What are Unpaid Internships?
Unpaid Internships are education or training programs that are designed to provide students with professional experience in furtherance of their education and training and are academically oriented for their benefit, similar to the training that one would receive in an educational environment. All duties assigned to the intern must be for the intern’s educational benefit, and the intern must work under close supervision of staff for the duration of the internship. Routine work that is structured around the employer’s operations and is for the employer’s benefit (e.g., clerical work such as filing or typing) is generally not permitted.
The Intern Hiring Process
- Department completes the intern questionnaire and sends it to their Human Resources Business Partner for review at least 30 days prior to the start of the internship
- HRBP reviews the questionnaire and confirms whether or not the internship meets the appropriate guidelines. If the internship is determined it does meet the appropriate guidelines, HR prepares and sends the agreement directly to intern for completion.
- Once the agreement is completed and signed, HR will notify the department the internship is approved.
- After receiving the approval from HR, the department submits a Harvard Sponsored Role Request.