Mickey Leland Environmental Internship Program (MLEIP): Information for Sponsors

Video recipient of the Innovation Award in the Cross-Media, Data, Permitting, & Agency Management Category, Environmental Council of the States (ECOS), 2019.

The Mickey Leland Environmental Internship Program (MLEIP) celebrates 31 years of growing future leaders in 2022. Hundreds of university students (both undergraduate and graduate) apply each year from across the country for this paid, full-time summer internship. Most of our applicants are STEM majors! Many are also first-generation college students and minorities. Their internship assignments are either with our agency, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), other state agencies, county and city government, or with private sector companies who sponsor these interns. During the program’s history, 2,500+ college students have been placed in internship assignments in Texas and some now hold leadership positions across the nation.

If your organization has a presence in Texas, consider using the MLEIP internship program to supplement your own candidate pool of college students to hire as summer interns!

Jump to Sponsor Request Form

Why sponsor a Mickey Leland intern?

• MLEIP is an established, recognized internship program that adheres to Internship Best Practices set forth by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE).
• You have the flexibility to interview MLEIP candidates and extend offers at your discretion.
• You (industry/ external MLEIP sponsor companies) determine intern pay rate, duration (start and end dates) of intern assignment, and duties to be performed. Additionally, you provide compensation for selected intern(s) based on available budget/funding.
• Your organization’s MLEIP intern(s) and their designated mentor/manager will be invited to participate in select MLEIP events during summer 2023.
• Your organization will be recognized on our website as a MLEIP intern sponsor for 2023.

Ready to Tap into the MLEIP Talent Pool? Complete a Request Form:

Managers at the TCEQ, other state agencies, or private industry interested in sponsoring an intern must complete a Sponsor Request Form . Participating organizations external to the TCEQ provide their own funding for selected interns and determine the duration of the internship assignment.

Please specify the preferred major(s), required skills, and include a description of the tasks and duties to be performed. The goal of our internship program is to ensure that students are provided a meaningful learning experience.

NOTE: Online Sponsor Request Forms submitted by March 2023 will receive candidate application packages for review and selection by early spring 2023, enabling selected interns to finalize their summer 2023 plans and secure housing, if necessary.

What is the timeline for the 2023 Mickey Leland Internship Program?

* Individual intern assignments may end prior to August 31, 2023 to allow student to return to school for the fall semester. Actual start and end dates of internship assignments and duration of assignments will vary and are agreed upon by the hiring manager and intern.

Next Steps in the Process:

1. The MLEIP Program Coordinator at the TCEQ verifies each candidate’s eligibility and refers qualified candidate applications to requesting sponsor organizations
2. You (the requesting sponsor) determine which MLEIP candidates to interview and select for a summer 2023 assignment at your organization. Selections are based on academic major, scholastic achievements, geographic preference, and life and work experiences.
3. You notify the MLEIP Program Coordinator at TCEQ of your candidate selection(s) by providing the name of your selected intern, start and end dates, and hourly pay rates. It's that easy!
4. You notify interns in writing of their selection, and provide specifics related to their internship assignment including location, assigned mentor, pay rate, duties, and reporting requirements in accordance with your organization’s human resources/payroll requirements. You also notify candidates whom you interviewed and did not select for placement so they may move forward with their summer 2023 plans accordingly.

Recognizing MLEIP 2022 Sponsors

We proudly recognize our 2022 MLEIP sponsors for their commitment to growing future leaders:

• Baker Botts L.L.P
• Blue Origin
• Braun Intertec Corporation
• City of Lancaster
• City of Leander
• NewGen Strategies and Solutions, LLC
• North Central Texas Council of Governments
• Oncor Electric Delivery
• Parker Hannifin
• Pioneer Natural Resources
• Samuel Son & Company USA
• San Antonio Water System
• Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
• Texas Department of Public Safety
• Texas Rural Water Association
• Texas Water Development Board
• Travis County Natural Resources
• TRC Companies
• US Ecology

How Do MLEIP Mentors Create a Meaningful Internship Experience?

Launch your internships on a positive note by creating a welcoming onboarding experience on the intern’s first day. Engage your intern by soliciting their input and ideas throughout their assignment. Discuss both your expectations as an employer and your intern’s expectations of the assignment to develop those critical “intersection” points that will lead to successful outcomes. Be a positive role model for appropriate workplace behavior. Set up your interns for success by providing feedback and guidance related to their performance at regular intervals. Introduce your interns to leaders and subject matter experts at your organization so they may explore future career opportunities. Celebrate milestones achieved during the internship to foster a sense of accomplishment. Brand your organization every chance you get. Above all, enjoy the experience!