid by the employer/placement site)
• Unpaid Placements - applies when the placement is not funded directly by the employer/site supervisor; unpaid placements tie to Work Experience Enrollments are covered by District liability insurances and provides workers comp to enrolled students. Learn more about WEE.

Industry Experience

Embedding Work Experience into non WEE courses - Title 5 Changes now allow for the integration of work experience into non-WEE courses.

• The District Industry Experience forms and processes are required to support this work.
• Pilots are underway at City, Mesa, and Miramar Colleges. Contact the Districtwide Faculty Work Experience Coordinator for details. 

Funding

Funding is available to remove barriers to student participation and to support critical internship infrastructure 

Strong Workforce Program

May be used to support paid WBL, including funding academic non-need based student stipends. See SDCCD SWP Handbook. 

Perkins

May be used to provide academic non-need based student stipends. See SDCCD Perkins Handbook.

District Investments

• Educational Services Expands investment in WEE
• Supplemental SWP Funding (Round 11) - Focused on high impact WBL only, including internships. Learn more. 

Academic Non-Need-Based Student Stipends

Academic non-need based student stipends are allowable for internships tied to enrollment and/or other instructional and co-curricular programming. enrollment is required. Learn more

• See page 4:  Payment Classification Category A "Tied to Academic Program" - Payment is contingent on participating in an academic program
• Payment Method - If the stipend is non-need based, then students may be paid via the current AP process (no financial aid office engagement required)
• Allowability examples: PATH, MIP, stipends tied to Work Experience Enrollment, stipends tied to pre-apprenticeship program enrollment, stipends tied to industry experience embedded into non WEE courses.

get an Intern!

Invite a student into your department, project, or program area. 

We invite experienced professionals to become a MIP Employer Partner. Your mentorship can help SDCCD student interns develop skills and professional competencies to grow into the future leaders of your industry. Register on Handshake Job Board and reach out to a Mesa Impactship Program Lead.  Learn more.

CCCCO Internship Demonstration Project

(2026-27 - 2027-28)

The San Diego Community College District has been selected as a demonstration site for a significant statewide effort focused on expanding paid internships.

San Diego Mesa College is leading this demonstration project, on behalf of the district, with the goal of sharing learning and insights across SDCCD colleges, regionally, and statewide. 

Mesa College Leads: Alex Berry & Rachel Russel

Internship Demonstration Project Workstreams:

1. Building a College-Wide Internship Model
2. Work Experience Education within Career Education Pathways
3. Employer Engagement & Incentivizing Employers 
4. Data & Technology Infrastructure needs