The Harry S Truman Center for Governmental Affairs is now accepting applications for the 2012 Summer Intership Program and Bootstrap Scholarship Award.

PURPOSE

To introduce two qualified undergraduates interested in public service to the national policy process through a month-long immersion experience with the Washington, D.C. offices of the Missouri Congressional delegation or other offices as appropriate.

IMPLEMENTATION

Student interns will be assigned to governmental offices (legislative or administrative) and will work with identified mentors while there. Ordinarily, the internship is to be completed during a one-month assignment during the Summer Academic Session during the month of June. In those cases where the student and placement site agree upon a longer placement (and the student can find sufficient funding to cover the added costs), a longer placement may be agreed to by the Truman Center.

ELIGIBILITY

The internships will be available to students who meet the following criteria:

•  Full-time status at UMKC as a rising junior or rising senior;
•  Minimum UMKC GPA of 3.25; and
•  Any academic major provided the student has had at least one American Government course at the college level. Preference will be given to those students with a demonstrated interest in public service and civic leadership.

SCHOLARSHIP

The Truman Center is celebrating Harry Truman’s legacy of public service with a “Bootstrap Scholarship” award that will permit students who otherwise might not be able to do so to spend four weeks in Washington, D.C.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Applicants are to submit an application that must contain:

1. An ‘Essay of Interest in Government Service’ in which they describe why they believe they would benefit from this experience and how it would fit into their academic program and career plans.
2. In addition, they must provide a current UMKC transcript, a current resume, a statement that documents their need or worthiness for “Bootstrap” assistance.
3. At least three letters of recommendation. At least two recommendations must be from instructors who know the student’s work at UMKC and one must be from someone who knows the student as a person away from UMKC – as an employee, community volunteer or from another off-campus role that the student has successfully fulfilled. The completed application portfolio with all required materials will be due in the Truman Center mail box, Room 302 Scofield Hall by 3 p.m., December 9, 2011. Questions? Contact Gayla Curtis at 816-235-2720 or by email at: Curtisgd@umkc.edu.

REVIEW and ACCEPTANCE

Applications will be reviewed by a committee associated with UMKC and the Truman Center. Applicants may be asked in for an interview. Successful applicants will be notified by February 1, 2012.

REQUIREMENTS for Participation

Students selected to participate in this internship opportunity will be required to do the following:

• Attend at least two and possibly more pre-departure meetings on the UMKC campus to discuss the required reading and the internship expectations. These will include an orientation that covers health/safety issues and pointers on appropriate behavior when working in a professional office setting, among other things.
• Enroll for three credit hours at UMKC in a political science off-campus internship course (in consultation with the Departmental Administrative Assistant) for credit during Summer, 2012;
• Submit a bi-weekly journal detailing the intern’s progress on the various projects and initiatives he/she is working on in the governmental office (to be reviewed and graded by the faculty mentor at UMKC who is also evaluating the required essay);
• Read an assigned book: “Congress and Its Members, 13th edition,” published July, 2011; and read designated chapters before leaving for Washington.
• Write and submit a 15-page essay discussing the project or projects undertaken in the placement office in the context of the reading material (to be reviewed and graded by the faculty mentor at UMKC); This essay may be submitted any time after completion of the internship but is due no later than August 15, 2012.
• Upon returning to campus, interns will need to be prepared to discuss their experience with the media and at future Truman Center events as well as do so in a write up for the Truman Center website.

Participating students will receive 3 credits in Political Science upon successful completion of all requirements of the internship.
* The faculty mentor will be one with expertise on the office or institution in which the student interns and will be appointed by the Director of the Truman Center. Interns may live in one of the residential dorms on the George Washington University campus, or may reside in other approved intern program housing in Washington depending on its availability and cost. Additional information will provided after the interns are selected. Interns may be mentored in Washington by persons affiliated with or approved by the university in addition to those available in the offices to which they are assigned.

COST AND SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION

UMKC and the Truman Center will provide a scholarship and other forms of assistance to each student to cover the following expenses associated with the internships:

• We will purchase the required book; provide 3 credit hours of undergraduate educational fee remission at current UMKC rates for residents for Summer Session, 2012; pre-pay lodging (to a maximum of $1,600); reimburse for meals and incidental expenses (to a maximum of $900) All expenses must have receipts to get reimbursed; and purchase round-trip airfare coach/baggage allotment (to a maximum of $500).

The student interns will be responsible for any additional money they might need for transportation, living and other incidental expenses incurred (beyond those covered) while in Washington and for changes made to air itinerary after the ticket has been purchased.