GVPT Undergraduate Newsletter

1. Maryland General Assembly

The Maryland General Assembly program still has a few spaces left for
outstanding students. Would you please share information about the
program with faculty and students who participate in your program?

This two-semester sequence offers students an unparalleled opportunity:

•To gain first-hand insights into the legislative process
•To write real documents for the state's legislators in Annapolis
•To create a portfolio of these documents to bolster job applications
as well as applications to law school or graduate school

In addition, completing this program fulfills the university's
professional writing graduation requirement.

UMCP students are in special demand in Annapolis, because we are the
only college or university that prepares students for the internships.
The three-credit fall course (ENGL381) teaches students how to
research legislative issues and how to write common legislative
documents. Thus our interns can hit the ground running.

For more information, contact : tlowderb@umd.edu.

There is a wonderful FREE opportunity for college (and high school) students this summer at the upcoming OCA (Organization of Chinese Americans) National Convention in Hilton Washington, 1919 Connecticut Ave., NW, Washington, DC. It's metro accessible near Dupont Cirlce. Below is the description.

The OCA National Convention will feature two days of workshops and discussion geared towards APIA (Asian and Pacific Islander American) college and high school students. Students will explore leadership, empowerment, and identity within the APIA community. Both days are free.

College Leadership Training: Thursday July 31, 2008

This is a full day of workshops on creating and developing a shared vision, empowerment in the APA community, leadership development and organizing. It is also a chance to meet other engaged student leaders in your area!

College Day, Sponsored by McDonalds: Friday August 1, 2008

College Day will be a series of workshops with possible topics focusing on media, politics, communication, education, activism, and career choices in the APIA community.

Exhibit / Career Fair- Friday August 1, 2008

An opportunity to meet with recruiters from Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, and other non-profit organizations about career opportunities for APIAs. Learn about job opportunities, submit your resume, and get on the spot interviews.

*Both days will be from 9a.m.-5p.m.

*Breakfast and Lunch will be provided

Hilton Washington

1919 Connecticut Avenue

Washington D.C. 20009

FMI: Contact Douglas Lee at dlee@ocanational.org or 202 223 5500

Announcing a Brand New Concentration in the Federal Semester Program for
2008–2009: Federal Homeland Security Policy!
Take a seminar on federal policy in the fall; participate in a federal
internship, with stipend assistance, in the spring.

For 2008–2009, we have just now opened a brand new concentration in the
Federal Semester Program: federal homeland security policy. Rising
juniors and seniors, of any major, interested in public policy, disaster
response, and terrorism and counterterrorism, are welcome to apply. This
program is sponsored by the Office of Undergraduate Studies in
collaboration with the START Center. This program is intended to add
value to your major. What a fabulous educational experience! What a
great item for your résumé.

The fall 2008 seminar is UNIV 348S, Federal Homeland Security Policy,
with Senior Policy Analyst Magdalena Bajll (Monday 6:30-8:15 pm,
Wednesday 6:30-7:30). In the spring, students will intern in a wide
variety of places, including the Department of Homeland Security, the
Federal Bureau of Investigation, and on Capitol Hill. Activities will
include workshops, field trips to Capitol Hill, and conversations with
leading homeland security policy-makers. Guidance is provided on
securing and participating in federal internships.

The seminar examines the concept of U.S. homeland security in the
context of recent history. It will provide students with an overview of
the nature of threats and major vulnerabilities that are the focus in
homeland security efforts. Students will analyze current homeland
security policy issues and discuss the future of the homeland security
enterprise. Students will also directly contribute to the Quadrennial
Homeland Security Review, the federal government's official assessment
of the success of the Department of Homeland Security over the past four
years.

Federal Homeland Security will be directed by Magdalena Bajll, a senior
policy analyst in the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Policy
and Strategic Plans. She has been with DHS since its inception and has
led a number of prominent disaster response and counterterrorism
projects. Such projects include the Universal Adversary Program,
designed to help Federal, State, local, and tribal intelligence analysts
understand terrorist groups and their intentions. Bajll helped to found
and served on the Hurricane Katrina Task Force, which assessed disaster
response and recovery efforts and resulted in major federal homeland
security policy changes. She led disaster preparedness efforts in
advance of the 2004 G-8 Summit, the 2004 Democratic and Republican
National Conventions, and the XIX Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City.

Apply now! For details and application forms, go to
http://www.federalsemester.umd.edu. Contact: Dr. Joan Burton, Assistant
to the Dean, Federal Semester and Individual Studies Program. She will
be happy to talk with you! Email: jburton1@umd.edu; phone: 301-314-1920.

Join us this fall for a real-world political seminar with real-world results.

Participate in the nation's first political immersion program and spend a semester abroad inside your own country. Earn academic credit while you live with a swing state host family, work at a paying job for a progressive organization, form a community with other young people, and gain a real-world civic education.

The Swing Semester 2008 program runs for 10 weeks, from September 2nd through November 7th, just after election day. Apply now to be one of our 260 participants across eight swing state cities. The program is for anyone, 18-26, whether or not you have prior experience in organizing or politics.

APPLICATIONS BEING ACCEPTED NOW!

For more information, please visit www.swingsemester.org

Tuition for our program is $1400, and includes housing and support finding a paying job.

Interested? Contact us directly at 202.736.5793 or at participate@swingsemester.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.