ROC City Fellows Program
The City of Rochester's ROC City Fellows Program provides talented graduate and undergraduate students an introduction to the City government's governance, operations, and administration. Through a combination of work experience, seminars, training, volunteer service, and tours, students are provided a unique opportunity to learn about the City government as well as contribute to our ongoing effort to make Rochester the best mid-sized City in the U.S. in which to live, raise a family, visit, and grow a business.
The City offers a variety of fellowship experiences for students enrolled in an accredited higher academic program or those who have recently graduated from an accredited higher academic program within six months of the application. While some City fellowships are paid, unpaid fellowships can be used to obtain college credit through arrangements with your school and supervising professor. Explore the fellowship opportunities listed at the bottom of this page to learn about the program from the participants themselves.
Please note that preference is given to applicants who are City residents and/or graduated from a city high school.
Fellowship applications are available on a rolling basis. Fellowship periods closely model college Semesters.
- Fall: 2nd week of September until the 2nd week of December.
- Spring: 3rd week of January until the 4th week of April.
- Summer: Depends on the department's needs.
- A. 8 Weeks ROC City Fellows ( May 4th week - July 2nd week)
- B. Weeks ROC City Fellows (May 4th week - July 4th Week)
- C. 12 Weeks ROC City Fellows ( May 4th week - August 2nd week)
Current fellowship opportunities
Government, politics and public service
The Mayor’s Office offers paid and unpaid fellowships to both graduate and undergraduate students interested in urban affairs, government, and politics. These fellowships offer unique opportunities for students to gain exposure to a professional work setting and municipal government and could include tasks related to budget management, special project support, and law. Positions are limited.
While the department normally accepts applicants who are pursuing degrees in the areas listed below, any student interested in the work performed by this department is encouraged to apply.
- Political Science
- Urban Studies
- Public Policy
Law Department
The Law Department offers unpaid fellowships to current law school students. Under the direction of the Corporation Counsel, the law department attends to all the City's legal businesses. Interns are exposed to a wide variety of practice areas, including legislative drafting, contract negotiation, employment and labor law, constitutional and civil rights issues, administrative law, land use and real property law, and litigation. Interns accompany attorneys appearing in city, state, and federal courts, and may have the opportunity to observe civil trials.
Communications
The Communications Bureau offers paid and unpaid fellowship opportunities for both graduate and undergraduate students in areas including journalism, television and radio production, graphic design, website administration, social media marketing, photography, media relations, and special event administration.
While Communications normally accepts applicants who are pursuing degrees in the areas listed below, any student interested in the work performed by this department is encouraged to apply. Please note that a writing sample will be requested, if applicable.
- Communications
- English
- Advertising/Graphic Design
- Journalism
- Political Science
- Special Event Planning
- Social Media Management
Department of Human Resource Management
The Department of Human Resource Management offers paid and unpaid fellowship opportunities to both graduate and undergraduate students interested in the areas of Civil Service Administration, Equity, Human Resource Information Systems, Staffing and Recruitment, Benefits Management, Labor Relations, and Training & Safety.
The fellowship is designed to provide hands-on experience in public-sector human resource management. The fellow will work with the City of Rochester's Human Resources Team to develop key initiatives and be part of meaningful projects that contribute to the success of the City of Rochester. Responsibilities may include general administrative and/or research functions for the purpose of developing a working knowledge of a targeted area in municipal government.
- Human Resource Management
- Business Administration
- Organizational Management
- Public Administration
Information Technology
The Department of Information Technology offers paid fellowships to both graduate and undergraduate students in the areas of information systems, graphic information systems, business process re-engineering, and server and client support. Responsibilities may include assisting in identifying analysis of IT workflow processes, in identifying automotive opportunities in an IT environment, and in gathering, tracking, and reporting information.
While IT normally accepts applicants who are pursuing degrees in the areas listed below, any student interested in the work performed by this department is encouraged to apply.
- Information Technology
- Computer Sciences
- Computer Engineering
Environmental Services
The Department of Environmental Services offers paid fellowships to both graduate and undergraduate students in the Bureaus of Architecture & Engineering, Building Services, Environmental Quality, Fleet Services, and the Water Bureau. Responsibilities may include helping provide a safe, clean, and attractive community through efficient planning and design. While DES normally accepts applicants who are pursuing degrees in the areas listed below, any student interested in the work performed by this department is encouraged to apply.
- Architecture
- Automotive Technology
- Engineering
- Environmental Sciences/Management/Sustainability
- Surveying
- Urban Forestry
Neighborhood and Business Development
The Neighborhood and Business Development department offers paid and unpaid fellowships to both graduate and undergraduate students in areas such as business and housing development and inspection and compliance services.
Responsibilities may include performing research, business analysis, business mailings, and administrative and data entry tasks. Individuals should have a desire to assist in business growth and development. While NBD normally accepts applicants who are pursuing degrees in areas listed below, any student interested in the work performed by this department is encouraged to apply.
- Political Science
- Public Policy
- City and Regional Planning
Rochester Police Department
The Rochester Police Department offers unpaid fellowship opportunities to both graduate and undergraduate students. Note that highly motivated high school students may also be considered.
Interns are assigned to specific units or officers, where they become part of a team, and may be assigned clerical work to assist the officers and/or staff. While RPD normally accepts applicants who are pursuing degrees in the areas listed below, any student interested in the work performed by this department is encouraged to apply. Please note that all RPD fellowships are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. workdays. Positions are limited.
- Criminal Justice
- Sociology
- Political Science
Rochester Animal Services (RAS)
The RAS seeks fellows to help with the following functions:
- Customer service, greeters, triage
- Administrative assistant, data entry
- Community outreach (neighborhoods)
- Dog care
- Cat care
- Clinic support
- Special events (tabling events)
- General shelter support (laundry, dishes, windows, gardening)
Department of Recreation and Human Services
The Department of Recreation and Human Services offers a variety of unpaid fellowship possibilities and college credit opportunities for college students interested in gaining experience in the areas of recreation, recreation management, positive youth development and youth work, community planning and special events, and communications. Depending on your time and how many hours you will need to complete your internship, you will be able to be a part of an activity or a program that the Department offers with the opportunity for evening and weekend hours. The Department of Recreation and Youth Services accepts applicants who are pursuing degrees in the areas listed below:
- Recreation and Leisure Studies
- Human Services
- Criminal Justice
- Urban Studies
- Community Youth Development and/or Social Work
Flower City AmeriCorps offers paid service opportunities for adults aged 17 and older. Full- and part-time positions are available to qualified individuals interested in alleviating the symptoms of poverty in Rochester while earning a living allowance and gaining invaluable job experience. Flower City AmeriCorps members are placed in sites within the City of Rochester Department of Recreation and Youth Services, the Rochester Public Library, select Neighborhood Service Centers, and other community agencies whose focus is on anti-poverty services in Rochester.
Rochester Fire Department
The Rochester Fire Department offers internship opportunities for both graduate and undergraduate students interested in gaining professional experience in public service. Interns are exposed to a wide variety of hands-on experience by reporting to the Executive Deputy Fire Chief. Responsibilities may include filing, scanning, and word processing. Throughout the duration, interns will learn about the internal and external administrative duties of a department.
Rochester Fire Department offers paid fellowship opportunities for both graduate and undergraduate students interested in using statistical analysis skills for internal and external customers. Throughout the duration, fellows will engage with explanatory and predictive models, data visualizations, web maps, and analytical applications. Responsibilities may include gathering and quantifying data analysis for overtime and budgetary cost analysis using SQL. A programming background is preferred for various reporting projects.
Neighborhood Service Center
The Neighborhood Service Centers (NSC) works to bridge the gap between neighborhoods by improving lines of communication to promote strength, stability, pride, and empowerment to our residents. Each quadrant in the city has its own team of professionals dedicated ti improving the quality of life in their assigned area to address issues quickly and effectively.
The Neighborhood Service Centers (NCS) offers fellowship opportunities for both graduate and undergraduate students interested in the business permit process. Throughout the duration, fellows will assist administrators in building communication between operators and the NCS in preparation for the digitalization of the business permit process. Responsibilities may include file purging, organizing complaint files, helping with special events, executing business permit renewals , and surveying business corridors.