Smart Community Corps Program Overview


Smart Community Corps Internship Program Summer 2021
Make a Difference in Local Georgia Communities; Earn Stipends up to $8k

The Smart Community Corps (SCC) is the first statewide program of its kind for civic-minded students to gain hands on smart city experience. Working as a summer cohort and in community pairs, interns are placed into local municipalities to support smart technology projects that are dedicated to creating livable and equitable communities. In addition to a full-time summer stipend, SCC are provided curriculum programming in sustainability, innovation, career development and mentorship. The program is open to both Georgia Tech and other Georgia college undergraduate and graduate students.

Want to be a Smart Community Corps summer intern?
Access more information HERE.
Informational Flyer


SCC Collaborators and Pair Model:
The Smart Community Corps internship is a joint collaboration with the Georgia Tech Center for Serve-Learn-Sustain (SLS), the Georgia Tech Career Center, and the Student Government Association (SGA). Through this partnership, our summer cohort of interns will participate in bi-weekly programming and educational seminars that introduce students to theories of grassroots sustainability/innovation, as well as career development, writing, and mentorship. SCC internships are funded by a generous gift from Microsoft Corporation to advance students’ experiences working on real-life problems in a community environment as a way to apply their skills and improve the lives of residents.

We work with higher education institutions in Georgia, such as Valdosta State University and AUC Data Science Initiative to open the internship opportunity to both Georgia Tech and other Georgia college students. Each community opportunity will place interns in pairs (1 Georgia Tech student and 1 Georgia college student) to work together on a project. The aim is to bring students together with complementary skillsets, experiences, and expertise so that together they can learn from each other and leverage their joint work for cross-learning and co-creation with the community. The pair also works closely with the designated Georgia Tech lead researcher for research guidance and expertise. Together, the community and the students benefit from the joint university, multidisciplinary, and diverse experiences and perspectives the student pair brings.

Program Benefits:
The SCC internship program offers students the opportunity to work as a cohort with top researchers and their local community partners on impactful smart community projects. Our interns will gain experience working with local government, community, and non-profit leaders and expand their professional network while receiving a summer stipend.
The SCC internship also provides:

  • Practical knowledge of smart city projects
  • Experience working with a local government
  • The opportunity for students to expand their professional network
  • A stipend of up to $8,000 depending on job/location
  • Additional programing through our SCC collaborators
  • Full SCI2 staff support throughout the internship
Applicant Selection Process:
The internship offers students learning opportunities outside of the classroom. Through the SCC program, students will use the knowledge and skills they gained in the classroom to help create more sustainable and smart communities.

  • The program is open to all Georgia undergraduate and graduate students of all majors regardless of degree level, major, or visa status (Must be eligible to work in the U.S.)
  • Interested students must submit an online application with resume and a letter of recommendation
  • The online application process opens in January and closes February 26, 2021 at 5pm
  • Our Community partners and GA Smart staff will interview applicants in early March, with offers extended by the end of March
Program Expectations:
It is our hope and expectation that all interns will be able to work and live within their selected communities. Interns must have reliable, daily transportation to get them to/from work. While SSC staff will assist in finding suitable living arrangements for interns embedded in communities outside the metro Atlanta area, those students will be solely responsible for paying for their own living arrangements/housing and food during the internship timeframe. We understand that COVID-19 is still a prevalent threat. As the health and safety of our interns is of the utmost importance to us, we will evaluate the situation as the summer draws closer. If necessary, as was the case in the summer of 2020, all internships could possibly become remote working experiences.