In light of the national debate on unpaid internships, a local non-profit awarded a $2.5 million grant to 19 colleges and universities throughout the state, which will allow 1,300 Wisconsin students to take on unpaid internships.

Amy Kerwin, chief educational opportunity officer for Great Lakes Higher Education Guaranty Corporation, a non-profit organization helping students and families with their options for college tuition, said her organization sees many students with paying jobs, but ones that are unrelated to their majors.

“Students who are more likely to complete an internship are more likely to get a job when they graduate,” Kerwin said. “Often, some students don’t have the luxury to participate in unpaid internships because they need to work at a paying job at McDonalds or Wal-Mart in order to raise enough money to pay their college bills.”

Improving access for low-income students is essential to leveling the playing field for all students to get jobs after graduation, Kerwin added.

The 19 University of Wisconsin System and private colleges include Carroll University, Beloit College, Lawrence University, Milwaukee School of Engineering, UW-Green Bay, UW-Milwaukee, UW-Oshkosh, UW-Stevens Point, UW-River Falls, UW-Superior and more.

UW-Madison, Marquette University, UW-Eau Claire and UW-La Crosse did not receive grants.

The grants from the Madison-based Great Lakes range from $28,200 to $150,000 to each school.

Kerwin added the grant is intended for students from low-income, minority and first-generation college student families.

“I think the important part of the grant is for juniors and seniors, and that the internship offers be in the student’s field of study,” Kerwin said. “Our goal is to let the students gain experience to make them successful in the job market.”

The process of awarding the grants was a competitive one, Kerwin said. Each university submitted a proposal that included plans to create brand new paid internships for students, or convert unpaid internships to paid internships, in addition to identifying new and existing partnerships with companies or organizations looking for interns.

Universities were also required to share how many internships the grant would create at their university, and how many internships would become paid, Kerwin added.

Kerwin said she could not comment on whether UW-Madison applied for a grant and did not receive one, or did not apply for the grant at all.

Susan Fischer, director of financial aid at UW-Madison, said the issue with UW-Madison applying for the grant is the decentralized campus, with 21 colleges in the university.

Fischer said she is unsure whether if any of the schools applied, but hopes to keep the grant in mind for the future.

“I hope somebody follows up on this and gives us a chance to get some [of the grant,]” Fischer said. “I hope we can have an opportunity, but for all I know, we did throw our hat in the ring.”

UW Career Services said they were also unsure whether any schools or colleges applied for the grant.

Great Lakes has been increasing its philanthropic work, which is benefiting many students statewide, Fischer added.

“Their philanthropic arm is really doing some cool stuff having to do with access for low-income students,” Fischer said.