St. Thomas is offering a platform that seeks to connect students with exciting opportunities offered by alumni and organizations. The Project Poster offers the project and selects applicants in line with its own criteria. It is up to Project Posters and selected students to define the expectations that will apply to their relationship. St. Thomas advertises opportunities but is not involved in applicant selection and has no role in the relationship between Project Posters and applicants/students. It does not endorse any project, Project Poster, or applicant. Participants should evaluate opportunities according to their own independent judgment.

“Projects” is a program that allows alumni to support University of St. Thomas students by providing them with short-term, real-world professional experiences.

Unlike traditional internships, “Projects” focuses on a specific, defined task rather than a set number of hours. This allows for flexibility and targeted skill development.

Projects vary across industries and disciplines, reflecting the diverse expertise of our alumni network. Examples might include market research, data analysis, content creation, or design projects.

The time commitment will vary depending on the project, but each Project typically takes between 5 and 40 hours to complete. Each project listing will provide an estimated time frame.

1. Login to the St. Thomas Connect. If it’s your first time, creating an account is quick and easy.
2. Click on the “Projects” tab.
3. Click on the “Post a Project” button.
4. Choose a template or create your own.
5. Fill in the project information.
6. Click “Preview and Submit”.
7. Click “Review Terms and Submit”.
8. Review the agreement and type your signature to acknowledge these terms.
9. Wait for approval from a platform administrator.
10. View “My Projects” to see your posting. Click on the human icon to review your applicants.
11. Review applicants. You will receive an email when a new applicant has applied for your Project. The attachments you requested will be in the email.

Students begin by exploring available projects on St. Thomas Connect, where they can browse opportunities posted by alumni. As they review listings, they’re encouraged to pay attention to key details such as the project description, required skills, expected time commitment, compensation, and information about the alumni mentor overseeing the work.

Once a student finds a project that aligns with their interests and goals, they review all instructions and requirements carefully before starting their application. They’re advised to prepare tailored materials—typically a resume, a focused cover letter or brief personal statement, and work samples if the project requires specific skills.

Students submit their application directly through the St. Thomas Connect platform, ensuring all materials are proofread and complete. If appropriate, they may choose to send a brief follow-up message to the alumni mentor after the deadline.

Throughout the process, students are reminded of a few core best practices: customizing each application, highlighting relevant skills, demonstrating genuine interest in the experience, and maintaining high-quality, error-free materials. Notifications and status updates are delivered through St. Thomas Connect and email, allowing students to track their progress.

Projects can be either paid or unpaid. The Project Poster will determine the compensation and share that information via the Project posting on St. Thomas Connect.

We encourage paid Projects, if possible. The recommended rate is $15/hour or $600 total for a 40-hour Project. All compensation will be handled between the Project Poster and Recipient directly. The University of St. Thomas does not facilitate this. 

If offering a paid Project is a barrier to hosting an experience, please proceed with posting an unpaid Project as our central goal is to create opportunities for students to gain new skills, explore different industries, and make career connections. The condensed timeframe and added flexibility of a Project may limit some of the financial barriers that would otherwise get in the way of students pursuing a more traditional unpaid internship.

International students are encouraged to connect with the Office of International Students & Scholars (OISS) before applying for Projects to ensure they can receive authorization for the type of work they are seeking.

For unpaid projects, international students do not need work authorization. However, when international students are engaging in completely unpaid/volunteer work, they should be careful not to receive any form of rewards. OISS recommends students to apply for Curricular Practical Training (CPT) if participating in an unpaid or volunteer opportunity are related to their major so that they have the safety guard. But they are not required to have a CPT. 

For paid projects, international students must have work authorization, and the project must be related to their major.

• If they are current students, they need CPT. There are challenges with CPT: It is tied to a specific job and an offer is required before the student can apply for CPT.
• If they’ve graduated, they need Optional Practical Training (OPT). Many already have this authorization, and it is not tied to a specific job. F-1 students who already have OPT authorization can apply for work opportunities with Projects that are related to their major. F-1 students who don’t have OPT and J-1 students who need Academic Training authorization need to discuss their options with an OISS adviser before applying to any Projects. 

In some cases, a Project Poster may ask a student to sign an agreement relating to a project. For instance, if the Project Poster intends to retain ownership of intellectual property or expects confidentiality, the Project Poster and student are encouraged to consider entering into appropriate agreements before commencing a project. The University is not involved in the decision to enter an agreement, does not offer legal advice, and does not participate in the review, advising, negotiation, or drafting of such agreements. Students should carefully review such agreements before signing and are encouraged to contact their own attorney if they have any questions about their rights.

Most projects are intended to be independent contractor assignments, rather than employment relationships. It is up to the Project Poster and selected student to define their relationship and comply with any resulting legal obligations. St. Thomas is not involved in defining or managing the relationship.