VCU Transforming Federal Work-Study Internship Program
Due to the success so far, we're expanding select VCU Federal Work-Study (FWS) roles into internships to boost student access to valuable career experiences. With over 1,000 students taking on FWS positions annually, this initiative aims to bridge equity gaps in internship opportunities, improving retention and career readiness. By providing internships on campus, students can pursue both paid work and relevant learning, fostering socioeconomic mobility in an accessible, supportive setting. With a focus on sustainability and growth, the Transforming FWS Internship Program provides comprehensive support for a cohort of student supervisors to ensure positive experiences for all VCU FWS Interns.
The 2026–2027 supervisor-mentor application is open until Thursday, April 30 at 5 p.m.
For any other questions, please review FAQs or email sutton@vcu.edu.
Program Expectations & Benefits
- Commit to the program for the academic year.
- Meet baseline expectations for student employee supervisors, including: providing students with onboarding and training, an accessible work space and environment, and performance expectations and feedback opportunities.
- Fulfill training and learning requirements:
- Follow compliance procedures for all employer partners of the (overall) FWS program
- Attend Transforming FWS Internship Program orientation in early Summer
- Complete modules 2, 3, 6, & 7 from Developing an Internship Program (both asynchronous and synchronous training options will be available; returning TFWS supervisor-mentors do not need to re-do)
- Fulfill the mentoring requirement: Conduct and log monthly mentorship meetings with FWS intern(s) focused on their professional development and growth in and beyond their position.
- Fulfill the reflection requirement: Engage your intern(s) in at least 3 reflective activities over the course of the academic year. Reflection can happen in writing or via worksheets, through photographs or videos, discussions, ect.
- Communicate with VCU Career Services program administrators in a timely and responsive manner.
- Support intern(s) in completing their VCU FWS Internship Program requirements during work/paid time.
- Complete program surveys at mid-internship and end-of-internship.
- New TFWS supervisors will receive a $300 professional development stipend for the 2026–2027 academic year. Supervisors who remain on track with all program requirements through the mid-year check-in will be awarded these funds to support conferences, books, memberships, or other professional growth opportunities of their choice.
- Access to learning, experiences, resources, and responsibilities that are beneficial to your professional development and career growth.
- Positively impact the next generation of the workforce — contribute to students’ access to high-quality and high-impact opportunities that are paid and that have long-term outcomes, including increased employability and upward mobility.
- Support students meeting their financial needs and graduation requirements.
- Consultation support from VCU Career Services regarding your questions about managing your student internship.
- Commit to serving in the FWS Intern role for the full academic year, meeting position expectations set by my supervisor-mentor and engaging in the program's Canvas course.
- Engage in and log monthly mentoring sessions and three structured reflection activities that will be offered by the role’s supervisor during the course of the year.
- Complete modules 1-8 from Developing Career Readiness Skills (returning TFWS student-interns do not need to re-do)
- Complete program surveys at pre-internship, mid-internship, and end-of-internship.
- Up to $4,000 in financial support to help cover the cost of your college experience. (FWS Interns are employees of VCU and will be paid on the 1st and 16th of every month based on their hours worked. The maximum earnings for each semester are based on the FWS award received, and the pay is determined by FWS guidelines and department, unit, and division standards.)
- An on-campus internship opportunity that directly supports your professional and career development through structured learning, mentoring, reflection, and hands-on experience.
- Fulfillment of your REAL graduation requirement, as an approved Level 3 co-curricular experience.
- Opportunity to engage in additional development relevant to career readiness.
Students: How to Apply to a FWS Internship
Students who have been offered and have accepted their FWS award for the 2026–2027 academic year via eServices should apply in Handshake. Filter by “work study” and then by “internship” as the job type.
- New students can start applying the first week of new student orientation.
- Continuing students will receive notification of financial aid packages in late June/early July and may begin applying then.”
2026-2027 Program Timeline
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- Internships begin by Monday, Sep 8, 2025 (can begin as early as August 10 through the FWS Program)
- Pre-experience survey
- Monthly mentoring sessions (8) facilitated by supervisor
- Mid-experience survey
- Reflection activities (3) facilitated by supervisor
- Post-experience survey
- Internships end May 9, 2026
REAL Level 3 Experiences
These internships have been approved by the REAL Curriculum Committee as a REAL Level 3 Experience and offer the following three REAL components:
- Hands-on learning that engages the student intern in applying or exploring disciplinary knowledge in real-world or simulated contexts.
- Guided reflection activities or assignment as an intentional metacognitive practice where student interns articulate personal, civic, social, or academic learning; identify values and attitudes developed through the activity; and/or explore and clarify career goals.
- Mentored experiences wherein the supervisor responds regularly to student intern work, supports their reflection and integration of learning throughout the activity, and encourages their goal-setting for future learning.
A student’s successful completion of the Transforming FWS Internship Program will satisfy their REAL graduation requirement.
What is REAL? VCU REAL courses and activities provide students with career building activities that connect classroom knowledge to real-world experience, create novel approaches to complex problems, and contribute actions that benefit our educational, professional, and civil communities. Learn more about REAL at real.vcu.edu.
FAQs
For answers to frequently asked questions, please refer to the TFWS Guide: Answers to Supervisor Questions. For additional questions, please contact sutton@vcu.edu.