Volunteer and Intern Toolkit
Volunteers and interns are valuable parts of the Northeastern community.
It is important to be aware, however, that the circumstances under which individuals may provide services to the university without receiving pay is limited by Federal and State wage and hour laws. The Office of the General Counsel developed this toolkit to help our campus partners correctly classify and engage volunteers and interns.
These FAQs are designed to provide some guidance about when and under what circumstances volunteers and interns may be provided opportunities at the university. The template letters should be used by departments or units to engage volunteers and interns. Final letters should be sent on university letterhead, and countersigned letters should be retained in accordance with the Policy on Retention and Disposition of University Records.
There is a specific letter for individuals with Optional Practical Training or Curricular Practical Training status. Please be advised the template letters in this toolkit are intended for volunteer opportunities and internships between Northeastern and its students, and they are not intended as legal or other advice for use outside of Northeastern. There may be additional requirements or limitations for opportunities available to persons under the age of 18, and these templates may not capture this nuance.
Any questions about whether a person or opportunity falls within what is legally permissible for either a volunteer opportunity or an internship should be directed to the Office of the General Counsel.
Contact Us
Office of the General Counsel
360 Huntington Avenue – 301 CP
Boston, Massachusetts 02115
Phone: 617-373-2157
Fax: 617-373-8090