Through a partnership with the California Student Aid Commission, Los Rios is excited to offer wage reimbursement to offset the cost of hiring a student intern. Most employers are eligible to participate.
Benefits of LAEP
The Learning-Aligned Employment Program (LAEP):
- Enhances the affordability of higher education
- Promotes equity
- Better aligns higher education with workforce needs
- Bridges the gap between college and career
- Brings fresh perspectives to the work environment
- Builds a pipeline for new hires
Employer Eligibility
The following organizations are eligible for wage reimbursement for LAEP-eligible interns.
Non-profit employers are defined as tax-exempt organizations with the purpose to further a social cause or provide a public benefit. All non-profits qualify except those with a sectarian or political focus.
Up to 90% of compensation for positions with this type of employer.
Private sector employers are defined as organizations organized to generate a profit. All private sector employers qualify except those with a sectarian or political focus.
Up to 50% of compensation for positions with this type of employer.
Public colleges are defined as research centers and institutions operated by public postsecondary educational institutions if their learning-aligned employment opportunities provide participating students with direct opportunities to participate in research.
Up to 100% of compensation for positions with this type of employer.
Public education institutions are defined as public schools operated by school districts, county superintendents of schools, the Department of the Youth Authority, or the Department of Education.
Up to 90% of compensation for positions with this type of employer.
Employer Requirements
The intention of the LAEP program is to provide students with an educationally-beneficial position that relates to their area of study or career exploration, as well as connect students to full-time employment opportunities after graduation. To participate, employers are required to complete/adhere to the following:
- Complete the LAEP Employer Interest Form to start the process to hire an LAEP intern.
- Sign an Employer Agreement (MOU) with the District Office prior to participation, facilitated by the LAEP Coordinator.
- Complete the required Los Rios vendor paperwork.
- Post an educationally-beneficial position in Handshake. The position cannot displace workers currently employed or impair existing contracts for services.
- Hire an LAEP-eligible student whose area of study or career objectives align with your internship description. You may check with your candidates or the LAEP coordinator to confirm LAEP eligibility.
- Pay the intern a comparable rate to that of comparable positions within your organization.
- During the internship, provide the student with information on how to apply for full-time employment with your organization after graduation or introduce the intern to other employers that are capable of providing full-time employment opportunities after graduation.
Note: Term limits will be applied to internships and students. The number of hours of learning-aligned employment the student is allowed to work shall be determined by the institution in accordance with its standards and practices, taking into consideration the extent of the student's financial need and the potential harm of the combination of work and study hours on a student's satisfactory academic progress. Eligible students may participate in a total of two LAEP-funded internships. The maximum duration for each internship is 16 weeks, depending on the student's academic and financial aid considerations.
Student Eligibility
To be eligible for LAEP, students must meet the following requirements:
- Be classified as a California resident
- Be eligible to work in the US
- Be enrolled at least half-time across all Los Rios campuses (six units for spring or fall; three units for summer)
- Meet satisfactory academic progress standards in a program leading to a degree or certificate at home college
- Have demonstrated a financial need
Contact
LAEP Coordinator:
- Haley Lepper
- Workforce & Economic Development Department
- Email: LAEP@losrios.edu
- Phone: (916) 563-3216