Position Title: Community-Based Intern Positions

Department: Aleshire Ctr for Leadership & Comm

Advertised Pay: 12.00

Campus Location: Washburn University

Position Summary:

As a municipal university with a motto of Non Nobis Solum (Not for Ourselves Alone), Washburn University values its strong connection to the Topeka and Shawnee County communities. Additionally, we value the learning and development opportunities that our community partners can offer our students while the students are giving their time and talents to make a positive impact in the local community.

Positions are available with a wide variety of organizations with various issue area focuses and opportunities. If you are interested in working on a specific issue such as the environment, youth development, housing insecurity, poverty alleviation, equity, violence prevention, etc.; or in a specific academic related area such as marketing, education, physical/mental health, social work, history, business, communication, etc.; or to learn a specific skill set such as leadership, communication, problem solving, teamwork, project planning and implementation, relationship building/networking, etc., then this is the position you should apply for this year!

For more information on the specific nonprofit organizations, public schools and governmental agencies we work with and the opportunities they have available that match your interests, please fill out the application and/or contact the Aleshire Center for Leadership & Community Engagement at aleshirecenter@washburn.edu.

About Washburn University: 

Washburn University is a teaching-focused, student-centered, public institution located in the metropolitan setting of Topeka that has earned national recognition for its high-impact programs for first-generation students. Washburn has a student body of just over 7,000 students, a significant and growing number of whom are first-generation and Pell-Grant eligible. The University has created educational pathways for all students to be successful and achieve their educational goals.

Washburn is dedicated to recruiting and retaining a dynamic faculty, staff, and student body and cultivating a robust learning and working environment and curriculum. We employ more than one thousand faculty and staff on our campuses throughout Topeka and strive to offer competitive wages, an excellent benefits program, and a supportive culture and a healthy work/life balance. Washburn seeks to create an environment that reflects our core values for creating positive IMPACT: inclusion, modernization, partnership, achievement, community and transformation. In 2024, Washburn was recognized as one of the best colleges in the nation to work for, according to Great Colleges to Work For® program.

Essential Functions:
Job functions will vary based on the organization and opportunity that you choose. That being said, we only place students in positions that provide meaningful experiences that allow students to grow and learn from the work they do and supervision they receive, so general essential job functions include a willingness to engage and be open to the opportunities that are presented to you. All organizations we work with are flexible when it comes to determining days and hours worked and will work around your class schedule and other commitments within reason. All students must be willing to abide by the rules and policies of the organization they are working with and the Federal Work Study (FWS) program.

This position is only available to students who are eligible for FWS (for other types of paid community work through our department, please contact us at aleshirecenter@washburn.edu).

Non-Essential Functions:
Many of our community partners that have positions available are not within walking distance, so having transportation is helpful but not required.

Students hired for community and civic engagement positions have the opportunity to earn academic recognition for their community engaged work.

Required Qualifications:
Must be enrolled at least half-time at Washburn University and be eligible for FWS.

Students are matched and placed with a community partner based on the student's academic, professional and/or personal interests and goals. Therefore, students can be from any major and most require no previous experience in the area or field.
In rare cases there may be a requirement based on the level of the position within the organization.
All students hired for these positions must be able to pass a Washburn University and organizational background check.

Special Instructions to Applicants: 

Hourly    
Background Check Required