Program Overview
General Program Information
What is the WGU + Riipen micro-internship experience?
This is a hands-on opportunity to apply your cybersecurity, IT, and networking knowledge to a real employer challenge outside your regular coursework. You will work in a team of 4-5 learners, build professional experience, and develop work you can describe on your résumé and in interviews.
Is this required for my degree?
No. This is an optional, co-curricular experience. It is not eligible for credit. It is also not required for credit or graduation. It is a valuable way to enhance your skills, career readiness, and qualifications for future career opportunities.
Who is eligible to participate?
Riipen projects are available through WGU’s Career & Professional Development for active WGU School of Technology learners currently enrolled in the Cybersecurity and Information Assurance bachelor’s program who are:
Actively enrolled in the B.S. Cybersecurity and Information Assurance at the start of the project (not graduated)
Meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress (completion of 66.67% of competency units attempted)
Successful completion of the following courses is also required (courses cannot be in progress at the time of application):
D322 Introduction to IT
D317 IT Application
D333 Ethics in Technology
D316 IT Foundations
D278 Scripting and Programming – Foundations
D827 or D430 Fundamentals of Information Security
D315 Network and Security – Foundations
D828 or C841 Legal Issues in Information Security
D325 Networks
D336 Business of IT – Applications
D329 Network and Security – Applications
Further Qualification Requirements:
May participate in only 1 active project at a time
Can I participate if I’m graduating during the project timeline?
Yes, as long as you are meeting SAP and have completed the required courses, you can participate if you are graduating after the project begins.
What if I’m still completing some required courses or not meeting SAP currently?
If you have not successfully completed the list of courses or are not meeting SAP, you are not eligible to apply.
What is “Satisfactory Academic Progress”?
More information about Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) can be found here.
Will this project count toward my capstone?
No, this project will not count toward your capstone or be eligible for academic credit.
Will I be automatically considered for future projects or do I need to reapply?
For future projects, if they are offered, you will need to reapply. We will send additional information via your student email to update you about upcoming projects.
Why are there limited spots?
There are 40-50 spots for the November cohort. Capacity depends on the number of suitable employer projects and the support available to provide a meaningful experience for each team.
Application Process
When does the application open and close?
WGU will confirm the November cohort’s application opening date and deadline through your WGU student email. Follow the deadline in that communication; late applications will not be considered.
How do I apply and what do I need to submit?
WGU will send application instructions and the form to your student email. No résumé or cover letter is required. You will answer a few brief questions about your interest and readiness to participate.
How many learners will be selected and how are applications evaluated?
There are 40-50 student spots. Selection is competitive. Eligible applicants are evaluated on the strength and clarity of their application answers.
Can I edit my application after submitting it?
No. Review your answers carefully before submitting your application.
When will I hear whether I have been selected?
WGU will confirm the notification timeline in the application communications. Selected and unsuccessful applicants will receive an update through their WGU student email.
Will there be interviews or additional screening?
There are no interviews or additional screening beyond the application and eligibility review described for this program.
Will I receive feedback if I am not selected?
Individual application feedback or reasons for non-selection will not be provided because of the number of applicants and limited program capacity.
Teams and project assignments
Will I work alone or on a team?
You will work in a team of 4-5 learners on one shared employer project. Each learner is expected to contribute 40-60 hours, participate actively, and take responsibility for agreed tasks. Your project plan will document team roles and individual contributions.
How will I be assigned to a project?
Selected learners will be randomly assigned to teams and approved employer projects. You will be added to your project on Friday, November 27, 2026, before the Monday start. You do not need to select, apply to, or self-assign to an employer project.
Can I choose my teammates or switch projects?
Teams and projects will be randomly assigned. If you have a concern about your assignment or your ability to participate, contact wgu@riipen.com promptly so the program team can review the situation. Do not change projects or team arrangements independently.
What happens after I am added to my project?
Review the project brief and available materials, connect with your teammates, and complete your required onboarding steps. By November 30 at 9:00 a.m. MST, sign the required agreements, complete the pre-project survey, and click Start. Introduce your team to the employer and arrange your Week 1 kickoff meeting, which must take place by December 4.
How do I know I have been added successfully?
Check My Projects in Riipen for your assigned project and team. If your assignment is missing after November 27, contact wgu@riipen.com for help.
Project Experience
What kinds of projects are available?
The following are examples of potential project options. Actual projects may vary based on employer needs but will be pre-approved by WGU to ensure alignment with your curriculum and skill development.
Cybersecurity & Risk Management
Conducting a Basic Cybersecurity Risk Assessment for a Small Business
Security Policy Review and Recommendations for Compliance (e.g., NIST, ISO)
Creating a Cybersecurity Awareness Training Plan for Employees
Developing an Incident Response Playbook for Common Security Threats
Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery (BCDR) Plan
Networking & Infrastructure
Network Security Audit and Hardening Recommendations
Mapping and Evaluating Network Topologies for Security Risks
Firewall and Access Control Rule Set Review for a Simulated Company Network
Setting Up and Testing a Virtual Private Network (VPN) in a Lab Environment
System Security
Operating System Hardening and Vulnerability Mitigation Report (Windows/Linux)
User Access Control and Role-Based Permissions Analysis
Secure Configuration of a Client-Server Environment (Using Virtual Machines)
Security Tools & Practices
Testing and Documenting the Use of an Intrusion Detection System (IDS)
Log Monitoring and Analysis to Detect Potential Security Incidents
Encryption Demo and Use-Case Recommendations for Data at Rest vs. In Transit
Compliance & Governance
Creating a Cybersecurity Compliance Checklist for HIPAA or PCI-DSS
Audit Readiness Assessment: Preparing for a Security Audit
Aligning IT Policies with Organizational Security Goal
What kinds of employers participate?
Employers may include small and mid-sized businesses, nonprofits, startups, and mission-driven organizations. Projects are scoped to provide achievable, meaningful work for learners.
How much time should I set aside?
Plan for 40-60 hours per learner over the eight-week cohort, or an average of approximately 5-8 hours per week. Weekly hours may vary depending on your team’s plan and agreed holiday availability. Team and employer meetings count toward your commitment. Final deliverables are due January 22, 2027.
Is the work flexible?
The work is remote, and your team can organize tasks around coursework and other commitments. You must still attend agreed meetings, respond promptly, contribute consistently, and meet milestone deadlines. This is a shared team project with a defined schedule, rather than an independently paced project.
What does active participation in Week 1 look like?
Log in to Riipen, review your assignment, connect with your teammates, complete onboarding, introduce your team to the employer, and attend the kickoff by December 4. Begin your agreed tasks and help develop the project plan. If you are having difficulty getting started, contact the program team early so they can help.
What support and mentorship will I receive?
Your employer will clarify the scope, provide necessary tools and resources, and offer ongoing guidance and feedback. Employers are expected to hold at least one weekly check-in and respond within 1-2 business days. Riipen provides platform and program support, and WGU Career & Professional Development can help with general program questions.
What if I will be unavailable during part of the program?
Discuss known absences with your team and employer at kickoff, especially during the December holidays. Agree on meeting availability, task coverage, and a realistic work schedule. The January 22 deadline remains fixed. If you cannot meet the overall commitment, contact the program team as early as possible.
What should I do if my employer is unresponsive or my team is struggling?
Contact wgu@riipen.com promptly. Describe the issue, relevant dates, and how it is affecting your progress. Do not wait until a milestone deadline to request help.
Onboarding and milestone deadlines
When is student onboarding?
Student onboarding is Thursday, November 26, 2026, from 2:00-3:00 p.m. MST. Accepted applicants will receive the registration link. The session will cover Riipen, team assignments, expectations, the project plan, and completion requirements. A recording will be available if you cannot attend. November 26 falls on US Thanksgiving; plan to review the recording promptly if you are unavailable.
Is student onboarding the same as the employer kickoff?
No. Student onboarding introduces you to the program and platform before your project begins. Your team’s employer kickoff is a separate meeting during Week 1 to confirm the challenge, scope, deliverables, access, communication, and holiday availability.
November cohort schedule
Student onboarding
Thu, Nov 26, 2026
2:00-3:00 p.m. MST
Riipen invitations and profile setup
Thu, Nov 26, 2026
Invitations after onboarding at 3:00 p.m. MST
Students added to randomly assigned teams and projects
Fri, Nov 27, 2026
Onboarding completion reminders
Nov 27 and Nov 29, 2026
Complete agreements and pre-project survey; click Start
Mon, Nov 30, 2026
9:00 a.m. MST
Project begins
Mon, Nov 30, 2026
Employer kickoff completed by
Fri, Dec 4, 2026
Team project plan submitted in Riipen
Fri, Dec 11, 2026
Week 2 employer progress check-in completed
Fri, Dec 11, 2026
Midpoint review completed
Fri, Dec 18, 2026
Final team deliverables and employer presentation or handoff
Fri, Jan 22, 2027
Individual reflection, post-project survey and completion steps
Fri, Jan 22, 2027
Book employer meetings early and record agreed times in Riipen. The midpoint review is in Week 3 so it occurs before the December holiday period.
What should our project plan include?
Your team’s project plan should define the goals, scope, deliverables, roles, individual responsibilities, tasks, timeline, milestone dates, risks, and communication approach. Confirm alignment with your employer and submit the plan in Riipen by December 11. Keep it current throughout the project.
What happens during the progress check-in and midpoint review?
At the Week 2 check-in, discuss early work, access, blockers, and next steps. At the midpoint review, share work in progress, request employer feedback, and confirm any changes to scope or schedule. Record the outcomes and update your project plan in Riipen.
Can we submit early or change a milestone deadline?
Work with your employer and the program team if your team is ready to finish early or needs a schedule adjustment. Early submission does not remove the need to complete the project plan, check-ins, final handoff, and individual completion steps. Do not change deadlines without discussing them first.
Riipen Platform Access
How do I access Riipen?
Accepted learners will receive an invitation to the WGU Riipen portal after onboarding on November 26. Follow the invitation to create or access your account and complete your profile. Your team and project will be assigned on November 27.
What do I need to complete before the project starts?
By November 30 at 9:00 a.m. MST, access your assigned project, sign all required agreements, complete the pre-project survey, and click Start. Review the brief, connect with your team, and prepare to contact your employer.
What if I cannot access my account or miss the onboarding deadline?
Contact wgu@riipen.com immediately, or use the Messages widget in the bottom-right corner of Riipen. Tell the program team what is preventing you from completing the steps. Missing onboarding requirements can delay your team’s start and may affect your ability to participate.
Where should we submit our work?
Use Riipen to submit your team’s project plan, milestone updates, and final deliverables. Keep project communications and progress visible on the platform. Each learner must also complete their individual survey, reflection, and completion requirements.
Outcomes and Recognition
Will I get feedback or a grade?
Since this is not for academic credit, you won’t receive a grade—but many organizations do provide feedback on your work. You’ll also receive a completion certification and digital badge.
Can I list this on my résumé or portfolio?
After completing your project, you’ll receive an achievement badge, a certificate of completion and employer feedback. You can include this project in your résumé, LinkedIn profile, and e-portfolio, along with examples of your final deliverables.
Can I get a certificate or badge for completing the project?
Yes, you will receive a certificate and badge from Riipen once you successfully complete the project.
Waitlist Process
What does being on the waitlist mean?
If you are on the waitlist, you may be selected for the project if another student is unable to participate in the project.
When and how will I be notified if a spot opens?
You will be notified via email.
Should I do anything while on the waitlist?
No, there is nothing that you need to do while on the waitlist besides check your email to see if you've been moved off of the waitlist.
Support and Troubleshooting
Who can I contact if I have questions or need help?
If you have questions about the Riipen platform or your project experience, you can reach out to Riipen’s support team via their chat (the Messages widget on the bottom right corner of every Riipen page) or email wgu@riipen.com.
Who do I contact if I have questions or issues?
Please contact Internships at WGU for any questions regarding the application or eligibility. Once you have been selected and are active in the program, please contact wgu@riipen.com.
How confidential is my information?
Your application information is reviewed by Career & Professional Development. Riipen and the employer sponsors will only receive your first name, last name, and email address to provide you access to the platform.
What happens if I need to withdraw or drop out?
If you need to withdraw from the project, please contact Internships at WGU and wgu@riipen.com immediately. We will work with you to identify a path forward. Withdrawing from the project may result in not being eligible for future projects.
Who do I contact to report allegations of harassment or discrimination?
Please report allegations of harassment or discrimination to WGU’s Title IX Coordinators or through Speak Up WGU. More information regarding WGU’s Student Equal Opportunity, Harassment, and Nondiscrimination Policy and Process can be accessed here.
WGU Title IX Contact Information:
Rochelle Sydnor Kahl, Title IX Coordinator
Danile Eldredge, Deputy Title IX Coordinator
Department of Specialized Student Services
4001 South 700 East, Suite 700
Salt Lake City, UT 84107
Phone: 385.428.5843
Email: titleix@wgu.edu
Speak Up WGU™:
Speak Up WGU™ online reporting site: www.speakupwgu.ethicspoint.com
Speak Up WGU™ hotline number: 1.844.838.1102
Post-Selection and Future Opportunities
Why wasn’t I selected?
We received many more applications than spots available, so eligible applicants were evaluated on the strength and clarity of their application answers.
How can I improve my chances for next time?
Make sure you meet all eligibility requirements, apply early, and provide thoughtful, detailed responses in your application.
Are there other ways to gain hands-on cybersecurity experience?
Yes, check the WGU Experience page for more experiential learning opportunities, such as micro-internships, online simulations, internships, and more.
Will there be more projects like this in the future?
We hope to offer similar opportunities again. We will send additional information via your student email to update you about upcoming projects.
How can I stay informed about upcoming opportunities?
Watch your WGU student email and check the Career & Professional Development announcements regularly.