Presidential Internship Program (PIP)

How the PIP works: The PIP matches student interns with North Country internship sites through a competitive process of applications and interviews. Site applications and selection will occur in Fall 2025, and student application and selection will occur in Spring 2026. Please reference the Program Timeline below for specifics about each step of this process. The Internship Coordinator will communicate with students and sites to ensure all parties are informed of their progress along the way. Like any credit-bearing internships at SUNY Potsdam, this program is administered by the Lougheed Center for Applied Learning (LoCAL), and PIP internships are registered through Handshake. 

Strengthening Community Partnerships: The PIP deepens connections between SUNY Potsdam and local employers. This program helps employers by connecting students to their site through fully-funded, registered internships. The PIP helps students with their degree/career progress, and the program helps North Country sites with workforce infrastructure in the summertime. In the spirit of President Smith's charge to "elevate engagement," the PIP aims to continually maintain and build upon our partnerships with the community. 

Supporting Students' Applied Learning: PIP students receive tuition coverage for their internship credits, a PIP stipend to cover hours worked, and they can still apply for the LoCAL stipend to offset additional costs like housing. PIP students are required to participate in professional development sessions, which are led by LoCAL staff and guest speakers from around our campus and community. In short, the PIP represents an impactful, high-value, and immersive internship opportunity for summer session! 

*Please refer to the Program Timeline (on this page) for specific site and student dates.

Site Application
The PIP Site Application for Summer 2026 will open on October 1, 2025.

How to apply:

• Must be a North Country employer
• Provide detailed responses where applicable
• Demonstrate why your site should be chosen for the PIP
• Provide a clear write-up of internship job descriptions (the more detailed, the better)
  • Note: PIP sites can offer more than one internship position for students to choose from!

Student Application
The PIP Student Application for Summer 2026 will open on January 1, 2026. 

How to apply:

• Provide detailed responses where applicable
• Make clear connections between your site choices and your degree work/career goals
• Rank top 3 site choices (check list of sites and positions on webpage)
• Upload current resume and cover letter
• Provide availability for scheduling preliminary interview with LoCAL staff

Check on the following 3 things before submitting an application: 

1. Academic Advisor—Check your eligibility to participate in the PIP by reviewing how many credits you will register and how this program factors into your degree plan.
2. Faculty Sponsor—Confirm a faculty sponsor, should you be chosen for the PIP. You will also need to ask this faculty sponsor for a letter of support (to be included in your application). Faculty sponsors may recommend a particular PIP site option, so check with them early in the application process.
3. Financial Aid—Ask if participating in a 6-credit internship would impact your financial aid package. 

Students: A list of PIP sites will be provided on December 1, 2025, once the site application and review process has concluded.

How is the PIP different than other internships offered through SUNY Potsdam? 
The PIP is a competitive, fully-funded internship program that occurs in summer only. The PIP matches students and sites with one another following a process of applications, interviews, and final matching. Sites apply in fall, and students apply in spring. 15 students will be selected for the PIP Cohort, and sites are selected from the North Country community. 

How do PIP internship credits work?
Credits are the same as any other regsitered internship at SUNY Potsdam (1 credit = 40 hours on site). The LoCAL will cover either 3 or 6 credits for each student, depending on which amount works best for their degree plan, summer schedule, etc. Note that the registered total credits must be either 3 or 6 (the LoCAL will not cover a different amount of credits than this due to budgeting in advance). Students have the option of registering up to 12 credits for their internship—any credits beyond 6 are the responsibility of the student. 

How are PIP internships registered with SUNY Potsdam? 
Registering a PIP internship is the same as any other credit-bearing internship. In March, the LoCAL will announce the PIP Cohort for Summer 2025 as well as students' site assignments. Students should then work with a faculty sponsor (chosen by the student) and their site supervisor to prepare the Handshake proposal. The Handshake proposal for a PIP experience will go through approvals before being registered with the university. 

How does the matching process work?
The LoCAL will consult with the LoCAL Advisory Board when reviewing student applications. Students' top site choices will be carefully considered during the review process. Student finalists will be invited for an interview with LoCAL staff, before scheduling an interview with their top site matches. LoCAL staff will confer with sites regarding their top student choices, and final matches will be announced in late spring. 

Are housing expenses and meals covered? 
While the LoCAL cannot pay for housing or meals, students can apply for the LoCAL stipend and internship scholarships to offset these costs during summer. Note: A Handshake proposal must be submitted prior to applying for the LoCAL stipend. 

Will the PIP run during other semesters? 
The PIP is a summer-only program. Interested students should work with their academic advisor and faculty mentor(s) to decide if this program fits their degree plans. 

Here are examples of which PIP students and sites were selected in Summer 2025: 

Seaway Valley Prevention Council
Sarah Fitzgerald and Sarah Dauenhauer, "Health Educators" 

North Country Children's Museum 
Kadi Palmer, "STEAM Education Intern"

St. Lawrence Land Trust
Jack Luck, "Summer Intern"

GardenShare
Mia Iaccino, "Farmers Market Ambassador"

St. Lawrence Arts Council 
Nadia Atkinson, "Teen Summer Program Intern"

Algonquin to Adirondacks Collaborative, Inc.
Emily Pijanowski, "Conservation Intern"

Blueline Magazine 
Emily Taylor, "Marketing and Pubic Relations Intern" 

St. Lawrence County Public Health Department 
Chase Bond, Garrett O'Hara, and Ellie Barbolt, "Mosquito Surveillance Interns"

SUNY Potsdam Campus Life
Katie Fowler, "Graphic Designer"

Brick and Mortar Music
Margo Neth, "Sales Associate" 

Crane Youth Music 
Aidan Sherwood, "Camp Counselor and Administrative Intern"