Maine Government Summer Internship Program
Student interns spend a summer contributing to Maine state agencies and municipal and county governments, gaining professional experience and networking. Supervisors benefit from hardworking interns with new ideas, energy, and skills. Internships are full-time, paid work experience for 12 weeks of the summer.
Read “Summer Internship Program” in the Oct. 2023 Maine Town & City.
Read the 2022 Internship Annual Report (pdf).
Selection Criteria
Students and supervisors apply at the same time. The internship selection committee reviews applications and makes final selections by identifying those students who best match the requirements for each position. Consideration is given to education, skills and interests of the applicant, and previous work experience in relation to requirements of the internship positions available.
Placement Location
Most interns will be placed in the Augusta area. Students interested in placements outside of Augusta should mention this in their cover letter. There will be a select number of municipal internships throughout the state; locations include Houlton, Gray, Bethel, Union, Bridgton, Saco, Auburn, Winthrop, Wiscasset, Portland, Old Town, Bath and others.
Compensation
In 2023 interns received a minimum of $15.00 per hour, funded by the state or local agency (withholding and contributions will apply). Interns are considered temporary unclassified state or municipal employees.
Educational Component and Concluding Ceremony
The program includes a required educational component for interns during the summer which may be in-person or remote. The summer concludes with a reception and awarding of certificates by the Governor or a designee.
Dates for the 2024 Program
The 2024 Maine Government Summer Internship Program will run full-time for a total of 12 weeks between Tuesday, May 28, and Friday, August 16. We start reviewing applications on March 3. We will accept late applications until all positions are filled.
For More Information
Peggy McKee, Internship Coordinator
207.581.1644
margaret.mckee@maine.edu
The internship program is a collaborative process involving the Office of the Governor, the Maine Bureau of Human Resources, numerous Maine state government agencies, local governments and the state and municipal employees who serve as intern supervisors. The program is administered by the MCS Policy Center at the University of Maine.
