SIXTEEN KEY POINTS TO NOTE FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN BEING A LEGISLATIVE INTERN—2009-10 PROGRAM

Students should be aware of these sixteen key points when deciding whether or not to apply for the Program; and in deciding whether or not to accept the offer to be an intern if chosen for the Program.

1.  The Legislative Internship Program is an Academic Program NOT a Work-Study Program:  This Program is not a work-study Program, where students earn credits for working but have no related academic course work.  The Internship is a demanding academic program at the 400 level and not simply a way to gain credits through a practical experience.  Only students who are very serious about their academic studies are chosen for the Program, as a major emphasis is placed upon participation and performance in the Internship Seminar.    

2.  This is a Full-Time Internship Program Requiring Students to Work in their Legislative Office Each Weekday:  Interns must be available to work in their legislative office on a more or less full-time basis on each weekday.  This means that they cannot have a part-time job during the day Monday thru Friday.  Students not working full-time in their legislative office or not working five days per week will be dropped from the Program.  This does not mean that students cannot have a part-time job during the evenings or on weekends; though this is strongly discouraged given the intensity of the placement and academic work for the Program.

3.  Taking Additional Courses to the Internship Program:  Students are limited to taking 3 additional credits for the semester in addition to the 12 for the Internship Program.  However, students are strongly advised not to take any additional credits besides those for the Internship Program.  This is because of the intensity of the full-time practical placement in the legislature and the demanding academic requirements.  Most students who have taken an additional course have found that their overall performance has suffered.    

4.  A Passing Grade is Required in the Seminar to Receive Any Credits for the Program:  A student must earn a passing grade (at least a D-) in the Internship Seminar in order to receive any of the 12 credits for the Program.  Thus, an “F” grade for the Seminar will result in the 9 hours for the placement also being graded as “F.”     
    
5.  Latest Date to be in Juneau:  Interns must be in Juneau by Sunday evening, January 10, 2010 at the very latest for the 2010 Program.  This is because they are required to start work in their legislative office that week and attend a three-day pre-orientation session.  

6.  Interns Cannot Miss Any Part of the Pre-orientation Session:  If, for any reason, a student misses any part of the three day pre-orientation Program they will be dropped from the Internship Program.  For the 2010 Program, this pre-orientation will take place on Monday, January 11, and on January 14 and 15.  If a student cannot attend all three days they should not apply for the Program.  Or, once admitted to the Program, if they are out-of-town students and realize that they cannot attend all of this pre-orientation, they should not travel to Juneau.  

7.  Transfer of Financial Aid:  Students from UAA, UAF, APU and UU receiving financial aid must arrange with their campus Financial Aid Office to have their checks mailed to the UAS Financial Aid Office for pick-up.  Checks will not be sent to UAS without making prior arrangements.  

8.  Sufficient Funds for Relocation:  As it will be early February before interns receive their first stipend check, and mid-January before UAA, UAF, APU and UU interns receive their relocation allowance, interns need to bring sufficient funds to tide them over for the first few weeks of the Program.

9.  Rental Rates in Juneau:  Currently, rental property in Juneau is scarce (less than 2% vacancy rate) and rents are higher than in Anchorage, Fairbanks and Salt Lake City.   

10.  All Credits are from UAS:  All Program credits are granted by UAS, not by UAA, UAF, APU or UU.  However, the credits are fully transferable.  This transfer must be requested by the student—it will not take place automatically.

11.  Attendance at the Internship Seminar is Required:  Points will be deducted for absences.  An absence is considered to be missing more than 15 minutes of a class session.  More than two absences will result in being dropped from the Program, with a resultant 12 hours of grade “F”.  

12.  Obtaining Grade Points in the Internship Seminar:  Twenty (20) points of the final grade in this Seminar are allocated for class participation.  To obtain the most points possible in this Seminar a student must clearly demonstrate that they can: (1) reflect on their experiences and lessons in learning about politics and its juncture with the academic perspective; (2) demonstrate clear evidence of being able to relate the course readings to their experiences (pro or con); and (3) place the Alaska legislative process in comparison with other states and with Washington, D.C.   

13.  Use of Social Science Method in Writing Papers:  This Seminar is a 400 level course, just one level below a graduate course.  It requires papers based on social science research method.  Students not familiar with this method should become familiar with it before commencing their internship.

14.  Deadline Dates for Submission of Course Papers:  The dates for the submission of papers are those indicated on the Internship Seminar course syllabus for Spring 2010.  Papers must be submitted on or before that date.  No late papers will be accepted.  This means that late papers will receive zero points.

15.  No Incompletes or Extra Credit in the Internship Seminar:  There are no incompletes allowed in the Seminar and no extra credit is available.

16.  Stipulation About Continuing to Receive the Internship Stipend:  In order to continue receiving their Internship stipend, a student must make satisfactory progress in their office assignment as well as in the Internship Seminar.  Indications of satisfactory progress in the Seminar include: no absences; active participation in discussions; evidence of completing class reading assignments; submitting all papers on time, etc.


Clive S. Thomas
August 1, 2009