Rick Boucher Congressional District Office Internship
In Big Stone Gap
Program Description:
This internship opportunity is available to Political Science majors from
Longwood University at the Big Stone Gap Congressional District Office of
the Honorable Rick Boucher. Student interns will be expected to assist
in the operation of that office under
the supervision of Janet Cantrell, Casework Specialist and Director
of that Office. Student interns may earn from 1-18 credits
for successful participation in the program. The number
of credit hours awarded will depend on the length and intensity of
the internship period. Most interns will earn from 1-3 credits.
These internships are available in both regular semesters and
all sessions of summer school.
Learning Objectives for Interns:
Student interns will be expected to learn how a Congressional District
Office functions, how to do the work of such an office, how a particular
member of Congress sees his job, how District Offices provide constituency
services, how to interact successfully with federal agencies, and how to
access bills and track the legislative process. The intern will demonstrate
an ability to access effectively from web and other information sources
just about any important piece of information on Congress and the federal
government a citizen or a serious student of politics might want or need.
This internship experience will help make the students more effective citizens,
enhance their political research capabilities, and encourage development
of their leadership skills.
Qualifications:
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Political Science Major
-
Must be a sophomore, junior, or senior
-
Must have at least a 2.5 GPA
-
Must have earned at least a B in Political Science 150 (American Government
and Politics)
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Must have a professional resume
-
Must have a recommendation from a political science professor
Application Process:
Having met the above qualifications, applicants must meet with the Chair
of the Department of History and Political Science in order to discuss
their qualifications, what they hope to achieve during the internship,
the number of credits hours being sought, and departmental expectations
regarding their work. If an applicant receives the approval of the
Department Chair, the applicant will then schedule an interview with Janet
Cantrell (Casework Specialist and Director of that Office) in order to
win final approval for participation in this internship program.
If accepted by the District Office, the student then meets with the Chair
in order to work out the registration process.
Evaluation of Student Work
The sponsoring faculty member (usually the Department Chair) will assign
a grade based on the evaluation of site supervisor Janet Cantrell and an
assessment by the faculty member of how well the student met the terms
of the original plan developed for the student prior to beginning the internship.
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