Internship Program
Internships in Wildlife/Forestry and Fisheries Management, Interpretation and Environmental Education, Biological Research and Monitoring, Fiscal, Communications, and Environmental Law are a few of the areas available to college and graduate students through the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) Internship Program. AGFC’s internship programs allow students to obtain practical experience and meet hands-on training requirements necessary to earn their degrees and gain valuable career oriented experiences. Students will be required to apply through their universities.
Program Goal and Educational Opportunities
Students participating in the competitive internship program are provided with a unique opportunity to:
- Gain important and practical job skills in the conservation field while also helping AGFC meet education and conservation goals;
- Choose a career-path in conservation and make a long-term commitment to the management of Arkansas natural resources;
- Obtain college credit;
- Network with various public and private agencies concerning environmental programs and projects.
To qualify for an internship, an applicant:
- Must have a declared degree.
- Must have 60 hours of college credit by the time the internship begins.
- Must be a full-time student at an Arkansas college at the time of application.
- Must be an Arkansas resident paying in-state tuition.
- Must have a 2.5 cumulative grade point average.
- Must be enrolled in a summer internship course or plan to attend college the semester after the internship.
- Must demonstrate course-work or knowledge related to work area.
Selected interns will coordinate directly with their universities to obtain course credit for their work. Priority will be given to interns from universities who provide course credit hours for internships.
Internship Duration and Financial Support
In general, internships are no more than 400 hours in duration at a stipend of $9.50 per hour. A MOU will be set up with participating universities that will stipulate the funds will be sent for intern stipends and paid through the university system. Time sheets will be distributed to the University Fiscal Department and paid on a monthly basis. If an intern drops out of the program, the university will pay any remaining funds back to AGFC.
Internship Assignments and Placements
Internship candidates must complete an application with required support material from faculty and sponsoring professor. Interns must follow application submission procedure guidelines in order to qualify. Appropriate AGFC agency personnel will interview qualifying applicants.
AGFC’s Role
The AGFC Scholarship Staff's role is to manage, promote and oversee the internship program. The staff will work with various colleges and universities to identify candidates for internship assignments. AGFC provides the following services:
- Responds to questions about the program;
- Disseminates and receives applications;
- Provides stipends for interns;
- Works with agency division chiefs to coordinate interviews and reports;
- Facilitate periodic meetings with AGFC supervisors, interns and university representative.
AGFC Supervisor Will be Responsible For
- Interviewing and selecting qualified interns for their division;
- Creating a work plan and schedule for the intern;
- Providing appropriate work-space and equipment;
- Providing direct supervision;
- Providing appropriate reports, time cards and required evaluations;
- Orienting the intern to the agency, agency personnel and working environment;
- Providing the intern with relevant work and opportunity to learn;
- Keeping AGFC informed of the intern’s work and any problems or other issues relating to the intern.
The intern’s role is to be a graduate, undergraduate or enrolled in an accredited University in Arkansas. Interns are selected based upon their completed application, narratives, letters of reference, and interviews with AGFC Division personnel/supervisor. Interns commit to the following:
- Duration of internship.
- Produce a final internship report for AGFC Scholarship Committee and possibly make a report to AGFC Commission.
- Arrange for course credit with their university.
- Attend periodic meetings with AGFC supervisors and University representative.
- Abide by the rules and regulations of the AGFC and supervising personnel.
The internship program provides an opportunity for undergraduate and graduate college students to gain valuable, practical field experience in their chosen profession. Interns work flexible hours that will be suitable with the student and supervisors needs. The length of each internship will be a maximum of 10 weeks or 400 hours at a salary of $9.50 per hour. Funding for Internship Program is provided the sale of the Arkansas Game and Fish Conservation License Plates. The experience that the student gains is of a professional nature working with AGFC staff.
Depending upon the area of study, positions generally available in the natural resources areas are Wildlife/Forestry and Fisheries Management, Interpretation and Environmental Education, Biological Research and Monitoring, Communications, Environmental Law, Natural Resource Engineering, Criminal Justice/Enforcement, Environmental Law, and Accounting.
What do you hope to gain from this internship experience?
- Gain practical experience;
- Prepare oneself for the job market;
- Obtain recommendations for graduate school or future employment;
- Become acquainted with professionals in the field;
- Develop an understanding of professional responsibilities and effective working relationships;
- Develop an appreciation of good public relations;
- Advertise his/her ability for permanent employment;
- Reaffirm career goals.
What does AGFC expect from the internship?
- Obtain conscientious employees with professional-related college education;
- Identify potential permanent employees;
- Develop and obtain valuable work products;
- Contribute to a mutually important agency/college relationship;
There are no internship positions currently available.
Other opportunities
The American Fisheries Society sponsors the Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program, a summer mentoring program for high school students. The principal goal of the Hutton Program is to stimulate interest in careers in fisheries science and management among groups underrepresented in the fisheries professions, including minorities and women. Application to the program is open to all sophomore, junior, and senior high school students regardless of race, creed, or gender. For more information about this program, visit the American Fisheries Society website or click here to print a PDF flyer about the program.
Additional information
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All funds are provided by the sale of Conservation License Plate program. For more information about the license plate program click here.
The purpose of the Arkansas Game and Fish Scholarship Program is to encourage young people to pursue careers in fish and wildlife management. These career opportunities include jobs in wildlife law enforcement, fishery management, wildlife management, non-game specialists, public relations positions, environmental education and interpretation, and various related fields. Funding for the Arkansas Game and Fish Scholarship Program is made possible by sales of conservation license plates.
The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission receives federal financial assistance in sport fish and/or wildlife restoration. Under Title VI of the 1984 Civil Rights Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the U.S. Department of the Interior prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex or handicap. If you believe you have been discriminated against in any program, activity or facility as described above, or if you desire further information, please write to: Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, Attn: Compliance Officer, 2 Natural Resources Drive, Little Rock, AR 72205-9986 or the Office for Human Resources, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior, Washington, DC 20240.
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