Workforce Scholars

Testimonial

At The Solutions Team, we’ve had a really great experience partnering with Mississippi State’s Workforce Scholars Institute. The program has given us the opportunity to bring in part-time interns who are not only aligned with our industry, but also genuinely interested in the kind of work we do at TST. What’s stood out most is how quickly these students are able to contribute. From day one, they’ve come in with strong foundational knowledge, a willingness to learn, and a level of professionalism that makes them feel like part of the team right away.

In fact, the program has been such a success for us that we’ve hired two of our interns into full-time roles after graduation. Because they were already familiar with our systems, culture, and expectations, we were able to bypass the typical 90-day ramp-up period we see with new hires. That kind of head start is incredibly valuable, not just for us as a company, but for the students as well.

-Todd Gooden, CEO, The Solutions Team

Information For Employers

Employer Brochure

Information about the program for employers.

Employer Agreement

Agreement information between the employer and the program.

Program Value/Benefits Reported by Employers

Student Skills

Employers valued the students’ technical skills (CAD, SharePoint, structural detailing)

Workload Improvement

Workload reduction: Interns allowed full-time staff to focus on priority tasks.

Improved Productivity

Company efficiency: Many interns positively impacted team productivity.

Finding Talent

Growth opportunities: Some firms (e.g., T. Baker Smith) expanded their full-time staff roles to include mentoring interns.

A Trustworthy Program

The WSI program's accountability measures provide assurance to employers that interns are contributing meaningfully.

Information for Students

Student Brochure

Information about the program for students.

Search for Internships

Find internships in your field.

Create a resumé

Create a resumé to help you on your internship search.

Value & Benefits for Students

Financial Support

Financial support for tuition, rent, and other expenses

Gain Work Experience

Hands-on work experience relevant to their discipline.

Build your professional network.

Opportunity to network and build professional connections.

Work part time with maximum experience.

Intern weekly work hours ranged from 8 hours per week to 20 hours per week. On average the interns worked 16.8 hours per week.

Get paid as an intern.

Intern pay ranged from $16/hr. to $23/hr.

Program Performance Metrics

47+ Students Served

9,000+ Internship Hours

$258k+ Reimbursed to Employers

4.75/5 Employer Satisfaction

9/10 Student Experience

WSI Soft Skills Course

PCS 2991, 1-Hour Soft Skills Course

All Workforce Scholars interns enroll in PCS 2991 during the first term of their internship. This course is designed to supplement the remote internship by teaching the soft skills needed to excel in professional settings. In the course, students complete various learning modules, participate in discussions led by industry professionals, and practice their communication and presentation skills.