For over 45 years, the University of Illinois Springfield has partnered with state and local government agencies as well as some non-profit agencies to provide highly qualified, highly motivated graduate students for internships at these agencies. GPSI has a strong track record of placing exceptional students in governmental agencies. Since 1974, GPSI has placed nearly 3,500 graduate students in over 45 state agencies and organizations.

The cost to secure an intern in FY23 is $25,624.44 or the first year which covers the tuition waiver, monthly stipend, professional development allotment, and administrative costs. For participation in the program, the expectation is that the internship supervisor will serve as both mentor and internship supervisor to the intern.

The GPSI program is designed to provide a 21 month internship experience, but internship experiences also can be as quick as two school semesters depending on the student's graduation. The GPSI office prepares a university/agency contract and invoices the agency two times during the fiscal year. New interns for FY23 will begin their internships on August 16, 2022.

Potential internship supervisors conduct their own interviews and make all determinations on internship offers. Internship supervisors are under no obligation to make an offer.

GPSI interns are highly motivated graduate students with experience in professional proficiencies.  Core competencies include environmental studies, public health, business administration, accounting, management information systems, computer science, public administration, legal studies, and communication.

To request an intern, please use the link below.

https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/a1b6b614030a4007b221e463bcbe1f0f

At the annual GPSI recognition breakfast held on April 3, 2019, Ginger Mullin, AuD., Illinois Department of  Public Health, received the the Sagarika Madala Memorial Award for Exemplary Leadership in recognition of her outstanding leadership as a GPSI supervisor and mentor. Dr. Mullin is pictured with Alexandra Scherba, Ginger’s GPSI intern, who nominated her for the award.