OMAHA - In an effort to retain young talent and make graduating from college more attainable in Nebraska, the University of Nebraska at Omaha is partnering with more than 50 employers to offer paid internships to UNO students.

The Career Connect program focuses on helping college students obtain relevant career experience and giving employers access to interns who can help support their operations.

Announced Monday, May 2, the initiative will partner with Fortune 500 companies like Charles Schwab and Mutual of Omaha. Additionally, community-focused organizations such as Latino Center have partnered with the program. UNO Chancellor Joanne Li expects students to be able to earn a fair wage at the positions.

A "fair wage" according to Li could be between $15 and $17 per hour. She also said paid internships are expected to benefit a student body where 80% are working and one-third are Pell-grant eligible.

“We don’t want to just talk about it (and) write about it. We just want to do it,” she said.

Participating employers must pledge at least one paid internship position for a UNO student. The positions must be in fields that the state has designated as H3 — high wage, high skill, and high demand. Many H3 jobs are focused in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

“You don’t have to flee to the coast to get an incredible experience in tech,” Li said, noting Nebraska opportunities in fields such as health care and agriculture.

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