Southern Plains Transportation Center Seeks Summer Interns

Southern Plains Transportation Center Announces 

2023 Summer Internship Program 

Background: As a Regional University Transportation Center (UTC), the Southern Plains Transportation Center (SPTC) is committed to strengthening the UTC program’s legacy of invaluable contributions to transportation education and workforce development by executing a comprehensive strategy of innovative programs with a strong diversity-building component that encourages K-12 students, college students or adult learners to become transportation professionals. An important element of SPTC’s workforce development effort is the Transportation Regional Internship Program (TRIP). 

Internship Focus: The 2023 TRIP is focused on summer internships for students seeking to gain valuable professional experience through working for a transportation company or a government organization/agency over a period of ten to twelve weeks. The actual project a student works on is selected based on the student’s interest, the company/agency needs, and the SPTC goals (https://www.sptc.org). Since Improving the Durability and Extending the Life of Transportation and Freight Infrastructure, climate and sustainability, and Economic Strength and Global Competitiveness, and safety are SPTC’s focus, a diverse set of topics can be covered under this regional internship program, including design, construction, testing (laboratory/field), management, compliance, safety, and training. 

Stipend Level: The student stipend, can vary between $4,000 and $10,000 depending on the location, company/agency, and other factors. The stipend is generally co-funded by the company/agency and SPTC, with the company/ agency providing a bulk of the stipend. 

Eligibility: Undergraduate and graduate students from any SPTC institutions (El Paso Community College, Louisiana State University, Louisiana Tech University, Navajo Technical University, Oklahoma State University, Texas A&M University and Texas Transportation Institute, Texas Southern University, University of Arkansas, University of New Mexico, The University of Oklahoma, University of Texas at El Paso) are considered eligible applicants. Students from other schools can be considered as well. 

SPTC is committed to increasing the diversity of our nation’s transportation-related workforce. 

Application Process: Students must submit their applications directly to companies or agencies through their websites. A copy (pdf) of the application should be e-mailed to SPTC (sptc@ou.edu) to facilitate the co-funding of the stipend. A list of companies and agencies participating in the 2023 TRIP program as well as their mission statement can be found on the SPTC website (https://www.sptc.org/interns). Potential applicants are encouraged to check the website periodically to review the updated list. 

Application Package: The application package depends on the company/ agency’s requirements. Generally, it includes the following: (1) a cover letter; (2) a copy of your resume; (3) a copy of your transcript (unofficial copy generally acceptable); (4) a list of references; (5) other pertinent materials. The cover letter should be addressed to the company or agency including a short narrative on your educational background, area of interest for the internship, and what you expect to achieve from the internship. 

Note: A student can apply to multiple companies/agencies by submitting a separate application for each company/agency. 

Deadline: Deadlines are set by the companies/agencies. Potential applicants should apply early to increase their chances of acceptance. 

Reporting Requirements: Each intern pursuing this program (with co-funding from SPTC) must provide the following information during the course of the internship: (a) One paragraph summary of the intern’s educational background; (b) Two high-resolution photographs of the intern: a “headshot” (does not have to be a professional photo), and a picture showing the intern at work or a high-resolution group photograph including the intern, the supervisor, and others, if any, related to the intern’s work, if available; (c) One-page summary of the intern’s accomplishments in the project, highlighting the relevance of the work to the transportation industry. With the intern’s consent, this narrative and photographs may be used in a press release, newsletter, and promotional materials. 

Important Note: Applicants must be U.S. Citizens, permanent residents, or otherwise legally qualified to participate in the internship program in the United States. 

More Information: For additional information, potential applicants should contact SPTC Director Musharraf Zaman at zaman@ou.edu.