Fast Facts
Overview:  In 2018, the Virginia General Assembly appropriated funding to the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) to stimulate public colleges and universities to develop partnerships to provide innovative paid internship opportunities for their students. In 2019, the effort was expanded and enacted into law as the Innovative Internship Fund and Program. In 2020, through a partnership with the Virginia Chamber Foundation, the program was rebranded as the Virginia Talent + Opportunity Partnership (V-TOP).

The primary focus is a statewide initiative to facilitate the readiness of students, employers, and institutions of higher education to participate in internships and other work-based learning opportunities. The focus of this grant is to enhance the opportunities for students to participate in internships by removing any barriers that impede their access to such programs.

Public four-year institutions of higher education should submit a three-page (max) letter of interest with a cover sheet conforming to the instructions. SCHEV intends to award one-time grants, to all 15 public four-year institutions in the Commonwealth.

Grantees may use the funding to provide students in need with:

• The cost of transportation to participate in an internship.
• The cost of any professional attire or uniforms.
• The cost of a housing stipend to support students participating in an internship.
• Purchasing required materials or supplies to support student preparation in an internship.

Grantees are expected to: 

• Comply with standard grant administration requirements, such as tracking expenses and submitting progress reports as described in the instructions.

Letters of Interest Are Now Being Accepted.

Institutional Award for Student Internship Support Grant: Letter of Interest Instructions 

Eligible Applicants

Eligible applicants are Virginia’s 15 public four-year institutions of higher education.

Letters of Interest Due: Tuesday, December 19, 2023
Estimated Start Date: Upon announcement of the award, the grant must begin immediately.
Length of Award: 12 months, this grant is a one-time-only, non-renewable award.
Number of Grants: Fifteen
Award Amount: up to $100,000.00

Please see the full instructions for details.

Informational Webinar Link: https://youtu.be/qD8Ee2l6j3Y
Informational Webinar Slide Deck (November 29, 2023, session)

Submission of Letters of Interest
Please submit letters of interest via email to Stacey Garnett, V-TOP Financial Services Specialist at staceygarnett@schev.edu. Letters must be received by 11:59 p.m. on the due date (December 19, 2023).