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    Our vision is to empower all students to discover their career aspirations leading to meaningful and purposeful contributions to the Rio Grande Valley and the rest of the world.

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Students

From finding new skills and passions to gaining confidence in a professional setting, the Student Experience Internship (SEI) program can help you take a big step toward finding success after college.

  • Paid internship @ $12/hr
  • Learn more about your prospective field of interest by taking your education beyond the classroom
  • Develop critical skills such as communication, time-management, project management, research, problem-solving, and more
  • Exclusive networking and professional development opportunities
  • Cohort building activities to build your peer network
  • Flexible work schedules while going to school
  • Experience to add on your resume

Student Criteria

For students to be eligible into the program, they must:   
  • Be pursuing a bachelor’s degree for the first time at UTRGV  
  • Be enrolled 12 credit hours or more, each fall and spring semesters  
  • Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher with good academic standing  
  • Meet SAP (Satisfactory Academic Progress) requirements  
  • A minimum of 12 credit hours completed in residence as a full-time student at UTRGV  
  • A minimum of 30 credit hours completed for transfer students  
  • A maximum of 100 credit hours completed for first time applicants  
  • Be a U.S. Citizen, Permanent Resident, or International Student with F-1 Visa.   

Disqualifications:  

  • Graduate, Doctoral, or Post-Doctorate students are not eligible
  • High School graduate or GED (High school students do not qualify)

Students interested in the SEI program will have an opportunity to apply through JobX when SEI positions are made available (mid-June). Note: Dates of SEI postings are tentative and will be made available based on departmental position approval.

To apply, students must upload the following application documents to their JobX profile: 

  • Current resume
  • Class schedule (for Fall)

Helpful tip! Eligible students can easily identify SEI internship postings in JobX. See steps below.

  1. Log in JobX and select 'Applicants & Student Employees'.
  2. Select 'Looking for a Job?'
  3. Using the quick search filters, select the 'Student Experience Internship (SEI)' job filter.
  4. Navigate through available SEI internships and apply!

Students will be selected through an application and interview process by the hosting department. Students must meet program eligibility and commit to the program. Students are expected to demonstrate strong written and verbal communication skills. If selected, students will be required to follow student employment hiring assignments such as completing the following.  

I-9 Online  

  • Federal law requires new employees at of UTRGV to establish identity and eligibility (social security number) to work in the United States. The I-9 link will be provided to the new hire by the supervisor. Student employee will need to complete all required fields of the I-9 online form presented by their supervisor. 

Criminal Background Check (CBC)  

  • Effective as of 07/18/2016 the hiring individuals meeting the following criteria will need to complete a CBC  
  • New employees (being hired for the first time ever part-time or full-time)  
  • Break in service of 6 months or more within the last 12 months at UTRGV  
  • A position reclassification (Student Employee to Full-time Staff)  
  • Transfers or promotions

Professional Development Activities

Students participating in the Student Experience Internship (SEI) program will immerse themselves into experiences that will allow them to develop leadership skills, adopt professionalism, and excel in their career. In addition to interning with a hosting department, SEI students can expect to be involved in the following activities.

Students participating in the Student Experience Internship (SEI) program will be expected to attend one career fair of choice for the year participating in the program. Attending a career fair provides an opportunity to connect directly with employers, learn about internship and full-time opportunities, and practice professional networking in a real-world setting.

The purpose is to help you build confidence in presenting yourself, expand your professional network, and gain insight into industry expectations while actively exploring career pathways.

Listed below are fairs you can attend each year.

  • Fall Career & Internship Expo (all majors) 
  • Fall Teachers Job Expo 
  • Fall Graduate & Professional School Fair 
  • Spring Career & Internship Expo (all majors) 
  • Spring Teachers Job Expo 
  • Fall Part-Time Job Fair
  • Spring Part-Time Job Fair

Engaging with a Career Advisor involves meeting one-on-one with a professional who can guide you in exploring career options, setting goals, and developing a strategic plan for your future. The purpose is to receive personalized support on topics such as resume development, job search strategies, and career decision-making, ensuring you are equipped with the tools and direction needed for long-term success.

Near the conclusion of your internship, you will be required to articulate your knowledge and skills acquired during your SEI internship experience through a Mock Interview. A mock interview is a simulated interview experience designed to help you practice responding to common and behavioral interview questions in a low-stakes environment. Its purpose is to strengthen your communication skills, refine your responses, and receive constructive feedback so you can improve your performance and confidence in actual interviews.

A Professional Portfolio is a curated collection of materials that showcases your skills, experiences, and accomplishments in a structured, professional format. Within the SEI program, its purpose is to help you clearly demonstrate your career readiness to employers, graduate programs, and industry partners by providing tangible evidence of your work—such as projects, presentations, certifications, and reflections. Ultimately, the portfolio serves as both a personal branding tool and a strategic asset to communicate your value and growth over time.

Taking a professional headshot using the IRIS Booth allows you to create a high-quality, polished image for your professional profiles. The purpose is to enhance your personal brand by ensuring you present a credible and approachable first impression across platforms such as LinkedIn, portfolios, and employer-facing materials.

Professional headshots can be taken at the Career Center anytime during your internship experience.

Students FAQ

The Student Experience Internship program, known as SEI for short, is an on-campus internship program for high-achieving undergraduate students looking to gain experience in their field of study or career interest. The SEI program provides students the opportunity to explore their career and develop professional skills, while contributing to the UTRGV community.

Internships under the SEI program are hosted by UTRGV departments and approved by the UTRGV Career Center.

For students to be eligible into the program, they must: 

  • Be an undergraduate student pursuing a bachelor’s degree for the first time at UTRGV
  • Be enrolled 12 credit hours or more, each fall and spring semester(s)
  • Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher with good academic standing
  • Meet SAP (Satisfactory Academic Progress) requirements
  • A minimum of 12 credit hours completed in residence as a full-time student at UTRGV
  • A minimum of 30 credit hours completed for transfer students
  • A maximum of 100 credit hours completed for first time applicants
  • Be a U.S. Citizen, Permanent Resident, or International Student with F-1 Visa. 

 Disqualifications: 

  • Graduate, Doctoral, or Post-Doctorate students are not eligible
  • High School graduate or GED (non-enrolled).

Students interested in the SEI program will have an opportunity to apply through JobX when SEI positions are made available (Summer). Note: Dates of SEI postings are tentative and will be made available based on departmental position approval.

SEI approved positions will be posted on JobX and identified as "Student Experience Internship". Available SEI positions will be listed with SEI in the job title (e.g. SEI-Accounting Intern).

When applying, students must upload the following application documents to their JobX profile: 

  • Current resume
  • Current unofficial transcript
  • Class schedule (for semester you are applying for)

SEI internships are only promoted during the summer between June through July for the next academic year.

The SEI Program will try to post internships that are as diverse as possible for every major. Recent internship opportunities have offered projects/assignments in areas such as psychology, graphic design, finance &accounting, research, management, computer science/information technology, biomedical research and more.

Congratulations! Upon receiving your offer, the hosting department will contact the SEI coordinator to confirm your eligibility in the program. Upon approval, students will be required to follow student employment hiring assignments such as completing the following.

I-9 Online 

  • Federal law requires new employees at UTRGV to establish identity and eligibility (social security number) to work in the United States. The I-9 link will be provided to the new hire by their supervisor. Student employee will need to complete all required fields of the I-9 online form presented by their supervisor.

Criminal Background Check (CBC) 

  • Effective 07/18/2016 the hiring individuals meeting the following criteria will need to complete a CBC
  • New employees (being hired for the first time ever part-time or full-time)
  • Break in service of 6 months or more within the last 12 months at UTRGV
  • A position reclassification (Student Employee to Full-time Staff)
  • Transfers or promotions

The SEI program is an one academic year experience from fall through spring.

Internships under the SEI program are only to last for one academic year for each participating student. Your department may decide to continue your employment outside of the program through their own internship offering or under student employment.

SEI positions must follow Student Employment policy regarding work hours, therefore, students are only to work a maximum of 19 hours a week. It is encouraged students take full advantage of the maximum working hours to receive all benefits of the program.

No. Students hired under the SEI program are only allowed one working assignment at UTRGV.

When applying to any SEI approved internship, please be mindful of the application period. Department supervisors are doing their best to review and interview the best possible applicant for their position(s). They must also verify each student’s eligibility into the program. This may take some time.

If you have not heard back from the department regarding your application, please follow up with the hosting department via email or phone to inquire on your status. If you receive no response, please contact the Career Center at careercenter@utrgv.edu so we may offer assistance in contacting the department.

We recommend pursuing an internship that is most related to your career field or that you feel you could learn the most from. You are welcome to contact the employer to further review what kind of duties will be assigned to you in that position.

Yes and no. While most positions offered through the SEI program may allow for academic credit, it will ultimately be up to your academic department to give final approval. Each academic department may have their own pre-requisites or requirements in place before enrolling in an internship course. Please consult with your faculty instructor or academic department to confirm your eligibility in receiving academic credit.

For additional questions, please contact the Career Center via email at careercenter@utrgv.edu or by phone (Brownsville: 956-882-5627, Edinburg: 956-665-2243).

Contact Us


Locations

Brownsville | BINAB 1.105
(956) 882-5627

Edinburg | ESTAC 2.101
(956) 665-2243

Email: careercenter@utrgv.edu

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Monday - Friday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM


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