Who are the sponsors of the Summer on the Cuyahoga (SOTC) program?
The Summer on the Cuyahoga program is a collaborative effort among local alumni of five schools, which for 2010 are Case Western Reserve, Colgate, Cornell, Smith, University of Chicago and Yale. Summer on the Cuyahoga is a 501(c)3 nonprofit entity. The programs are supported primarily by volunteer time and monetary contributions from alumni of the respective schools. Additional support comes from family, community and corporate foundations as well as participating employers.

Who is eligible to participate in the SOTC program?
Undergraduate students of the participating schools (Case Western Reserve, Colgate, Cornell, Smith, University of Chicago and Yale) in good standing who have completed their sophomore year are eligible to participate. Graduating seniors are also eligible.

Because this organization depends on the volunteer commitments of the participating local alumni groups, students of other undergraduate colleges or graduate schools are not eligible for this program, but they should visit www.Cleveland.com/Jobs or iCleveland regarding employment opportunities. They should also contact their Cleveland-area alumni club to encourage them to contact Summer on the Cuyahoga for participation in the future.

What are the key program dates?
December through Spring: Employers post Job Descriptions.
December-March (or until positions are filled): Students apply for positions, employers review applications and arrange for phone interviews with students. Employers may extend offers at any time through the first weekend in April.
June 4th and 5th: Students arrive.
Monday, June 7th-Friday, July 30th:: Students work and participate in program for 8 weeks. Students from the University of Chicago may arrive following exams on June 12th.

Upon arrangements with the employer and approval of SOTC, students may extend their 8 week internship. During their extended time in Cleveland (either at the beginning or end of the official program) they will be housed with local alumni.

How do I apply to the SOTC program?
If you are a Sophomore, Junior or Senior enrolled at Case Western Reserve, Colgate, Cornell, Smith, University of Chicago or Yale, you may apply for a position. Simply create a log-in account at your school-specific website (which can be found by going to www.summeronthecuyahoga.com). Then you may view all positions currently available and apply to specific Job Descriptions and employers through the site. Employers (not the SOTC program) make the employment offer through the Commitment Letter. Those students who are hired by the employers are admitted to the SOTC program on a first-come-first-serve basis.

What is the deadline for application?
The application period begins in December and ends in March or when all positions are filled. The awarding of positions will be on a first-come-first-serve basis for the employers and students who complete the Commitment Letter; therefore, preference is given to early applicants and commitments. New employers may continue to post positions throughout this time frame. Check the web site often for new opportunities.

What is the interview process?
Each employer will use its own interview procedures (typically by telephone) to make its final employment determination. While employers are encouraged to interview all applicants, many may not be able to do so. If you have applied and have not heard from an employer after two weeks, you may send a polite e-mail inquiring as to the status of your application.

How is my spot in the SOTC program confirmed?
The employer extends an offer by initiating the SOTC Commitment Letter. You are expected to reply (positive or negative) within 48 hours, and your position in the program is not reserved until you complete the Commitment Letter and submit it to the Director of Summer on the Cuyahoga. The Director will confirm your position in the program.

Can I arrive a week late, take a vacation with my family or leave a week early?
No. No. No. You are expected to arrive in Cleveland Friday, June 4th or Saturday, June 5th, as your first day of work is Monday, June 7th. The program runs 8 weeks, and your final day of work is Friday, July 30th. You should confirm with your employer how they handle the July 4th holiday. Students from the University of Chicago are expected to arrive upon the conclusion of exams and no later than June 12th.

Will I need a car?
The job descriptions have a field where the employer will note whether or not a car is required (either for the work you’ll be doing or because the work location is not easily accessed by public transportation). You may want to confirm this information with the employer during the interview process.

If you have access to a car for the summer, we strongly suggest that you bring it. While it is not necessary for most internships, and students generally work out carpools, you will find it easier to get to events, dinner, etc. if you have a car. The dorms at Case Western Reserve are near public transportation stops, but we also suggest you talk with your employer (or ask us) whether your particular job is close to a bus line.

Who is the employer?
Each participant is an "at will" employee of the employing organization. The employers establish all issues relating to your employment. All students are expected to follow procedures and policies of their employers. The local alumni associations who participate in and sponsor the program do not employ the students.

How will I be paid?
The employers will pay your wages (a minimum of $2,560) to you directly, typically bi-weekly or weekly, according to their own standard policies.

As a paid summer intern, you are an employee, and subject to normal withholding procedures on your paycheck. Feel free to discuss the particulars of your pay period or withholdings with your employer.

As a participant in the SOTC program, your housing will be paid for by the program. It is because of the financial contributions of local alumni, employers, and others in the community that SOTC is able to pay for your housing and provide you with other civic, social and educational components.

Do I have to live in the dorm?
Yes. Even if you are from the Cleveland area, you are expected to live in the dorm. No exceptions will be granted. Should you not be residing at the dorm, you will be asked to leave the program and your employer will be given the opportunity to terminate your internship. Several of the planned program activities take place at campus, and general social interaction with the other 50-60 students is strongly encouraged.

What are the dorms and neighborhood like?
Housing will be pre-arranged by SOTC at the campus of Case Western Reserve University. While arrangements have yet to be confirmed, students will most likely be living in Tippit House.

Students will be assigned to single rooms in 6-person suites, furnished with a bed, dresser, closet and desk. Common rooms for the suites have a couch and chairs and each will have a kitchen with a small stove, refrigerator and microwave. Each suite has its own bathroom. Local phone lines are available in each room; students can use calling cards or their own mobile phones for long-distance calls.

As for other amenities, the dorm has a small common kitchen with a stove (4 burners) and refrigerator, laundry facilities, and a small common area with television on the first floor. Students should bring their own kitchen items: pots, pans, dishes, glasses, etc. The building has wireless internet access. Parking is adjacent to the dorm and available for a small monthly access fee. Students also have access to Case Western buildings such as athletic facilities, libraries and health services.

While several restaurants and shops are sprinkled throughout the University Circle area, commercial areas of interest are in the nearby neighborhoods of Little Italy (a couple blocks away), Cedar-Fairmount (up the hill), Coventry and Shaker Square (short car rides away).

How do I get to Cleveland?
By Air: To Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) (about 40 minutes west of campus). All major airlines operate here, but it is a hub for Continental Airlines. Also consider the Akron-Canton Regional Airport (CAK) (about 60 minutes south of campus), which has AirTran and Delta as its major airlines.

By Car: Several major interstates intersect in or near Cleveland: 80, 90, 71 and 77. While the Case Western Reserve campus is not immediately near to a highway exit, it is just a few miles east of downtown in the bustling cultural center of the city known as University Circle.

The Director and your assigned alumni Host will help you with specifics as the summer approaches.

What is the weather like?
Summers in Cleveland can get hot and sometimes humid (expect low- to mid-80s much of the summer with infrequent spikes in the 90s), but many of your offices will be quite cold with air conditioning. The dormitory is NOT air conditioned, so please bring a fan for your room.

What type of clothing will I need?
It is best to confirm with your employer what the proper attire is for work. After hours, you will be in casual clothes for most of our events—there will be three or four “nice” events where you will be required to dress up, so bring something appropriate!

I was planning to take the LSAT this summer. Can I still do that?
Yes, there are several locations for LSAT classes and exams. You will need to make your own arrangements for this, ensuring that they do not interfere with your work schedule or other important elements of the program.

Do student interns pay a fee to participate in Summer on the Cuyahoga?
Yes. Each participant is required to pay an enrollment fee of $100.