Unpaid Interns and Volunteers
Departments should proceed carefully if a student asks to be an unpaid (volunteer) intern. Federal law provides a limited scope for volunteers at Texas A&M University Texarkana.
Here are some key aspects of compliance:
- Employees may not volunteer to do their own jobs nor activities closely related to their own jobs.
- Generally speaking, students may perform voluntary work through student organizations and related activities.
- However, students may not work for A&M Texarkana as a volunteer, with the exception of unpaid internships which are part of their degree requirements and for which the student will receive course credit.
Further details and criteria regarding unpaid internships are:
- The experience must be an extension of the classroom: a learning experience that provides for applying the knowledge gained in the classroom. It must not be simply to advance the operations of the employer or be the work that a regular employee would routinely perform.
- The skills or knowledge learned must be transferable to other employment settings.
- The experience has a defined beginning and end, and a job description with desired qualifications.
- There are clearly defined learning objectives/goals related to the professional goals of the student’s academic coursework.
- There is supervision by a professional with expertise and educational and/or professional background in the field of the experience.
- There is routine feedback by the experienced supervisor.
- There are resources, equipment, and facilities provided by the host employer that support learning objectives/goals.
In all other circumstances, people may volunteer to work at the University only for civic, humanitarian or charitable purposes.
Please note that for volunteers who are not A&M Texarkana employees or students, it may be difficult to arrange computer access.
A&M Texarkana Volunteer Waiver/Background Check/Idemnification/Medical Treatment Authorization
Completed forms are retained in the department as documentation of the volunteer status.
Contact Us:
Human Resources