AMST 3016: Internship Program, Washington DC

AMST 3016: Internship Program, Washington DC

Application Form

Closing Date: 9August2011

The Washington Internship Program provides unique and high quality work experience and employment training for students. The objectives of the internship are to:

enable students to develop high quality workplace knowledge and experience

build students’ confidence in their own abilities

enable students to develop a contact network

assist students to clarify their career goals and expectations

assist students to develop workplace skills

allow students to gain overseas referees who can comment on their work skills

advantage students when gaining employment

enhance the quality of the university experience for students

give placement providers access to students with an international perspective on American politics

establish links between placement providers and FlindersUniversity

provide Australia with a pool of graduates with a high level of insight into American politics and government

Supporting Material

As well as submitting this Application Form, all students applying for a place in the Washington Internship Program must provide:

1.A one-page resumé coveringonly the specific areas of: education, experience and skills.

2.An example of written work prepared in an American Studies topic (maximum 1500 words)

3. A one-page statement of your interest in this Internship, including what you seek to gain from this program

4.A copy of your academic transcript.

As all material will be forwarded to Directors of the Program in Washington and to the Washingtonoffices to which you are applying, please send all documents -APPLICATION FORM, RESUMÉ AND WRITTEN WORK - as separate files on a CD or USBalong withA PAPER COPY with original signaturesto the American Studies Department, Room 244Social Sciences South.

Personal Details
Student Number: / Date of Birth:
Family Name: / Given Names:
Home Address: / Post code:
Postal Address: / Post code:
Home Telephone: / Mobile:
Email Address:
EMERGENCY CONTACTNAME:
Address:
Telephone: Mobile:
Email Address:

Students interested in internships with House or Senate offices should be aware that internship positions on Capitol Hill are very competitive, especially in offices of high profile members. Preference is given to residents of the state or congressional district of the member of Congress; therefore, internship positions for non-constituents are extremely limited.

Because of the competitiveness of the internships we cannot guarantee a specific placement. While each office is unique in its own way, every office shares similarities in the work offered and the exposure you will get to the American government and the public policy process.

Preferred Internship Positions
Rank your preference for available Internship positions in the following areas: a) Senate Office; b) HouseOffice; c) Senate/House Committee; d) Public Policy or Interest Group; e) Almanac of American Politics
RANK
1st Choice
Please explain in one paragraph why you seek to work for your first preference
2nd Choice
3rd Choice

Indicate whether you have a strong preference for being in a Democrat or Republican office or whether you would be happy to be placed in a position with either a Democrat or Republican (please put ‘x’ in appropriate box):

Strong Preference for Democrat Office / Strong Preference for Republican Office / Either Democrat or Republican

The Internship placement should not be thought if as being party specific; while the organisers in Washington will work with partisan preferences, firm offers of placements cannot be rejected on partisan grounds.

Education
Flinders Degree Program:
Majors within your Degree:
Current Year of Study: / Expected Date of Completion:
Please specify how the 9 units from the internship will be counted towards your degree
Topics in the American Studies major completed (minimum of18 units, including AMST 2002: American Politics or POLI 3011: People and Politics):
Topic Name: / Grade:
Overall Flinders Grade Point Average (GPA):
Other Tertiary Studies:
Personal and/or Medical Circumstances

Are there anycircumstances which may prevent you from successfully undertaking any of your preferred Washington Internship positions (for example criminal conviction, academic disqualification, medical condition or injury)? Youmust declare these matters. This information will be treated as strictly confidential, and will be made known to Placement Provider only after consultation with you:

Yes / No

If you have ticked ‘yes’, please provide details below, or attach any relevant documentation.

Please note:

FlindersUniversity will not refer a student to a Washington Internship placement position if the University considers that the student may place the Placement Provider at risk, act against the interests of the Placement Provider, or undermine the ongoing goodwill on which the Program rests.

Computing Knowledge
Please tick if you have experience in the following:
Internet / Desk Top Publishing / SPSS
Windows / Databases / Email
Macintosh computer / Web Publishing / Excel
Other (please explain)
Work Experience
Dates / Employer Name / Type of Work / Duties
Other Information
Please list academic or relevant non-academic prizes, scholarships or other achievements

Referees

Please supply the names of two referees (not family members). Your referees will be contacted by the Head of American Studies and asked to supply a written referee statement.

An Employer

Your connection with this person
Name
Title
Company
Address
Telephone
Email

Character Reference or Academic Reference

Your connection with this person
Name
Title
Company
Address
Telephone
Email

Important Information

(Ensure you sign this declaration (in pen) and submit a hard copy with your application)

Responsibilities of Students

1.Students, whilst engaged in a Washington Internship Placement shall be bound by the rules, regulations, protocols and by-laws of the Placement Provider andFlindersUniversity.

2.Standards of dress and behaviour shall be observed and maintained appropriately in keeping with the nature and purpose of theWashington Internship placement.

3.Students will work to fulfill the duties of Washington Internship placements within stated times established with the Placement Provider.

4.Students will attend the Washington Internship Orientation Program training before being placed with the Placement Provider.

5.Students will respect the confidentiality of the Placement Provider. No reports in the form of oral, written, graphic or electronic information pertaining to the Placement Provider or its operations will be made available to any person or company without the consent in writing of the Placement Provider. If students wish to utilise information gained during the course of Washington Internship Placements after the completion of the placement, prior consent in writing must be obtained from the Placement Provider, and any material so produced must be approved by the Placement Provider before release.

6.Students will abide by any agreement made between the parties, and will not undertake any independent negotiations with the Placement Provider.

7.Students will perform all reasonable requirements of the Placement Provider, and meet all statutory requirements and workplace codes of practice.

8.Students will be responsible for their own travel, accommodation and living expenses whilst in Washington.

9.Students will reside in the apartments to which the Washington Internship Program students are assigned. No overnight guests will be permitted in these apartments.

10.Students will be responsible for the punctual payment of their share of the apartment rent. One month’s rent will be due in advance and the other within two weeks of arrival.

Declaration

To the best of my knowledge any information that I have provided on this form, is true and correct. I have read the Responsibilities of Students Statement and agree to the general conditions outlined inthat Statement. If any liability shall arise to the Flinders University of South Australia as a result of my providing false or misleading information, I agree to indemnify the FlindersUniversity for any such liability.

Signed: ______Date:______

NOTE

Any violation of these rules will result, after appropriate consultation, in the termination of the Washington Internship Placement and the Flinders University enrolment in AMST 3016 / AMST 7016.

Checklist

Please tick the following boxes to indicate that you have completed this application:

I have read and understood the Responsibilities of Students
I have signed the Declaration
I have completed all sections of this application
I have attached a one-page résumé listing education, experience and skills
I have attached an example of my written work prepared in an American Studies topic
I have attached a one-page statement of my interest in this Internship, including what I seek to gain from this program
I have indicated on this form information regarding all personal circumstances which may prevent me from participating in the Washington Internship Program
I have provided the names of two confidential referees who may be approached for written statements