The ACUHO-I Housing Internship Program connects students interested in pursing a career in campus housing and student affairs with a wide range of internship opportunties. Each year, ACUHO-I member organizations from around the world post positions spanning a variety of roles within student affairs, including residence education, facilities management, conference services, occupancy management, and more. It’s a fantastic learning experience for the interns as well as a valuable way to increase the capacity of host institutions.
A Taste of Real-World Experience.
There is no charge for ACUHO-I member institutions to post positions. Candidates must pay a $45 non-refundable application fee. Our online system serves as a conduit for both students and hosting organizations to find and favorite matches, communicate through a centralized portal, schedule interviews, and ultimately, make and confirm placement offers. Start your journey today. You’ll be amazed the places you can go.
Application Process
The application, interview, and offer processes for the ACUHO-I Housing Internship Process are carefully constructed to provide a fair, accessible, and smooth process for interns and hosts alike.
Interview Process
- Using the portal system, host sites contact candidates in which they are interested. Candidates may also contact host sites that they are most interested in.
- Host sites review applications, check references, and contact candidates to extend an interview invitation.
- Follow-up contact, including official interviews, is done via email, video conferencing, or telephone.
- Host sites are not obligated to interview all candidates. Host sites are encouraged to approach the process with an open mind of who would be a successful candidate and to respond to all candidates even if they will not be interviewed.
Offer Process
- Host sites should offer candidates positions with a telephone call.
- Host sites then must log in to the database to offer the internship formally.
- Candidates must then log in to the database to formally accept the internship.
- It is imperative that both host site coordinators and internship candidates follow all instructions provided to establish accurate records of who will be interning at each location.
- The offer process will continue until all positions are filled. This may require multiple rounds of interviews and offers.
- Host sites must allow candidates a minimum of 24 hours (48 hours is preferred) to consider an offer once it has been extended.
- Within two weeks of an offer being made and accepted, hosts should send the intern a confirmation letter that includes a statement of compensation, job duties, and the beginning and end dates. This should not deviate from the original internship description.
- If an intern is unable to fulfill their commitment after accepting a position, they are expected to communicate this to the host in a timely and honest manner.
- Host sites must notify interviewed candidates who are not selected in a timely and honest manner.
2025 Internship Cycle Schedule
Internship Hosts:
- December 4, 2024 – Registration Opens
- January 6, 2025 – Internship Postings become visible to candidates
- January 27, 2025 – Hosts may begin reaching out to candidates and schedule interviews
- February 3, 2025 – Hosts may begin interviewing candidates
- March 3, 2025 – Offer Day: Hosts may begin offering internship positions starting at 1:00 p.m. ET (US).
Internship Candidates:
- December 4, 2024 – Registration Opens
- January 6, 2025 – Candidate Profile become visible to Hosts, Candidates may begin applying for positions
- January 27, 2025 – Applications become visible to Host. Hosts may begin reaching out to candidates and schedule interviews
- February 3, 2025 – Hosts may begin interviewing Applicants
- March 3, 2025 – Offer Day: Hosts may begin offering internship positions starting at 1:00 p.m. ET (US).
Learn. Experience. Grow.
So, what does an ACUHO-I housing intern do? The answers can be as wide-ranging as the campuses who host them. To get a glimpse of what responsibilities interns have had in the past, download these sample position descriptions to see the many ways ACUHO-I interns benefit their host campuses.
“My internship experience provided me with the chance to connect with the dedicated staff at Tech, including both full-time and student employees, as well as those residing on campus. It allowed me to enhance my customer service skills and gave me a sense of accomplishment when I could assist students effectively. I felt particularly proud of myself for successfully navigating my first week on duty. Despite the initial nerves, I was gratified by my ability to address issues and support my colleagues as needed.”
– Imani Lowe, Florida International University | Internship Site: Texas Tech University
“During my internship working with the university dining and housing department as Administrative Program assistant. I have grown and gained a lot of experience. I Co-supervised student staff, managed key and package audits, worked with card access systems, and calculated rent adjustments. I also played a role in hiring new student staff. A key part of my Job was providing customer service at the service centers. I assisted the students, staff and Conference attendees with questions about dining and housing, which improved my communication skills and taught me how to handle customer concerns effectively.”
– Isabel Makwecha, University of Denver | Internship Site: Oregon state University
“I gained more leadership experience and communication skills through leading my Resident Assistants in a successful summer for the program and our residence hall. I also gained lifetime friends that made my experience so much more exciting and memorable.”
– Christian Ramirez, Florida International University | Internship Site: Brown University
“My internship experience was one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had. It challenged me to push beyond my comfort zone and take on responsibilities I hadn’t anticipated, ultimately building my confidence and abilities. Working in an environment different from my graduate school gave me a fresh perspective on student affairs and exposed me to innovative ways of supporting students. Throughout the internship, I developed new technological skills, had the opportunity to supervise undergraduate students, and improved my leadership abilities. What truly made this experience exceptional was the unwavering support from my supervisors, who were deeply invested in my professional growth. They consistently offered guidance, helping me refine my skills, enhance my professionalism, and build my confidence. Their support was invaluable and reassured me to take on new challenges. Overall, it was an unforgettable experience that has significantly shaped my approach to student affairs.”
– Christiana Taylor, Miami University | Internship Site: Brown University