Mesa Impactship Program (MIP) is seeking MIP Employer Partners to support students in a workforce training and internships within local companies.

Make an Impact & Support Student Workforce Preparation

What is the Mesa Impactship Program (MIP)?

The Mesa Impactship Program (MIP) supports students with exploring careers, developing professional skills, and compensating hands-on industry experiences through internships, volunteering, or Directed Clinical Practice (DCP). MIP is designed to promote workforce training & employment opportunities with focus on underserved student populations. Eligible Mesa students may receive a one-time $1000 payment (also called a stipend) OR hourly compensation for student workplace training & enrollment in a Work Experience or Directed Clinical Practice (DCP) course. Funding type is based on eligibility and is intended to support students with reducing or eliminating out-of-pocket expenses such as childcare, equipment, fees, meals, professional attire, & more. MIP students will be part of a cohort community supported by Mesa faculty to help them prepare for career pathways.

MIP Employer Partners will benefit from by gaining access to qualified MIP Student Interns to contribute to your company and diversify your workforce. Additionally, funding may be available to MIP Employer Partners to cover all or some of student wages for participation in internships. Your involvement as a MIP Employer Partner will create opportunities and experiences to strengthen students’ career learning, prepare them, and build professional habits.

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MIP Employer Partner Commitment:

• • Identify valuable training opportunities to develop student professional skills
  • Complete a MIP Employer Agreement to receive approval prior to participation
  • Provide ongoing support & supervision
  • Nurture student career exploration
  • Participate in evaluation of student work performance, project completion, and completion of forms through Work Experience or DCP course - Review employer expectations of Work Experience
  • Pay student at a comparable rate to similar positions within your organization. MIP supports 2 funding models for approved students based on eligibility and financial need:
    • One-Time $1000 Payment - Unpaid internship placements with payment distributed to student at the end of the term
    • Hourly Compensation - Students paid at a comparable hourly rate to that paid for similar positions within company. MIP will provide the employer a portion of the student’s wages on a cost reimbursement basis dependent on placement & type of company

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Which Employers Are Eligible & How is Funding Awarded?

Eligible MIP students will be notified of their approval and type of compensation they will be awarded for their industry workforce training based on eligibilty, academic program, and financial need (if approved). If student is eligible for hourly compensation model, they will receive wages through the hiring company and MIP will provide the employer a portion of the student’s wages on a cost reimbursement basis dependent on placement & type of company below: 

• Research Centers or Institution Operated by Public College Campus (UC, CSU, CCC, or Affiliate Campuses) - institutions with opportunities to engage in research
  • Participating employers will be reimbursed up to 100 percent of wages paid to student interns by MIP
    • UC - University of California
    • CSU - California State University
    • CCC - California Community College 
• Public Educational Institutions - operated by a school district, county superintendent, Department of Youth Authority, or Department of Education
  • Participating employers will be reimbursed up to 90 percent of wages paid to student interns by MIP
• Non-Profit Companies - CA nonsectarian, nonpolitical organization or corporation 
  • Participating employers will be reimbursed up to 90 percent of wages paid to student interns by MIP
• For-Profit Companies - CA nonsectarian, nonpolitical organization or corporation 
  • Participating employers will be reimbursed up to 50 percent of wages paid to student interns by MIP

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Steps to Become a MIP Employer Partner:

1. Share available internship or workforce training opportunities directly with MIP Coordinators and post through our Handshake SDCCD Job Board to recruit students
2. Connect with our MIP/WBL team for assistance as needed with student recommendations or candidate vetting support 
3. Complete your internal hiring process (e.g. accepting applications, interviews, etc.)
4. Once you have hired a Mesa College student and secured a student placement, please contact the MIP Coordinators via email for next steps and required forms including the following information:
   • Hired Student Name
   • MIP Employer / Company Partner
   • Type of Company
   • Rate of Compensation Per Hour
   • Site Supervisor Name & Contact Information
   • Expected Weekly Hours

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Questions or Interested in Becoming a MIP Employer Partner?

Contact our MIP Team for assistance:

Employer Relations Liaison: Erica Olmos - eolmos@sdccd.edu 

MIP Coordinators:

• Pavel Consuegra -  pconsuegra@sdccd.edu
• Shawn Fawcett - sfawcett@sdccd.edu