GVPT Undergraduate Newsletter

1. Advising Updates

The advising staff would like to remind students that registration season is almost upon us! Please log on to Testudo to check your registration status. If you have any blocks, be sure to take action to remove these as soon as possible. Don't forget that it is always best to register on time for the most selection of GVPT courses. As a reminder, GVPT students are limited to 3 GVPT courses per semester.

The Commission to Develop the Maryland Model for Funding Higher Education will hold a public hearing next Wednesday, November 12, 2008, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., in the Colony Ballroom of the Stamp Student Union. The Commission was created by the Maryland General Assembly to study the establishment of a consistent and stable framework for funding higher education and the appropriate funding level of Historically Black Institutions. The Commission is chaired by Delegate John Bohanan and includes Lt. Governor Anthony Brown, other State legislators, university presidents, business leaders, and other higher education and public officials. We invite students, parents, faculty, and other interested members of the public to testify at the public hearing and share your interests and concerns regarding issues such as access, affordability, quality, and economic competitiveness.
All students, faculty and staff are invited to attend and testify. If you are interested in testifying please contact Mya Pierce at the Department of Legislative Services (410-946-5510 or 301-970-5510) at least three days in advance of the hearing to sign up. Depending on the number of people who sign up, testimony may be limited to 5 minutes per person. Fifty (50) copies of any written materials must be provided the day of the hearing.

More information about the Commission can be found at: www.mlis.state.md.us/2008rs/chapters_noln/Ch_45_hb0133T.pdf and www.mlis.state.md.us/other/Funding_Higher_Ed/index.htm.

2. Cooke Scholarship for Graduate Study

The Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship provides substantial support for graduate studies to outstanding students with strong evidence of financial need. Applicants should demonstrate significant financial need as well as excellent academic achievement and critical thinking ability, the will to succeed, leadership accomplishments, and a breadth of interests and activities. All graduate study fields and degrees are eligible for support. Cooke Scholars may use the award to attend any accredited graduate school in the US or abroad beginning in the fall of 2009.

The National Scholarships Office has scheduled information workshops for students interested in the Cooke Scholarship - please write to scholarships@umd.edu to let us know which workshop you plan to attend. (If you are unable to attend any of the scheduled sessions send a note to the same email address.)

Wednesday, November 12 from 4-5 pm - 2403 Marie Mount Hall
Friday, November 14 from 12-1 pm - 2403 Marie Mount Hall
Tuesday, November 18 from 4-5 pm - 2403 Marie Mount Hall

IMPORTANT: All applicants for the Cooke Scholarship must be nominated by their university. Applicants for Maryland nomination must demonstrate significant financial need. In order to be eligible for Maryland nomination, potential applicants must complete the Cooke financial need estimator - available at this website: http://facreps.jkcf.org/nomination/financial-needs-estimator/ - with a score of "1" or "2."

The deadline to apply for Maryland nomination for the Cooke Scholarship is February 2, 2009.

3. Knit-a-thon for Charity

Come help knit blankets for premature babies with the Gemstone-Ellicott Service Committee on Saturday, November 8th from 3:30-11:30p.m. in the Pyon Su Room, Stamp Student Union! The blankets will be donated to Holy Cross Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Silver Spring. All are welcome to attend – if you don’t know how to knit, we’ll teach you! This is a great opportunity for knitting lovers and beginners to come together and give back to the community.

Food, drinks, and entertainment will be provided! Yarn and needles will also be available. However, if you have knitting needles at home, please bring them along! For more information, please contact Ekta Taneja (ektaneja@umd.edu).

4. Scholarship and Fellowship Opportunities at START

START has been awarded a grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to launch a scholarship and fellowship program for undergraduate and graduate students at the University of Maryland, College Park, who are interested in pursuing careers related to homeland security. Students receive tuition reimbursement, stipends, and professional development opportunities.

For more information on undergraduate opportunities: http://www.start.umd.edu/announcements/announcement.asp?id=116

5.BOREN SCHOLARSHIP – NATIONAL SECURITY EDUCATION PROGRAM

Website: http://www.borenawards.org/boren_scholarship

Who can apply: US Citizens – Seniors, Recent Graduates – All Majors – GPA of 3.4 or higher strongly recommended – Students planning study abroad in Summer 2009 and/or Fall 2009 and or/ Spring 2010.

IMPORTANT: Summer-only programs are limited to science, technology, engineering and mathematic majors. Students majoring in these areas are STRONGLY encouraged to apply. Applications for summer-only programs will be considered only if the program is eight (8) weeks or more.

IMPORTANT: Eligible regions include Africa, Asia, Central & Eastern Europe, Eurasia, Latin American, and the Middle East. Proposals for study in the countries of Western Europe, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand are excluded.

DEADLINE FOR REQUIRED MARYLAND REVIEW PROCESS: Monday, January 26, 2009 – please contact us at nsepboren@umd.edu for more information about the Boren Scholarship and Maryland’s review process.

DESCRIPTION: Boren Scholarships provide up to $10,000 per semester or $20,000 per academic year to U.S. undergraduate students to study abroad in 2009-10 in areas of the world that are critical to U.S. interests and underrepresented in study abroad, including Africa, Asia, Central & Eastern Europe, Eurasia, Latin American, and the Middle East. NSEP draws on a broad definition of national security, recognizing that the scope of national security has expanded to include not only the traditional concerns of protecting and promoting American well-being, but also the challenges of global society, including sustainable development, environmental degradation, global disease and hunger, population growth and migration, and economic competitiveness.

LANGUAGE STUDY: Boren Scholars study less commonly taught languages, including but not limited to Arabic, Chinese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, and Swahili. (Students applying to study abroad in French or Spanish speaking regions of the world should have advanced proficiency in French or Spanish language respectively.) For a complete list of languages and regions please visit the Boren Scholarship website.

PROGRAM PREFERENCES: The Boren Scholarship program strongly prefers proposals for more than one semester of study abroad (with the exception of applicants in the sciences, engineering and mathematics, who are encouraged to propose summer-only programs). While single-semester applications are permitted, we encourage students to consider more than one semester of study abroad whenever possible. Preferred combinations include: Summer + Fall semesters abroad and Fall + Spring semesters abroad.

AWARD: Awards depend on the actual cost of the proposed study abroad programs. Maximum scholarship awards are: $10,000 for one semester and $20,000 for two semesters or a full academic year.

SERVICE EXPECTATION: The Boren Scholarship program seeks applicants who are strongly interested in exploring possibilities for U.S. Government employment, and applications from students expressing a strong interest in Federal service will be preferred. Recipients of Boren Scholarships are expected to work for the Federal Government for one year. Boren Scholars must begin fulfilling the service requirement within three years of graduation. For more information about the Boren Scholarship service expectation please visit the Boren website at: http://www.borenawards.org/boren_scholarship

6. Purple Line Summit

You are invited to join the Student Government Association (SGA) student leaders and elected officials for the Terps for the Purple Line Student Summit!

The summit will feature an opportunity to learn more about the Purple Line transit route that will ultimately be traveling through our campus.

WHO: Maryland Secretary of Transportation, John Porcari, will be presenting an overview of the project at this important juncture. He will be joined by student leaders representing over 10 different campus constituencies including the SGA, RHA, BSU, LSU, Community Roots, NAACP, etc.

WHAT: Presentation on the Purple Line transit route that will connect our campus to New Carrollton, Silver Spring, and Bethesda.

WHEN: Wednesday November 12th, 12:30-1:30pm

WHERE: The multi-purpose room in Nyumburu

WHY: This is our first opportunity to have our voice heard on a crucial issue after the election, don't be left out!

7. International Education Week

Join departments, student groups and other organizations to celebrate International Education Week, November 17 – 21. International Education Week (IEW) is a worldwide movement to celebrate the benefits of international education and exchange. Educational institutions and organizations around the world sponsor events that highlight the importance of foreign language study, study abroad, intercultural communication, and international education as a key to global security.

International Education Week will kick-off with an *Opening Ceremony on Monday, November 17 from 12 – 1:30 pm in the Grand Ballroom Lounge, Stamp Student Union.* All are welcome to attend the ceremony, which will feature international appetizers, music and dance performances, a slideshow of images, and raffle prizes. Additionally, the week of IEW is packed with more than 30 international events, ranging from a night of Asian cuisine, a foreign film screening, and internship/scholarship workshop, music and dance performances, and much more.

For a complete listing of events, visit www.international.umd.edu/ies/2990

Internship in Congressman Steny Hoyer's Personal Office

1705 Longworth HOB
Supervisor: Ruth McDonald

Description:
Interns will work in a fast-paced Congressional Office, gaining valuable experience and knowledge of the United States Congress. Unique opportunity to learn the particular role and responsibilities of the U.S. House Majority Leader in Congress. Interns will gain practical experience while assisting personal office staff, and have the opportunity to acquire a working knowledge of the day-to-day operations of the Legislative branch. Intern responsibilities include greeting constituents, handling constituent phone calls and emails, assisting staff with administrative tasks, sorting faxes, leading Capitol tours, conducting research, and assisting with correspondence. Opportunities to attend Capitol Hill briefings, congressional hearings, receptions, and press events.

Qualifications:
Interns must be sharp, have good inter-personal skills, and excellent written and oral communication skills. Successful interns will be able to find information with little assistance, be observant and self-aware, require minimal supervision, and be able to both work independently and coordinate with others as necessary. Applicants should have working knowledge of current events and policy topics, as well as a willingness to do mundane tasks as needed, as well as have an interest in public service or government. Strong attention to detail and instructions a must. Maryland residency a plus.

Requirements:
College-level students or recent college graduates. Ability to commit at least two full days a week, 9-6pm from January through May. Proficiency in MS Office. To apply, please send a resume and cover letter to hoyer.internships@mail.house.gov . Please include in the cover letter the days of the week you are available to come in to the office from 9am to 6pm.

The Veterans of Foreign Wars, National Legislative Services, is looking for hardworking, motivated undergraduate students to join us for an exciting internship experience. The VFW is currently accepting applications for spring and summer semesters.

An internship at the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Washington D.C. is an exciting and rewarding way for students to advance their professional and academic experience. Unlike most Capitol Hill internships, VFW advocates do not spend all of their time answering phone calls and responding to letters from constituents. Based on the capacities and interests of the individual, they may directly influence policies regarding veterans and directly participate in the advocating efforts of the VFW. Interns can expect to research proposed legislation, provide input to VFW and Congressional staff, and draft letters of support to Congressional offices regarding proposed legislation. In addition, the VFW provides interns with an excellent stipend-relative to other DC area internships, as well as an opportunity to utilize the resources of the VFW in conjunction with their personal academic research.

Prospective interns must be undergraduate students and will need to provide a detailed application packet that includes: A current resume, 2 letters of recommendation (including at least one academic letter of recommendation), a writing sample, school transcripts, and a cover letter explaining why you would like to intern with the VFW. Prior military service is preferred but not required.

The Global Terrorism Database (GTD) is an open-source database including information on terrorist events around the world since 1970 (currently updated through 2004). The database is maintained by researchers at the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START), a Department of Homeland Security Center of Excellence.

The Internship

We are currently seeking graduate students and exceptional undergraduate students with an interest in terrorism research and public policy for a number of data analysis and data collection projects. Such projects include geo-spatial patterns and terrorism, state failure and terrorism, desistance patterns of terrorist organizations, IED analysis, historic and contemporary terrorism data verification, terrorism incident research, terrorism data archiving, dynamics of the terrorism milieu, and etiology of eco-terrorism. In addition to the BSOS credits received, there are several advantages to be gained from this internship experience including acquiring knowledge regarding the problem of terrorism and the nature of global terrorist violence, working with students and faculty who specialize in the study of terrorism, and directly participating in research that is having a policy impact. Interns will also experience what it is like to be a member of a large, multi-year social science research project through working with a team of homeland security practitioners and researchers in a supportive working environment. GTD internships will also be relevant for those planning graduate school applications or anyone interested in gaining employment in the United States homeland security, defense, law enforcement or intelligence communities.

In addition to the qualifications regarding specific projects, applicants should be self-motivated and responsible; any regional expertise or language skills would be a definite asset. Applicants must also have a minimum of 60 credits, a record of academic achievement, a strong interest in research, and be willing to sign up for the BSOS internship program. Preference will be given to those in the University of Maryland terrorism minor program. Upon selection, interns will also be required to attend relevant training and biweekly meetings (every other Monday at 2pm), to commit 9-10 hours a week of their time to projects, and to communicate frequently with their assigned project manager.

How to Apply

To apply, please send a copy of your resume and unofficial transcripts as well as a cover letter outlining why you would like to work on the Global Terrorism Database, what particular project(s) you are interested in, and what qualifications you hold specific to this particular project(s) to Jennifer Varriale at jvarriale@crim.umd.edu or to the address below by Monday, December 1st. Please see www.start.umd.edu/education/internships for more information on project descriptions and associated qualifications.

The Global Terrorism Database Internship
National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START)
3300 Symons Hall, University of Maryland
College Park, MD 20742

Spring 2009 Semester Projects

Qualifications: Attention to detail, willingness to learn new skills, familiarity with Excel and use of the internet, Geography or other related discipline, and familiarity with ArcGIS

Tasks: Data collection (country-level variables for as many countries and years as possible), possible data entry (getting info from existing data sets collected for other purposes and entering it in a country-year format dataset), possible research into countries (splits, dates of independence, geo-coding of cities at time of incident)

Qualifications: Ability to work independently but to ask questions, ability to understand how to work with data in entry/collection, geo-coding experience as a plus

Tasks: Collection of data on terrorist organizations (for example, "birth" year, countries of origin, ideology, goals, counter-terrorism efforts, supporting contextual information)

Qualifications: Interest in terrorist organizations and their historical patterns of activity, attention to detail, insatiable curiosity; familiarity with accessing multiple types of information resources (including texts, journal articles, media sources, web sites, etc.)

Tasks: Assess data on pre-existing, open source terrorist incidents to determine whether the incident involved improvised explosive devices IED, and determine and code the types of IED attacks based on predetermined criteria

Qualifications: Interest in terrorist tactics and weapon choices and use of IEDs, attention to detail, ability to interpret complex directions and think independently, excellent written and oral expression, experience with electronic data and analysis as well as a knowledge of terrorist use of explosives and weapon choice is desirable but not necessary

Tasks: Systematically investigating errors or inconsistencies in the historical data (particularly as they are identified by analysts), proofreading text in the GTD and correcting typographical, spelling, and grammatical errors, and researching individual terrorist events as needed to verify data.

Qualifications: Interest in maintenance and improvement of large databases, attention to detail, excellent spelling and grammar skills, familiarity with accessing multiple types of information resources (including texts, journal articles, media sources, web sites, etc.)

Tasks: Researching individual terrorist events as needed to verify data and expand extant and incoming terrorism data and impromptu assignments (given the dynamic nature of terrorism, student should be prepared to assist in the data collection and analysis of present-day—and heretofore unexpected—developments in the terrorism milieu)

Qualifications: A strong interest in the dynamics of terrorism, general familiarity with electronic and hard-copy research methods, interest in maintenance and improvement of large databases, attention to detail, excellent spelling and grammar skills, proficiency with Microsoft Excel.

Tasks: Assist in compiling a database of ecotage incidents, help recruit participants for qualitative interviews, transcribe interviews

Qualifications: Interest in risk assessment of ecologically motivated groups, proficiency with Excel, detail-orientated, research experience a plus

11. Job Opening at the Embassy of Japan
School Program Coordinator/Office Manager

The Japan Information and Culture Center (JICC), Embassy of Japan, is seeking a highly motivated, team-oriented individual for the position of School Program Coordinator and Office Manager. Among various responsibilities that this person will hold are coordinating and presenting an educational program on Japan and Japanese culture and overseeing JICC’s office affairs. Please see below for a complete listing of responsibilities.

The Embassy offers group health insurance coverage, 15 days of paid vacation per year, a number of paid U.S./Japanese holidays, and sick leave. Working hours are from 9 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday with weeknight and/or weekend events several times a month (paid overtime). Salary is commensurate with experience.

Candidate must be a U.S. citizen or a U.S. green card holder. Only successful candidates will be contacted. Screening will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.

Responsibilities:
-Coordinating and presenting an educational program on Japan and Japanese culture (3rd grade and up)
-Promoting the school program and maintaining a reservation schedule
-Writing reports for each program (Japanese) and compiling data quarterly
-Heading JICC’s participation in culture events held at off-site locations, including the Embassy Adoption Program
-Serving as the liaison between JICC and building management (maintenance, billing, scheduling)
-Disseminating information on Japan to the public; responding to public inquiries on Japan
-Assisting other JICC staff in the preparation of cultural events

Requirements and Preferred Qualifications:
-Experience working with and/or teaching children
-Experience living or working in Japan
-Understanding of Japanese culture
-Strong public speaking skills
-Proficiency in Japanese and English preferred
-Strong computer skills (Microsoft Outlook, Word, and Power Point) preferred
-Superior communication skills
-Flexibility and resourcefulness
-Bachelor’s degree in related field

To apply:
Please e-mail or mail your cover letter, resume (as Word attachments only), and a copy of university transcript to: (university transcripts need not be official)

Kazuo Fukuda
Japan Information & Culture Center, Embassy of Japan
1155 21st Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036
jicchr@embjapan.org

http://www.us.emb-japan.go.jp/jicc/

12. The Hispanic National Bar Foundation is seeking Interns!

The Hispanic National Bar Foundation (the HNBF) is a nonprofit Washington, D. C. Corporation organized for charitable and educational purposes. The primary objective of the HNBF is to educate and provide opportunities for Hispanic Americans in the legal profession. The HNBF works to educate the public about the administration of justice for all Americans, foster respect for the law among Hispanics and support the involvement in and understanding of the American legal system by the national Hispanic community.

Program Description

Internships with the HNBF provide students with a unique opportunity to gain comprehensive insight into a National Hispanic organization. Along with gaining hands on experience interning with a Washington, DC charitable institution, this position provides students with the opportunity to network with top U.S. attorneys in diverse legal settings. The goal of this internship is to increase participation in foundation and non-profit settings by giving students exposure to the operation and growth of a not for profit educational organization in a dynamic and changing legal environment.

The position is part-time voluntary position and can accommodate a students flexible scheduling requirements. The Executive Director of the HNBF can coordinate with your college or university if the college or university is willing and approves course credit for this type of community service voluntary work. A commitment one semester or 6 months is preferred. The HNBF Internship Program is an Equal Opportunity Internship Program.

Skills Required

Writing and research, strong organizational skills, ability to handle multiple projects and tasks simultaneously.

Skills Preferred

Interest in or knowledge of education issues affecting Hispanics, an interest in attending law school in the future, and Spanish language skills.

For a full list of intern duties, please visit http://www.hnbf.org/Internships.aspx.

The HNBF offices are located on 1900 K Street NW Suite 100, Washington, DC 20006. To apply, send your resume and a one page cover letter to Cynthia Carrasco at ccarrasco@hnbf.org .

The newsletter is sent out everyday Friday to all current University of Maryland students who have declared and been accepted into the GVPT major. Only information relevant to academic and extra-curricular opportunities for these students will be sent through the newsletter. The government advising office reserves the right to edit and review all submissions to the GVPT newsletter and deny any submissions at their sole discretion.

If you would like to submit information or announcements, please email ADVISING@gvpt.umd.edu. Only those submissions which are denied or delayed will be contacted further.