Last spring, the Cucamonga Valley Water District and San Bernardino Valley College partnered up to offer a unique student internship program.
The internship allows students to earn one school credit for each 60 hours volunteered with the water district. Each internship session lasts 18 weeks and allows students to learn about the water utility industry.
So far, 28 interns have completed the program and five more are scheduled to start next semester.
The internship was developed as an applied field training course to augment the Water Supply Technology Program offered at San Bernardino Valley College. Interns use the classroom knowledge they gain at the college and apply it to their internship at the water district, rotating through the Water Maintenance, Sewer Maintenance, Field Service, Engineering, Production, and Treatment divisions.
According to the water district, the internship is offered twice a year. Participants come from a wide variety of age groups and backgrounds; many work full-time elsewhere and are looking to enter the water industry. This program affords them the opportunity to earn their internship hours through flexible scheduling, including weekdays, weekends, evenings, and days off, while still working at their current job.
Participants must be currently enrolled in one of the San Bernardino Valley College Water Supply Technology Certificate Programs. If you are interested in participating in this internship opportunity, contact the SBVC Department Chair Achala Chatterjee at (909)384-8507/ achatter@valleycollege.edu or visit https://www.valleycollege.edu/.