Undergraduate Summer Internship: Planning Advisory Council

The Boston University Initiative on Cities (IOC) seeks an outstanding undergraduate student for a summer internship with the City of Boston’s Planning Advisory Council (PAC) working under Katharine Lusk. This is the first year the IOC is partnering with the PAC (created in 2023) and looks forward to offering this unique opportunity for students to contribute to developing a greener, growing, and more family-friendly Boston.

This dynamic role will touch on many areas of government and is a good fit for a student who is eager to learn about how local government can work more effectively across policy- and implementation-silos to address challenges and pursue equity in the built environment.

See our past interns and fellows and read about their experiences as interns in city government here. 

Page Overview

Summer 2025 Internship Information

Applications are due on Monday, March 10, 2025. (Plan Ahead! This is during BU Spring Break.). 

The Intern will be paid approximately $4,760 ($17/hour) for a full-time internship (35 hours per week), which will run for 8 weeks between June and August 2025.

The exact start date will be determined by the Planning Advisory Council as the summer approaches.

In addition to regular pay, this intern will be provided with a stipend for housing support. The exact amount of this stipend is still being determined.

This internship is located in Boston, and requires the ability to regularly commute to Boston City Hall.

Qualifications

There is no specific skill set required, but applicants must have a passion for public service and local government as well as:

  • Strong work ethic and initiative
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills
  • A passion for issues of equity and the built environment
  • Interest in learning about how to make city government more strategic, agile, and collaborative
  • Interest in how government can hold itself publicly accountable and foster trust through transparency

How to Apply & Timeline

Applications due: Monday, March 10, 2025. Please note that applications are due during BU Spring Break, so we recommend applying early.

Application Materials: As part of the application process you will be asked to upload a single PDF. This document should contain the following materials in the same order as listed below:

  • Cover Letter including a description of your interests, skills, and knowledge you expect to apply or expand in this position. 
  • Resume
  • Short essay of no more than 500 words about an issue that you are passionate about that you feel requires collaboration across multiple city cabinets. Tell us about the policy challenge and who you feel should be at the table addressing this challenge.
  • A list of two references, either academic or professional. Please include their title, organization, phone number, and email (no letters of recommendation).
  • Unofficial copy of your academic transcript, including your spring 2025 courses.
    • Screenshots are ok as long as text is clear and legible.
    • Your BU unofficial academic transcript can be obtained free of charge on student link. You may use the preview transcript page (print -> save as PDF) on the transcript ordering page on student link without completing your order of an official transcript. If you have questions regarding obtaining an unofficial BU transcript without ordering one, please contact the registrar or your academic advisor.

Naming your single PDF: Please note, you should name your document using the following format: [First and Last Name] Planning Advisory Council 2025 Application (for example: Jane Doe Planning Advisory Council 2025 Application).

How to apply: Apply online here. Please double-check all of the above information, including application materials and naming instructions for your PDF. Please also review the eligibility details below.

Timeline: As noted, applications are due on Monday, March 10, 2025. We expect to award the internship in early to mid April.

Apply Here

    Eligibility Details

    Only current Boston University undergraduate students who meet the following conditions are eligible:

    • Applicants must be in good standing at Boston University
    • Applicants must be enrolled in classes as part of a degree-seeking program at Boston University for the current semester. They must continue in either the same or a new degree-seeking program at Boston University in the 2025 fall semester or the 2025 summer 2 term.
      • Graduating seniors are eligible if they enter a graduate degree program at Boston University and meet the above requirements.
      • Undergraduate students continuing at BU in fall 2025 or summer 2 terms are eligible. However, students working on an incomplete to finish a graduation requirement are not considered enrolled, according to the Student Employment Office, and are therefore ineligible.
      • Students may enroll in summer 1 courses but must also meet the above requirements.

    Responsibilities/Terms of Award

      • The intern will work 35 hours per week for the entire eight weeks.
      • Intern must be responsive to the Initiative on Cities requests during the internship and may be asked to submit content for web and/or social media.
      • Interns must complete a reflection piece within two weeks of the completion of their internship, reflecting on their work in the office and the project(s) they worked on throughout the summer. This piece should emphasize the Intern’s core focus for the summer, their project’s impact, as well as lessons learned. They are encouraged to incorporate interactive elements, including video and photography. This reflection will be shared on the IOC website.
      • Interns may participate in a roundtable discussion or other related event held in fall 2025 to share their experience working in city government.

      Questions

      If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch with David Gross, MetroBridge Program Manager, at davgross@bu.edu.