Municipal Internship Program
Program Overview
The City of Ripon has established a Municipal Internship Program to provide Ripon College students with meaningful, hands-on experience in local government while supporting City operations, programs, and community initiatives.
Local government provides a unique opportunity for students to gain practical experience in a wide variety of professional fields. Through the program, interns may work in areas including government administration, parks and recreation, law enforcement, public works, utilities and environmental science, planning, communications and human resources, library services, and community media and broadcasting.
The program is intended to strengthen the partnership between the City of Ripon and Ripon College, provide students with opportunities for professional development and community involvement, and help cultivate the next generation of local government and public service professionals.
Internships may be tailored to a student's academic interests and career goals, as well as the current needs and projects of the City.
Internship Areas
The City of Ripon offers eight (8) internship areas listed below representing general categories that may be explored through the Municipal Internship Program. Internship assignments are intended to be flexible and may be customized based on a student's academic interests, career goals, experience, and the current needs and projects of the City. Interns may also have opportunities to work across multiple departments or areas during their internship.
Government Administration / Management Intern: The Management Internship provides broad exposure to municipal administration, policy development, budgeting, economic development, planning, and City operations.
Potential projects and responsibilities may include:
- Researching and evaluating local government issues and programs;
- Gathering and analyzing comparative data for City policies and initiatives;
- Assisting with the development of ordinances, resolutions, policies, and staff reports;
- Assisting with budgeting, capital planning, grants, and special projects;
- Updating City Code and administrative documents;
- Supporting economic development, housing, and community development initiatives;
- Attending City Council, committee, and other public meetings; and
- Participating in community activities and special projects.
Parks & Recreation Intern: The Parks & Recreation Internship provides experience in municipal recreation programming, park operations/maintenance, community events, and facility planning.
Potential projects and responsibilities may include:
- Assisting with recreation programs, leagues, and community events;
- Supporting park and recreation facility planning and maintenance;
- Assisting with program marketing and community outreach;
- Conducting research related to recreation trends and community needs;
- Supporting park inventories, trail planning, and capital projects; and
- Assisting with special events and other departmental initiatives.
Police / Criminal Justice Intern: The Police Internship provides students interested in law enforcement and criminal justice with exposure to the operations of a municipal police department.
Potential experiences may include:
- Observing municipal law enforcement operations;
- Participating in approved ride-alongs and department activities;
- Assisting with community policing and public education initiatives;
- Supporting research, data analysis, and administrative projects;
- Learning about records, investigations, evidence, and other departmental functions, as appropriate; and
- Assisting with special projects identified by Police Department leadership.
Assignments will be subject to Police Department policies, confidentiality requirements, and applicable laws.
Public Works / Engineering Intern: The Public Works Internship provides practical experience with municipal infrastructure, streets, parks, facilities, construction, and engineering-related projects.
Potential projects and responsibilities may include:
- Assisting with infrastructure and capital improvement projects;
- Conducting field inventories and collecting infrastructure data;
- Supporting GIS, mapping, and asset-management projects;
- Assisting with street, sidewalk, stormwater, and facility planning;
- Observing construction projects and project administration;
- Researching equipment, infrastructure, and operational practices; and
- Supporting other Public Works projects and initiatives.
Utility Management / Environmental Science Intern: The Utility Management Internship provides students with hands-on experience in municipal water and wastewater operations, water resource management, environmental programs, infrastructure planning, and regulatory compliance. The internship is particularly well suited for students interested in environmental science, water resources, sustainability, public utilities, or environmental management.
Potential projects and responsibilities may include:
- Assisting with municipal water and wastewater planning and operational projects;
- Supporting water quality, groundwater, wastewater treatment, and water resource initiatives;
- Assisting with utility asset inventories, GIS mapping, and infrastructure data collection;
- Supporting water conservation, source-water protection, and environmental sustainability initiatives;
- Conducting research related to water and wastewater regulations, emerging environmental issues, and utility best practices;
- Assisting with data collection, analysis, reporting, and regulatory compliance activities;
- Supporting capital improvement planning for water, wastewater, and related infrastructure;
- Assisting with stormwater, environmental monitoring, and water-quality projects;
- Learning about municipal wells, water treatment and distribution, wastewater collection and treatment, and related utility systems;
- Researching grants and funding opportunities for utility and environmental projects; and
- Assisting with public education and community outreach related to water resources, conservation, and environmental programs.
Communications and Human Resources Intern: The Communications and HR Internship provides experience in public-sector communications, community engagement, digital media, public information, and selected human resources functions. The internship provides an opportunity to learn how a municipal organization communicates with residents and employees while supporting community engagement and organizational initiatives.
Potential projects and responsibilities may include:
- Developing content for City newsletters, websites, The Ripon Channel, and social media;
- Assisting with public information and community outreach campaigns;
- Creating graphics, informational materials, and community announcements;
- Supporting photography and documentation of City projects and events;
- Assisting departments with communicating programs and services;
- Developing strategies to improve community engagement;
- Supporting special events and other public outreach initiatives;
- Assisting with employee communications, recruitment materials, and job postings;
- Supporting employee engagement, recognition, and organizational initiatives;
- Assisting with research and administrative projects related to personnel policies, recruitment, compensation, and workforce development; and
- Supporting other communications and human resources projects as assigned.
Human resources assignments will be subject to appropriate confidentiality requirements and will focus primarily on communications, research, recruitment, employee engagement, and administrative projects.
Library Services Intern: The Library Services Internship provides students with hands-on experience in public library operations, community programming, outreach, communications, and public service. The internship provides an opportunity to learn how a municipal library serves the educational, informational, cultural, and recreational needs of the community.
Potential projects and responsibilities may include:
- Assisting with library programs, events, and community activities;
- Supporting youth, adult, and community programming;
- Assisting with community outreach and partnerships with local organizations;
- Developing promotional materials and content for library communications and social media;
- Assisting with collection-related projects, research, and library resources;
- Supporting technology, digital resources, and other services available to library patrons;
- Gathering and analyzing data related to library programs, services, and community needs;
- Assisting with grants, special projects, and program development; and
- Supporting other library initiatives based on departmental needs and the intern's academic interests.
Ripon Community Media Intern: The Ripon Community Media Internship provides students with hands-on experience in video production, broadcasting, digital media, and community programming through the Ripon Channel. The internship is well suited for students interested in communications, media production, broadcasting, journalism, marketing, or sports media.
Potential projects and responsibilities may include:
- Assisting with video production, recording, editing, and broadcasting for the Ripon Channel;
- Supporting coverage of City meetings, community events, and local programs;
- Assisting with live and recorded coverage of Ripon High School and Ripon College athletic events;
- Providing play-by-play, color commentary, interviewing, or other on-air support for athletic and community broadcasts;
- Developing original video and digital content highlighting the Ripon community;
- Assisting with production equipment, cameras, audio, graphics, and other broadcasting technology;
- Supporting promotion of Ripon Channel programming through digital and social media; and
- Assisting with other community media and special production projects.
Qualifications
Candidates must be undergraduate students enrolled at Ripon College. Relevant areas of study may include politics and government, environmental studies, criminal justice, business, communications, human resources, marketing, history, pre-law, economics, computer science, education, engineering-related studies, media and broadcasting, journalism, or other fields related to the internship assignment.
Candidates should possess strong communication, organizational, research, and analytical skills; be highly motivated; and be able to exercise sound judgment while working independently, with City staff, and with members of the public.
Qualifications may vary depending on the internship track and assignment. Priority may be given to students in their junior or senior year, although students of all academic levels are encouraged to inquire about available opportunities.
Candidates must successfully complete a background check prior to beginning an internship with the City. Additional screening or eligibility requirements may apply depending on the internship assignment.
Internship Experience
Interns will have the opportunity to acquire practical professional experience while contributing to projects that directly affect the Ripon community.
Internships are intended to be flexible. In addition to assigned responsibilities, interns are encouraged to identify projects related to their academic or professional interests that could benefit the City.
Each intern will be assigned a primary City supervisor. Depending on the internship and project, students may also work with multiple City departments and community partners.
Duration and Scheduling
Internship duration and weekly schedules are negotiable based on the student's academic schedule, departmental needs, and the nature of the internship. Opportunities may range from one semester to a full academic year or summer term.
Academic Credit and Compensation
The City will work with Ripon College and participating students to accommodate internships completed for academic credit when applicable.
Depending on the internship, available funding, and expected time commitment, the City may also provide a stipend or other compensation. Compensation will be established prior to the beginning of the internship.
Application Process
Internship opportunities are offered based on departmental needs, project availability, funding, and the discretion of the City Administrator and participating department heads.
Students interested in the program should submit an Online Application and attach your resume. Applicants are encouraged to identify the internship area or areas that most closely align with their academic interests and career goals.
The City may maintain a rolling application process and work with Ripon College faculty and staff to identify internship opportunities throughout the academic year.
The City of Ripon is an equal opportunity employer.
Contacts
Adam
Sonntag, City Administrator
asonntag@cityofripon.com
(920) 748-4914
Mary Vesely, Communications & HR Manager
mvesely@cityofripon.com
(920) 748-4926