At Florida Atlantic University, we believe a degree should be more than a credential — it must be a powerful launchpad into a career. Yet, for too many of our students, the trajectory of their rise is determined less by their talent and more by whether they can afford to work for free as an unpaid intern. We are working to change that calculus, ensuring that a student’s financial background never dictates their professional future.
The data is unequivocal: Internships are the most effective bridge between classroom and career. Students who complete internships are significantly more likely to secure employment within a year of graduation and earn higher starting salaries. However, a quiet crisis persists in higher education in which unpaid or underpaid internships function as barriers, not bridges, for students who cannot afford to work without income.
Adam Hasner is president of Florida Atlantic University. (courtesy, Florida Atlantic University)
At Florida Atlantic, we take our identity as an “Opportunity University” seriously. Approximately 40% of our students come from Pell Grant-eligible, low-income households. They are strivers in the truest sense, with many working one or two jobs to cover their tuition and housing expenses. When faced with the choice between a paid shift and an unpaid internship that could propel their career, immediate necessity often outweighs future potential.
To bridge this gap, I launched the President’s Internship Program for Community and Civic Impact, built on the belief that talent is universal, but opportunity is not. We are not alone in this realization. Dartmouth College recently announced a $30 million donor-funded initiative to eliminate financial barriers to internships, signaling a national shift toward the model we are already building here in South Florida. Our decision to fund these life-changing experiences represents a strategic commitment to expanding opportunity for our students, aligning Florida Atlantic with the highest standards in American higher education.
The President’s Internship Program for Community and Civic Impact is uniquely Florida Atlantic. While students at universities in more isolated locales are often limited to summer internships, our students enjoy a distinct geographic advantage. We live and learn in one of the most dynamic economic regions in the country. Embedded in a thriving corridor of business and innovation, our students can intern year-round, seamlessly integrating professional experience into their academic schedules.
The results speak for themselves. Our Spring 2026 pilot program created nearly 100 internship opportunities in the public and nonprofit sectors that otherwise would not have existed.
To scale this vision university wide, my first President’s Gala is dedicated to raising funds for expanded student success initiatives such as the Internship Program for Community and Civic Impact.
This program is not merely an academic exercise — it is a regional economic imperative. When students engage in meaningful internships, not only do they stay on track academically and professionally; they also build the talent pipeline our regional industries urgently need.
Eighty percent of Florida Atlantic students remain in South Florida after graduation, meaning their success is directly tied to our local economy’s future. When we invest in their professional development today, we are cultivating the executives, public servants and innovators who will lead our region tomorrow.
As your hometown university, we are calling on all regional businesses, community partners and alumni to join us in building a workforce that is both homegrown and world-class.
When we fund a community internship, we do more than help one student graduate — we fuel the economic engine in our own backyard. And at Florida Atlantic, students do more than earn diplomas — they prepare to lead the communities we call home.
Adam Hasner is president of Florida Atlantic University.
