Praxis Funding

Smith College undergraduate students are eligible for one (1) Praxis stipend during their time at Smith. See below for exceptions

You Are Eligible to Apply If:

• you have not yet received Praxis funding.
  • Exceptions: Students applying for Praxis Plus, to support a second internship in support of their Concentration requirements (Concentration Director must confirm eligibility)
• you are not receiving any payment from the organization or through other Smith College funding.
• you're a rising Junior or a rising Senior. Rising Sophomores may apply for Summer Praxis with permission from their Liberal Arts Adviser. First Years and J-Grads are not eligible for Interterm Praxis. Incoming students and graduated Seniors are not eligible for Praxis.
• Minimum credit requirements (Summer): Rising Sophomores with at least 32 credits, rising Juniors with at least 64 credits, or rising Seniors with at least 96 credits are eligible. Rising sophomores with credit shortages are not eligible for Praxis. Any student who anticipates a credit shortage must receive permission from their Class Dean, emailed to praxis@smith.edu.
• Students on Leave are eligible for Praxis; please have your Class Dean email praxis@smith.edu to confirm that you are or plan to be enrolled during the semester following your Praxis internship.

You Are Not Eligible If:

• you do not meet the aforementioned criteria
• you have previously received a Praxis grant (see exceptions in previous column)
• your internship is paid by host organization or if other interns at the organization are paid
• you receive other Smith College funding* such as International Experience Grants (IEG) or Blumberg Fellowships
• you have previously participated in the same internship
• you are a student enrolled at Smith College who is on an exchange program from another college

Students who withdraw from the college at any point after receiving a Praxis grant and before the start of the following semester will be charged the full amount of the grant

*Fox Boorstein/Leana Brown funds: Students will be allowed to combine these funds with Praxis funds, however they must provide a budget that demonstrates the need for combined funding. Combined funds cannot exceed $4,400.

Internships That Qualify for Praxis Funding

Your internship qualifies if it:

• is unpaid by the host organization; any compensation received will be deducted from the Praxis grant.
• takes place during summer or interterm breaks
• consists of a minimum of 220 hours (summer) or 100 hours (Interterm), and at least 5.5 weeks (summer) or 3 weeks (Interterm). There are no exceptions.
• is connected to your overall educational goals (may or may not be connected with your major)
• offers substantial learning opportunities and allows for significant career exploration
• takes place within an organization, division or department, where interns are not paid.
• is well-supervised by someone with enough relevant expertise to ensure that the internship will be an educational experience, including meeting with your supervisor at least once a week
• is in-person, hybrid or remote. (Note: Remote internships are not eligible for International Praxis stipend)
• takes place at an organization NOT affiliated with Smith College (on-campus internships do not qualify for Praxis funding)
• takes place at a geology, archaeology and other comparable field school; however, credits may not be transferred to Smith.
• takes place during the Smith College summer break (with the exception of students on study abroad programs in the Southern Hemisphere and with Smith JYA in Hamburg, Germany). Students participating in Smith JYA programs need to consult with the faculty director regarding internships and the legal use of Praxis funding in each JYA country.

Internships That Do Not Qualify

Your internship does NOT qualify if:

• does not meet the aforementioned qualifying criteria
• takes place during an academic term
• it is an independent project. Your duties must support the work of an organization
• your supervisor is a volunteer rather than a permanent, paid staff member
• it is an academic, study or training program that emphasizes theoretical rather than practical learning
• takes place at Smith College, or is affiliated with Smith College (e.g., research with Smith faculty)
• the host organization is owned by/internship is supervised by a member of your family
• it takes place at two separate internships
• it is an internship that has already taken place; Praxis cannot retroactively fund an internship

Note: The Lazarus Center has the right to reject any internship it deems inappropriate.

Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

CPT (Curricular Practical Training) is a work authorization option for F-1 students for off-campus career opportunities, much like OPT (Optional Practical Training).  CPT is available for students who have been in F-1 student status for nine months or longer. Smith’s policies allow students to use CPT authorization to pursue off-campus jobs and internships – paid or unpaid – during Summer (and J-term, under limited circumstances). International Students using Praxis for internships in the U.S. are required to obtain CPT.

CPT differs from the OPT in that the job/internship for which you are applying must be an integral part of your major and usually an opportunity for which you will receive academic credit. CPT can be issued on a part-time (20 hours per week or less) or full-time (more than 20 hours per week) basis. Part-time CPT will not interfere with the ability to pursue your 12 months of Optional Practical Training (OPT). Full-time CPT that totals 12 months or more will result in a student being ineligible for OPT. Given the short nature of Praxis internships, CPT received for your Praxis internship should not affect your eligibility for OPT. 

If you have questions about CPT or OPT, contact the International Students & Scholars Office (ISSO) or make an appointment with Caitlin Szymkowicz (cszymkowicz@smith.edu), Associate Dean for International Students & Scholars.

Praxis Stipends & Tax

If you are an international student, taxes may be withheld from your Praxis payments. International students whose home countries maintain tax treaties for scholarships with the United States may not be subject to tax withholding on scholarship funding. If your country maintains such a treaty you may receive a tax waiver for your Praxis stipend by filing the required forms. Contact the Payroll and Disbursements Office to find out your country's tax treaty status and to obtain forms.

Faculty Sign-Off

As a requirement of your Praxis application, you must communicate your internship plans and learning goals to your Faculty Adviser (or Concentration Faculty Adviser, if applicable*). 

A Faculty Adviser Sign-Off form will be collected via direct link, sent to your Faculty Adviser upon submission of your application. Your Written Statements will be forwarded to your Adviser, along with the form, for their reference. 

 *Students applying for support of internships required by a Concentration must obtain Faculty Sign-Off from their Concentration Adviser. 

Faculty Sign-Offs for Students Abroad 

If you are on a Smith junior year abroad program in Geneva, Florence, Hamburg or Paris, you may list the director of your JYA program as Faculty Adviser for sign-off. If you are on a Junior Year Abroad program other than those run by Smith, please obtain Faculty Adviser sign-off your Smith major or pre-major adviser.

Students who intern abroad and not in their home country are eligible for a $4500 stipend.
Note: Remote internships are not eligible for international internship stipend.

Travel Warnings & Travel Registry

• If you are doing an internship abroad and not in your home country, you must consult the State Department Travel Warning list. The Lazarus Center adheres to the Smith College Policy on State Department Travel Advisories.
• Any student participating in an in-person internship abroad (even in home country) must complete the Mandatory Travel Registry and a Travel Waiver Form. Note: Travel Waiver form (PDF) is available in the Travel Registry system.
  TIP: Log in to the Travel Registry system and click the SIDE TRIP tab at the top of the page to complete a registry for your Smith-sponsored (Praxis funding and/or Internship Credit IDP 117) internship
• For emergency medical information, evacuation or repatriation: AIG/Travel Assist

Visas

• Many countries have very strict visa requirements for internships. The Lazarus Center does not provide guidance on visas. Students should contact the country embassy to obtain information on proper internship visa procedures well in advance of their departure.

Internships in the UK

If you are planning on interning in the UK, you need to go through BUNAC to obtain a proper visa. Funding may be available through the Lewis Global Studies Center to defray the costs associated with it.

Read all guidelines before applying. Questions? praxis@smith.edu

- You must have an internship offer before submitting an Praxis application.
- Praxis funding may not be applied retroactively to an internship that has already taken place.

Praxis applications consist of:

1) Application form to collect information about you and your internship, including Written Statements, detailing your internship plans and space for learning & skill development goals.

2) Supervisor Confirmation Form: Collected via direct link, sent to your Supervisor upon submission of your application. The Supervisor form confirms internship offer and describes internship duties and supervision

3) Faculty Adviser Form: Collected via direct link, sent to your Faculty Adviser upon submission of your application. Your Written Statements will be attached for their reference.
Note: Students applying for support of internships required by a Concentration must obtain Faculty Sign-Off from their Concentration Adviser

4) Concentration Director Form (Praxis Plus applications only): Confirms your eligibility for Praxis Plus by confirming that both first and second Praxis internships count towards Concentration requirements.

5) Mandatory Travel Registry, if internship is outside the United States. Log in and click "SIDE TRIPS" tab to get started.

IMPORTANT: All required elements must be submitted before your application will be considered. All required elements must be received by the application deadline.

Application types:

• Praxis (or Praxis Plus*) - Funding ONLY
• Praxis with Credit (or Praxis Plus* with Credit) - Funding combined with Internship Credit (IDP 117)
• Internship Credit (IDP 117) - Credit ONLY

*Praxis Plus exists to support the second Praxis internship associated with Smith concentrations. In order to qualify, you must have previously used a Praxis grant to support the first internship associated with the concentration. Your Concentration Director must confirm your eligibility for Praxis Plus via a direct link form.

Upon submission of your application, you will receive a unique URL to check the status of the other required forms. All components of your application must be submitted before your application will be considered.

Deadline to submit a COMPLETE application for Praxis funding:
Interterm Praxis: December 8, 2023.
Summer Praxis: To be announced

Start Your Application

Stipends

Interterm 2024 stipends:
U.S.-based internships (or internships in one's home country): $1500
Internships abroad (non-U.S. and not in one's home country): $2000 

Summer 2024 stipends:
U.S.-based internships (or internships in one's home country): $3500
Internships abroad (non-U.S. and not in one's home country): $4500 

Note: Remote internships are not eligible for international internship stipend.

Stipends are paid in two installments:
First Payment ($1300/$1800 Interterm; $3300/$4300 for summer): 1-2 weeks to after approval.
Second Payment ($200):1-2weeks after you've completed your internship and we receive all end-of-internship requirements (see below)

Getting Paid

Direct Deposit for Praxis Stipends

By default, Praxis stipends are sent to your direct deposit account. Please set up direct deposit in Workday. If you do not have direct deposit set up, your stipend will be mailed to the permanent address on file in Workday.

End-of-Internship Requirements

• Verification of Internship Completion - Required for all internships: 2 weeks prior to the end-date specified by your Supervisor in your application, they will receive a direct link form. They must confirm total hours (required) and comment on your work performance (optional).
• Final Activity Report - Required for all Praxis internships: 2 weeks prior to the end-date specified by your Supervisor in your application, you will receive a link to the Final Activity Report form. Praxis with Credit: your form will contain a space for the Final Reflective Essay.
• Final Reflective Essay - Required for all Credit-bearing internships: 2 weeks prior to the end-date specified by your Supervisor in your application, you will receive a link to your Final Reflective Essay form. See our Guide to Writing Your Final Reflective Essay.  Your submitted essay will be forwarded to your faculty adviser to determine pass/fail. 
• The deadline to submit end-of-internship documents is February 7 (Interterm) or August 31 (summer).

IMPORTANT: Failure to provide all end-of-internship requirements to the Lazarus Center by the deadline will result in you being charged for the full amount of your Praxis funding and forfeiture of the final $200 stipend payment. 

If You Don’t Complete the Required Hours

If, for extraordinary circumstances, you are forced to end your internship before you have completed the required hours, you must contact us at praxis@smith.edu before you leave your internship, or immediately after. If you do not complete the required hours, you must reimburse Smith College a pro-rated portion of your Praxis stipend, or the entire award that was given to you.

Low-Paid Internships

If you will be paid a salary for your internship that is less than your grant award, you may apply for reduced Praxis funding to supplement your employer-paid salary. The total combined amount may not exceed the maximum Praxis stipend, and you will not be eligible for additional Praxis funds in the future.

Other Smith Funding

Praxis funding may NOT be combined with any other Smith grants.
Exception: Government Department Fox Boorstein/Leena Brown Funds may be combined with your Praxis stipend; Combined total cannot exceed $4400.

International Students

If you are an international student, taxes will be withheld from your Praxis payments. Exceptions are made, however, for international students whose home countries maintain tax treaties for scholarships with the United States. If your country maintains such a treaty you may receive a tax waiver for your Praxis stipend by filing the required forms. Contact the Payroll and Disbursements Office to find out your country's tax treaty status and to obtain forms.

What are the components to the Praxis application?

1) Survey to collect your information

2) Supervisor Confirmation Form: Collected via direct link, sent to your Supervisor upon submission of your application. The Supervisor form confirms internship offer and describes internship duties and supervision

3) Faculty Adviser Form: Collected via direct link, sent to your Faculty Adviser upon submission of your application. Your Written Statements will also be forwarded to your Adviser for their reference. The Faculty Adviser Form confirms you have communicated your internship plans and learning goals to your Faculty Adviser. (Note: Students applying for support of internships required by a Concentration must obtain Faculty Sign-Off from their Concentration Adviser

4) Written Statements: 5 text-entry questions about your internship plans; 300 words per response are required.

Where can I find information on Praxis and filing my taxes?

Please contact Christine Clark in the Controller's Office: ceclark@smith.edu. The Controller's Office administers Praxis grants and can give you more detailed information on necessary tax documents.

If I plan on taking a leave of absence after receiving a Praxis stipend, do I have to pay it back?

No. As long as you complete all the requirements of your Praxis-funded internship, a leave of absence will not affect your Praxis stipend.

When is the Praxis application deadline?

Interterm Praxis: December 8, 2023.
Summer Praxis: TBA

What is the stipend amount?

Interterm 2024 stipends:
U.S.-based internships (or internships in one's home country): $1500
Internships abroad (non-U.S. and not in one's home country): $2000 

Summer 2024 stipends:
U.S.-based internships (or internships in one's home country): $3500
Internships abroad (non-U.S. and not in one's home country): $4500 

Note: Remote internships are not eligible for international internship stipend.

When can I expect my payments?

First Payment 1-2 weeks to after approval.
Second Payment (final $200):1-2 weeks after we receive all end-of-internship requirements.

How many hours per week are required for my Praxis internship?

Interterm: 100 hours and at least 3 weeks.
Summer: 220 hours and at least 5.5 weeks (a maximum of 40 hours per week)

Can I use my Praxis stipend at two internships?

You cannot split your Praxis internship; it must take place at one organization.

Can I receive more than one Praxis stipend? What is Praxis Plus?

Students may receive one Praxis stipend during their time at Smith, with one exception: Students in the Concentrations have the option to apply for Praxis Plus, to support a second Praxis internship associated with a Smith Concentration. In order to qualify, you must have previously used Praxis to support a first internship associated with the concentration. Your Concentration Director must confirm your eligibility for Praxis Plus via a direct link form.

Can I still receive Praxis if I receive a salary from my employer?

The total amount of your employer-paid salary combined with Praxis funding may not exceed the Praxis grant award amount, and you will not be eligible for any additional Praxis funds in the future.

Do I need to meet with a Lazarus Center adviser to submit my completed Praxis application?

No. Submit your application online and it will be reviewed and approved as soon as possible. If we have questions or concerns, we will email your Smith College email account. Once you are approved, you will receive a confirmation email from praxis@smith.edu.

I'm having trouble writing 300 words for some of the written statements. What should I do?

When we evaluate your Praxis application for approval, the information you provide in your written statements is critical in our decision-making process. It’s our job to make sure your internship meets all goals and required criteria before we give it our stamp of approval. 

Praxis internships are intended to help you apply the theoretical learning of your liberal arts education to a field of work; gain broader exposure to opportunities beyond Smith and beyond the classroom; acquire first-hand access to the institutions, problems and conditions that you are studying; obtain the hands-on experience and skills valued by employers and graduate schools; and work closely with professionals to gain a deeper knowledge of a particular field. 

Your written statements should also reflect a deep understanding of the internship you've accepted, and show us how you've prepared to have a successful, meaningful internship experience. It should be apparent to us that you've spoken at length with your supervisor about your responsibilities and schedule. Do you and your supervisor have a mutual understanding of your duties? Does your internship meet the criteria required for Praxis funding? 

A common complaint about the written statements is that the question prompts can lead to redundant answers. That's OK; we know that there may be some overlap. Another common question is, "Do you really count the words?" No, of course not! However, we do feel that approximately 300 words are required to adequately answer the questions. 

We recommend that you work on the written statements in small chunks if you feel overwhelmed. Answer a question a day for a week and you'll be done! Still need help? Come to the Lazarus Center to meet with an adviser. 

Finally, for your reference: The answer to this question is exactly 300 words long. You can do it!