University Communications Internships and Student Employment
University Communications is Central Michigan University's strategic communications, marketing and creative departments, including Media Graphix. Our teams communicate for the university as a whole and serve colleges and departments throughout campus. As an intern, you will have the opportunity to work alongside us in your area of interest.
Top 5 reasons to intern with University Communications
- Gain hands-on experience!
- Create content for CMU's official social media channels, blogs and news site.
- Participate in creative brainstorms to develop new content.
- Create inspiring materials, including photo, video, print and digital design, for CMU's main channels and campus partners.
- Share your perspective on #LifeAtCentral with a variety of audiences.
Interns and student workers are paid minimum wage bi-weekly and expected to work approximately 15 to 20 hours per week under the guidance of our professional staff.
These internships may qualify for academic credit — please check with your academic department to see if this position meets your program's criteria.
Application requirements vary by position. Please carefully review the job description for your preferred position, and be sure to submit all required documents when completing your application.
Applications for internship positions are accepted on a rolling basis. Applicants will be contacted when positions are available.
Preference is given to students who are able to work multiple semesters.
Positions available
University Communications offers several internship opportunities. Please carefully review the job description and application requirements for each position type below.
News and media
Duties
Develop content for CMU News. Complete research, conduct interviews and write stories appropriate for a wide range of audiences.
Assist with media relations. Become familiar with media tracking software, create media reports for senior leaders, identify appropriate outlets and journalists for pitching, and write pitches for various campus events and activities.
Participate in creative brainstorming to develop new content for CMU's main channels.
Attend training events and develop learning resources to support campus partners.
Learn more about best practices in higher education communications and public relations. Attend workshops and seminars and share what you learn with your teammates.
Requirements
Earning a degree in a related field (integrative public relations, communications, journalism, English, etc.).
Outstanding written and oral communication skills.
Ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative team.
Able to balance multiple tasks under deadline pressure.
Honest and trustworthy: Position may involve exposure to sensitive and/or confidential information.
Must be highly organized, self-motivated and flexible/adaptable.
Demonstrate exceptional customer service skills and uphold CMU’s Leadership Standards.
Apply
To apply for the News and Media internship position, please send a cover letter outlining your interest in the position, along with a copy of your current resume and several writing samples to news@cmich.edu.
Social Media
We’re looking for interns who are Fired Up about CMU and want to help current and future students learn more about #LifeAtCentral. The ideal candidates will demonstrate an established understanding of the visual storytelling process and experience working with cell phone videography, Instagram and TikTok is a plus.
Duties
Participate in regular brainstorms for social media content across all CMU platforms.
Produce videos for social media that showcase the CMU brand.
Create content and captions for social media posts.
Assist with social listening and community management.
Participate in researching and sharing best practices with universitywide social media managers and moderators.
Requirements
Currently enrolled at CMU and pursuing a degree in a related field.
Excellent written and oral communication skills.
Familiarity with major social media platforms, including Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook and Twitter.
Experience finding and creating content for social media.
Proficiency with (or willingness to learn) Adobe Rush.
Ability to remain organized and productive in a fast-paced environment.
Apply
To apply for the social media internship, please submit a cover letter outlining your interest in the position along with your current resume and links to your personal social media channels. If you have a digital portfolio, please include a link, or you may submit 2-3 writing samples.
Graphic Design
Duties
- Produce materials to support Central Michigan University’s brand in a positive light.
- Participate in creative brainstorms and the development of communication plans for university-wide efforts.
- Be able to balance a non-traditional work schedule with punctuality and professionalism.
- Collaborate well with fellow photographers, writers and cinematographers.
- Maintain a professional appearance, demeanor, and approach.
Interns are paid minimum wage bi-weekly and expected to work approximately up to 20 hours per week in the office on campus under the guidance of our professional staff. This qualifies for internship credit if needed.
Requirements
- Earning an undergraduate degree in graphic design, multimedia, journalism or related field of study.
- Displays excellent written and oral communication skills.
- Must be highly organized and self-motivated.
- Availability to work both in-person and remote as needed.
- Proficient in Adobe InDesign, Photoshop and Illustrator, with knowledge of After Effects.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and manage multiple projects, sometimes on tight deadlines.
- Evaluate projects to provide accurate job estimates and final statements to clients.
- Collaborate with campus partners to request quotes, review proofs and organize installs.
- Ability to work a flexible schedule, including some evenings and weekends as needed.
- Able to work independently and as part of a team.
- Follow processes and work within a project management system.
- Demonstrate excellent customer service and uphold CMU's leadership standards.
Apply
Please carefully review the duties and responsibilities, and then complete our online application.
Please be sure to answer each question and to upload and attach all required documents.
Photography
Duties
- Produce images to support Central Michigan University’s brand in a positive light.
- Create content for CMU’s official social media channels.
-Participate in creative brainstorms and the development of communication plans for university-wide efforts.
- Be able to balance a non-traditional work schedule with punctuality and professionalism.
-Collaborate well with fellow photographers, writers and cinematographers.
- Maintain a professional appearance, demeanor, and approach.
Students are paid minimum wage bi-weekly and expected to work approximately up to 20 hours per week in the office on campus under the guidance of our professional staff. This also qualifies for internship credit, if needed.
Requirements
- Earning an undergraduate degree in photography, journalism or a related area of study.
- Displays excellent written and oral communication skills.
- Proficient in photography techniques, including lighting, audio/video editing, and graphic design.
- Ability to use Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom.
- Ability to provide photography and photo editing for a variety of platforms, including social media, website and print.
- Ability to work in a flexible schedule including evenings, weekends.
- Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
- Basic knowledge of programs and services offered by University Recreation.
- Ability to prioritize and multitask in a fast-paced environment.
- Demonstrate excellent customer service and uphold CMU’s Leadership Standards.
Apply
Please carefully review the duties and responsibilities, and then complete our online application.
Please be sure to answer each question and to upload and attach all required documents.
Videography
Duties
- Produce videos to support Central Michigan University's brand in a positive light.
- Create content for CMU's social media channels.
- Participate in creative brainstorms to develop content for university-wide efforts.
- Balance a non-traditional work schedule with punctuality and professionalism.
- Collaborate well with fellow creatives, including designers, photographers, writers and cinematographers.
- Maintain a professional appearance, demeanor and approach.
Requirements
- Earning a degree in Broadcast and Cinematic arts, photo journalism, photography or a related field of study is preferred.
- Experience with Premiere Pro or related video editing programs.
- Ability to work a flexible schedule, including evenings and weekends.
- Have a knack for visual storytelling.
- Ability to work independently or as part of a team.
- Uphold CMU’s Leadership Standards and demonstrate great customer service.
Apply
Please carefully review the duties and responsibilities, and then complete our online application.
Please be sure to answer each question and to upload and attach all required documents.