Illinois Tollway offering internships to students pursuing engineering, transportation careers
2022-03-10
Along with its annual summer Professional Services Internship Program, the Illinois Tollway is offering a unique, year-long Engineering Cooperative Education Program to enable college students to gain hands-on experience in the transportation industry.
Interested students can learn more about these opportunities on March 16 when the Tollway will offer two webinars outlining details of the paid programs.
“We’re offering this intensive, year-long Engineering Cooperative Education Program for engineering students to provide the training and mentoring that will assist them in launching their professional careers,” said Jyoti Rao, pipeline partnership liaison for the Tollway human resources department. “This initiative, along with ongoing summer internship program, is designed to help develop the next generation of leaders in the transportation industry.”
Through its March 31 deadline, the Illinois Tollway is accepting applications for its year-long engineering co-op program, as well as its 10-week summer Professional Services Internship Program for various internships throughout agency departments including Administration, Internal Audit, Finance, Toll Operations, Planning and Traffic and Incident Management.
The engineering co-op program will provide instruction in different aspects of the profession, including a planning segment that will include work on bridges and traffic, as well as preparing intergovernmental agreements, a design phase that will include drafting and 3D modeling and a construction phase that will focus on inspection for environmental impacts and drainage, electrical and lighting work and maintenance of traffic.
It begins May 16 and runs through May 2023.
The internships – scheduled to run from May 31 through August 5 – offer students real-world experience in different segments of the transportation industry, as well as providing access to leadership and professional growth activities to help further their careers.
Students selected for both programs also will receive supportive mentoring to help them gain the skills that will enable them to become leaders in their chosen professions.
Engineering students and other interns participating in these initiatives will have opportunities to contribute to the development and administration of Tollway programs and support the agency on a variety of ongoing projects, including work related to the agency’s 15-year, $14 billion Move Illinois capital program.
The engineering co-op and summer internships will take place both virtually and onsite at Tollway headquarters in Downers Grove. Some departments will also offer fieldwork experiences and all students will visit two Tollway construction projects to promote a better understanding of the breadth and depth of the agency’s day-to-day operations.
The Tollway will host a capstone presentation event at the conclusion of the summer Professional Services Internship Program and a networking event to give students the opportunity to connect with other professionals in the regional transportation industry.
To qualify for the Engineering Cooperative Education Program and Professional Services Internship Program, students must be currently enrolled at an accredited technical/vocational program, college or university.
Students who are interested in learning more about the opportunities offered by these programs can sign up for the webinars here:
• Wednesday, March 16th, 12:00PM – 1:00PM CT - Register Here
• Wednesday, March 16th 5:00PM – 6:00PM CT - Register Here