The Mickey Leland Environmental Internship Program

• History
• Mission
• Eligibility Requirements
• Intern Information
• Sponsor Information
• Timetable
• Intern Conference
• Advisory Committee

History

The Mickey Leland Environmental Internship Program provides summer internship opportunities for minorities, women, and economically disadvantaged students pursuing environmental, engineering, science-related, and public administration careers at colleges and universities across the United States. The program was established in 1992 by the Texas Water Commission (a predecessor agency to the TCEQ) in partnership with the Texas Water Development Board, the Texas General Land Office, the Texas Chemical Council, the Texas Council of the American Electronics Association and numerous private corporation.

The purpose of the program is to expose undergraduate and graduate students to environmental issues and provide them with opportunities to gain professional experience.

The program honors the late U.S. Congressman Mickey Leland's effective efforts to promote a clean and healthy environment. Congressman Leland was killed in a plane crash on August 7, 1989, en route to Ethiopia on a mission as Chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives Select Committee on Hunger. Leland's environmental commitment is well documented. He was most noted for his contributions as a member of the Subcommittee on Health and Environment. He emphasized and demonstrated the importance of heightened awareness and involvement of minority participation in the protection of public health and environmental issues and consistently addressed public health issues related to the minority community.

Congressman Leland was one of the nation's most effective leaders on environmental issues and mentored many of today's Texas leaders. He remained a community activist who always took time to help the underprivileged and under represented. This program was initiated to celebrate and honor his work.

Mission

• To heighten the awareness and encourage the participation of minorities, women, and economically disadvantaged college/university students regarding environmental related issues and policies:
• To develop a diversified work force within Texas' environmental agencies and private corporations by promoting employment opportunities for students exploring future professional opportunities in the environmental fields; and
• To train and equip students for future careers as environmental professionals.

Eligibility Requirements

Relatives of TCEQ employees may participate only with the partner corporations. They may not serve in internships for the TCEQ. Students interested in participating in the Mickey Leland program must have completed at least 60 undergraduate semester hours at the end of the most immediate past Fall semester or be a current graduate student enrollee. Candidates must be enrolled full time during the current Spring semester and have a minimum academic grade point average of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale at the time of application. All recipients should be enrolled in environmental and/or science-related disciplines including, but not limited to, biology, chemistry, geology, engineering, public health, or public administration.

Intern Information

The official deadline for submitting the application and supporting documents will be in February 27, 2009. Interested intern candidates should submit an application form.

In addition, each candidate must submit:

• professor's letter of recommendation
• current official academic transcript
• verification of Spring 2009 enrollment

All documentation should be submitted at one time to:

Sponsor Information

Interested sponsors should contact the TCEQ Human Resources & Staff Development Division for applications and additional information. Each sponsor must complete a Sponsor Request Form, including a complete job description or task listing at the time of sponsor application submission. The goal of an internship is different from that of temporary employment, requiring a written job description will help to ensure that interns are provided a meaningful learning experience at TCEQ.

The TCEQ Human Resources and Staff Development Division will verify that eligibility requirements are met and refer qualified candidates to potential sponsors. Sponsors will interview candidates and make final selections or authorize the TCEQ to select interns for placements. Selections will be based on academic major/achievement, environmental related interest, and life and work experiences. Candidates will receive written notification of their selection.

Interns work full time during the summer (mid-May through August) and are compensated at a minimum of $2019.33 per month based on college hours earned and salaries set by participating parties.

Interns will be expected to fulfill the duties and responsibilities of the positions to which they are assigned. Interns must abide by all policies, procedures, and regulations of the employing agency or corporation. This may include drug testing. Sponsors will provide feedback to the committee concerning the Intern's performance.

Intern sponsors
Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc.
Pioneer Natural Resources
Travis County Transportation and Natural Resources
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (formerly Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission)
Texas Utilities
TXU Electric Delivery

Timetable

Intern Conference

July 2009

Information will be posted May 2009.

Advisory Committee

The Advisory Committee for the Mickey Leland Environmental Internship Program consists of individuals from the private and public sector whose involvement and support create opportunities to enhance workforce diversity in environmental related professional careers.

Their role is to promote the mission and objectives of the internship program as well as offer ideas and suggestions for continued enhancements of program services.