January 5, 2017

HACU and BLM extend internship partnership, student applications currently being accepted

The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) National Internship Program (HNIP) has been awarded a contract to provide student interns to the U.S. Department of Interior’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Office of Recruitment and Retention Programs, Resource Assistant Internship Program.

The award extends the current partnership HACU has with BLM on their Direct Hire Authority (DHA) Resource Assistant Internship Program through 2021. HACU began working with BLM on the program in 2015, initially placing 20 interns and increasing that number to 32 in 2016. Upon successful completion of the 11-week internship and completion of the student’s degree, the interns placed by HACU can be hired by BLM through its direct hire authority.

The internships take place during the summer, June through August, and are offered by the BLM as “an opportunity to bring new and diverse viewpoints to the Bureau while working on specific projects targeted for attracting, recruiting, and filling mission critical and hard-to-fill occupations.”

During her internship with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in Washington D.C., Mariela Castaneda, a student from The University of Arizona had an opportunity to work on various projects and learn more about the important work done across the agency in state and field offices. “I had the opportunity to meet and speak with many of the employees,” she said.  On a visit back home, Castaneda had the opportunity to visit the BLM Arizona office to learn how the state’s offices collaborate. “It was truly a rewarding and valuable learning experience,” she said.

Eligible college students and recent graduates can apply for the upcoming summer session. Applicants majoring in the following fields are encouraged to apply: natural resources management, environmental policy and management, environmental science, civil engineering, urban planning, historic/ or cultural resources management, business management and administration, public policy/administration and tourism/hospitality. 

For more information on eligibility or to apply to the HACU National Internship Program, click here.