The MORPC Local Government Summer Internship Program is designed to provide qualified college students with the opportunity to obtain practical work experience at a local government within MORPC’s 15-county area to prepare them for possible careers in public service.
Student Details
The Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) is Central Ohio’s regional council with 90 members comprised of various counties, cities, villages, townships, and regional organizations. We take pride in bringing communities of all sizes and interests together to collaborate on best practices and plan for the future of our growing region. We do this through a diversity of programs, services, projects, and initiatives that help improve the quality of life for everyone in the Central Ohio region.
Summary
Interns work for a host for a minimum of 16 hours to a maximum of 40 hours per week for a 10- to 14-week period. Interns gain applicable knowledge to enhance classroom learning through working with current government professionals as well as insights into the services provided by a regional planning commission.
The summer 2025 internship program will begin on May 13th and end on August 15th.
Qualifications
Students must meet the following requirements:
- 30 hours of completed college coursework
- Interest in public service careers
- GPA 3.0 or higher (preferred)
- Legally eligible to work in the USA
- Reliable transportation to and from work
- Attend a Central Ohio college OR attend other college and have access to local housing
Benefits
Interns will:
- Gain practical work experience for a possible career in public service
- Receive mentorship from a professional in the field
- Learn about the services offered by a planning commission by attending commission meetings, program work groups, and special MORPC-sponsored events
All MORPC internships are paid:
- $15 minimum per hour – undergraduates
- $17 minimum per hour – graduates
Student applications open December 12, 2024.
Contact Alli Mancz with any questions at amancz@morpc.org or call 614.233.4164.
For MORPC Members
MORPC provides its members with the opportunity to secure talented college students for summer internships each year. MORPC member governments are eligible to participate as hosts and can gain a fresh perspective from these advanced students’ completion of tasks and projects while simultaneously providing their interns with valuable work experience. Hosts pay MORPC a $675 program fee per intern which covers training, mentors, and special events to supplement the intern’s experience, including a career planning workshop and Mid-Ohio Development Exchange (MODE) networking mixer.
MORPC coordinates the recruitment, initial screening, and intern placement based on the host government’s desired needs. At the beginning of the summer, MORPC provides an orientation session for the interns to review the tools and resources at their disposal as well as program expectations and goal-setting advice. In addition, students are provided with a current, full-time professional at MORPC to serve as their mentor throughout the program.
Hosts provide an hourly wage to the intern assigned to their government for the duration of the student’s employment. Hosts are able to request multiple interns and choose how many hours a week they would like their intern(s) to work depending on individual needs, ranging from 16 to 40 hours a week.
Host request forms are now open for submission!
Contact Eileen Leuby with any questions at eleuby@morpc.org or call 614.233.4135.
For Universities
The following documents are available for your organization to use and promote the MORPC internship program to interested students.
Summer Internship Program 2025 Recruitment Flyer
Summer Internship Program 2025 Flyer with QR Code
Summer Internship Program 2025 Postcard with QR Code
Summer Internship Program 2025 Facebook Graphic
Summer Internship Program 2025 Instagram Graphic
Contact Alli Mancz with any questions at amancz@morpc.org or call 614.233.4164.
