Image courtesy WSU
Wichita State University has received a $2.5 million grant from the Mellon Foundation to launch Wichita HIREs (Humanities Internships Reward Employers), a program designed to create more paid internship opportunities for students studying humanities. The grant includes a $1 million matching requirement to build an endowment that will keep the program going after the five-year grant ends.
Starting in the spring 2026 semester, Wichita HIREs will help humanities students gain hands-on work experience. Currently, humanities majors make up only 0.5% of WSU’s more than 12,000 paid student positions each year. This program aims to provide paid internships for about 300 students over the grant period.
Through the Shocker Career Accelerator, students will work with local nonprofits, government agencies, and businesses focused on social justice, community engagement, and cultural programs. They will also take faculty-led classes to link their internships with academic learning.
The grant will cover internship wages, faculty support, program development, travel, and a full-time staff member to coordinate employer partnerships. The program is designed to offer immediate opportunities while creating a long-term, sustainable model for humanities internships.
