An Overview of the Program
Interns are placed in a legislator’s office (State Representative or Senator) and are required to work 35 hours per week for the ninety-day session plus the week before the session begins—a total of fourteen weeks.
The legislative session begins in mid-January and ends in mid-April. Interns are required to be in Juneau the Wednesday before the start of the legislative session and to remain in Juneau until the session ends.
Work in the legislature is combined with an internship seminar that begins before the legislative session and lasts until mid April. Attendance at this seminar is required for all interns.
For complete information about the program, see the Legislative Internship Information Packet, linked in the sidebar.
Program Organization
The program, established in 1987, is administered by the University of Alaska.
UAS has primary responsibility for the academic administration of the program. All stipends and relocation allowances are paid through UAS, and all credit hours are granted by UAS.
The Statewide Program Coordinator is Glenn Wright, Assistant Professor of Government at UAS. He is the academic supervisor for the interns and he conducts the Internship Seminar.
All three campuses participating in the program have Program Coordinators to aid students on these campuses who are interested in the program. The Coordinators are listed in Appendix A of this booklet.
Program Timeline
October 15: Complete application packets due, 11:59PM
Early November: Possible interviews with campus coordinators
Mid-November: Students notified regarding acceptance
November 30: Student acceptance deadline, 11:59 PM
December 15: Placement deadline—students must find a placement and notify the statewide coordinator by this date. Legislative offices must forward their acceptance of the placement as well.
January 1: Moving expense disbursement (approximate)
January 9: Interns due in Juneau (approximate)
January 10-11: Legislative orientation (approximate)
January 14: Beginning of legislative session (approximate)
January 15: First stipend disbursement (approximate)
January 29: First evaluation due
February 13: Second evaluation due
February 15: Second stipend disbursement (approximate)
March 4: Third evaluation due
March 15: Third stipend disbursement (approximate)