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For many college students, finding a job or internship that aligns with their career goals can be a challenge. What if that hands-on work opportunity also gave them the chance to support young students, strengthen their leadership skills, connect classroom learning to real-world experience, and earn money through federal work-study funding?

That’s exactly what City Year New York’s new Student Success Coach Internship (SSCI) pilot is designed to do.

Now welcoming its second cohort, the innovative program offers eligible students from the City University of New York (CUNY) system an opportunity to serve in New York City public ������Ƶ while gaining valuable professional experience and being paid through the federal work-study program.

Currently, the program serves only CUNY students, but City Year hopes to expand the opportunity to other colleges and universities in the area.

The internship mirrors some aspects of the City Year AmeriCorps experience of supporting students in ������Ƶ—but is intentionally designed to meet the unique needs of college students balancing academics, work and other responsibilities.

A new pathway into meaningful service for college students

Led by City Year New York’s Talent Pathways team, the internship was created to expand opportunities for college students seeking hands-on learning experiences while supporting City Year’s partner ������Ƶ.

“We’re creating and piloting an internship program here at the City Year New York,” said Andres Burgos, senior manager of Talent Pathways, “that has experiential learning at its center.”

The program places CUNY students alongside teams of City Year student success coaches, where they support students through activities such as afterschool programming, social-emotional learning, academic tutoring, mentoring, and enrichment opportunities. Like City Year student success coaches, interns work directly with students and contribute to creating a positive school environment.

But there are several important differences between the student success coach internship pilot and City Year’s AmeriCorps program.

Similar Mission, Different Structure

recipients are not part of the national service program, AmeriCorps. Instead, they participate through their college’s federal work-study program and are paid through federal work-study funding if they are determined eligible by their institution.

This distinction creates greater flexibility for students who may not be able to commit to a traditional year of service.

“There’s a bit more flexibility when it comes to this federal work study,” Burgos explained. “Some of the students that we work with can do a minimum of 10 hours, as long as they can provide proof that they are in fact learning and applying things that they’re doing from their major.”

Unlike AmeriCorps service, which typically requires a larger time commitment, the Student Success Coach Internship pilot allows college students to tailor their involvement around their academic schedules. Participants may also remain in the program for multiple years, provided they continue to qualify for federal work-study funding.

The interns also participate in many of the same trainings and onboarding experiences that City Year AmeriCorps members receive, helping prepare them to work effectively with students in ������Ƶ.

Turning academic learning into real-world impact

One of the internship’s most distinctive features is its emphasis on experiential learning.

Rather than simply completing service hours, interns are encouraged to connect their coursework, interests and career aspirations to their work with students.

For example, one intern studying forensic science developed a forensic science club for elementary school students. Working with guidance from a professor, the intern adapted concepts from college coursework into engaging activities for younger learners.

“This experience reinforced my interest in pursuing a career in forensics by showing me the importance of mentorship, communication, and critical thinking,” said Shaynel Geddie, who participated in the first cohort and is studying at John Jay College of Criminology. “Working with students in forensic club helped me see how sharing knowledge and encouraging curiosity can inspire others, which I hope to continue doing within the forensic field.”

Throughout the year, interns reflect on their experiences and complete projects that help them examine how ������Ƶ, communities and organizations like City Year work together to support young people’s success.

“The purpose is for the interns to implement what they’re learning in their college classroom to what they’re experiencing with the young students in the other classroom,” Burgos said.

Internship offers professional growth for any major

While education majors are certainly welcome, the internship pilot is designed for students pursuing a wide range of career paths. Burgos believes the program provides valuable skills no matter what profession students hope to enter.

“It’s people who are looking for a great way to develop their hard and soft skills,” he said.

Serving in a public school, working with students every day, helped the intern strengthen their leadership, communication and public speaking skills.

“They left the program realizing that being a mentor isn’t necessarily tied to age or level of experience,” Burgos said. “It’s just tied to someone who’s really caring and wants to put their best forward and help others out.”

Another intern planned to become a police officer—but through her experience working in ������Ƶ, she now plans on becoming a middle school science teacher, said Burgos.

Intern Abihejeet Biswas said learning how to connect with the school community will help advance his career in the FBI.

“City Year helped sharpen the skills I needed for my future career in the FBI,” said Biswas, who is majoring in criminology. “Interacting in City Year helped understand how to connect with the community more, as well as getting to quickly know and be able to converse with people I do not know well. I feel the skill of being able to talk to anyone is one of the biggest I can have, and City Year helped me gain that skill, as well as knowing how to build rapport in a community.”

In addition to school-based experience, interns receive career coaching and advising from City Year New York staff. Participants can access some of City Year’s programming and resources, explore career pathways, and receive support connecting their internship experience to future goals.

Helping students earn while they learn

Federal Work-Study is a form of financial aid available to eligible college students. Students must work with their college’s financial aid office to determine whether they qualify and to secure work-study funding.

“Students need to go to their financial aid offices and apply for this funding,” Burgos said. “They then need to apply to an eligible position either on or off campus in order to actually get that funding.”

For eligible students, the internship offers a unique opportunity to earn income while building professional experience and making a difference in the lives of young people.

Who should apply to City Year New York’s internship?

City Year New York is currently recruiting additional students for the upcoming academic year and hopes to expand the internship cohort significantly. The opportunity is open to students across the CUNY system, including community college, undergraduate, graduate, and professional students who are eligible for federal work-study funding.

The ideal intern doesn’t need prior experience in education. Instead, City Year is looking for students who are curious, compassionate, eager to learn, and interested in developing leadership skills while serving their communities.

As Burgos puts it, this opportunity is for students who want to grow while helping others do the same.

Interested in becoming a Federal Work-Study intern?

If you’re a CUNY student and think this opportunity might be right for you:

1. Check with your financial aid office to determine whether you’re eligible for Federal Work-Study funding.
2. Learn more about City Year New York’s Federal Work-Study Student Success Coach Internship opportunities.
3. Prepare to gain meaningful experience supporting students in New York City public ������Ƶ while building skills that can benefit you long after graduation.

Whether you’re interested in education, criminal justice, science, public service, nonprofit leadership, or another field entirely, City Year New York’s Federal Work-Study internship offers a chance to connect your studies to real-world impact—one student, one classroom, and one community at a time.

How this pilot fits in with City Year’s dual mission: to advance academic outcomes for all students and develop the next generation of leaders through national service

Since its founding in 1988, City Year has served communities and helped young people develop into leaders and engaged citizens, able to tackle society’s biggest challenges.

Nearly 20 years ago, the organization realized its impact was greatest in ������Ƶ and that our services should focus on education. We call our school program Whole School, Whole Child® since it focuses on both student academic achievement and interpersonal skill growth. City Year AmeriCorps members serve as student success coaches, partnering with classroom teachers to help students learn, develop, and stay on track to high school graduation, while they themselves master key skills they need to thrive in adulthood.

While our school program remains at the heart of our work and mission, City Year continues to innovate, exploring new ways to support student success and help young adults develop critical leadership and workforce readiness skills. The City Year New York pilot, now in its second year, is part of this innovation work. Other examples of innovation include our teacher pathway’s fellowship program and the Student Success Coach Learning Network, one in California and one now launching in New York State.

Interested in joining City Year’s Federal Work-Study internship?

City Year New York is actively recruiting other local higher education institutions to join the student success coach internship.

If you work at a private college or university in the area and think this opportunity would be a good fit for students at your school, please reach out to Andres Burgos, City Year New York senior manager of talent pathways.

To learn more about the Student Success Coach Internship or explore partnership opportunities with City Year New York, students, faculty and university staff from area colleges and universities are encouraged to contact Andres Burgos (andres.burgos@cityyear.org).