GVPT Undergraduate Newsletter

March 14, 2008

 

In this issue:

- Advising Updates

- KAUST Discovery Scholarship

- SGA Governance Board

- Teach for America's Recruitment Team

- Summer Mentorship Position

- Hamilton Project Prize Competition

- Study Abroad Scholarship

- Looking for Student Researchers

- Summer Seniors Scholars 
- Summer GVPT Courses

- Human Rights Study Abroad Course

- Internship Opportunities   


Advising Updates

 

If you have 75 credits or above, you will be required to complete an audit with GVPT Advising before you can register for Fall 2008 classes. You can check to see if you have a mandatory advising block by checking your registration time on www.testudo.umd.edu.

 

The advising office is now accepting applications for the Fall Capitol Hill Internship Program and the Summer and Fall Public Policy Internship Program. You can pick up applications in the advising office, 3104 Tydings, or on our website www.bsos.umd.edu/gvpt.

 

  Walk-in Hours for Spring Semester

  Walk in hours will be held this semester every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 1-5pm and every Tuesday from 1-3pm. Students can schedule

   appointments every Monday-Thursday from 9:00-11:30am and every Friday from 9:00-4:30pm.


KAUST Discovery Scholarship

 

The KAUST Discovery Scholarship is the general scholarship program of the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Saudi

Arabia. The program is designed for highly talented students from around the world who are qualified and eligible to enroll in KAUST for full Master degrees. Those who receive the scholarship will receive full tuition support, a living stipend, and summer and career enrichment programs. The fields of study will be science, engineering and technology. The web site for this information is http://www.kaust.edu.sa/students/discovery-scholarships.aspx


SGA Governance Board

 

The SGA is now accepting applications for the position of Governance Board Justice.  The Governance Board is a five-person judicial body responsible for ruling on cases regarding the constitutionality of SGA actions, violations of SGA policies and disputes between SGA-recognized student organizations.

 

The position is open to all majors.  No experience is necessary, although a minimum GPA of 2.0 is required and applicants must be in good judicial standing.  A Governance Board appointment is life-long.  This implies that justices may not run for other SGA positions for the duration of their undergraduate career.  All applicants are also subject to having their records checked by the Office of Campus Programs to verify their academic standing.

 

To access the application, go to the SGA homepage, http://www.sga.umd.edu/.  Send your completed application, resume, unofficial transcript, and cover letter detailing why you're interested in becoming a justice to Lauren Nielsen at SGA@umd.edu by 5 PM on Sunday, MARCH 23rd, 2008.


Team for America's Recruitment Team

 

Teach For America is seeking outstanding college graduates to join our team as a Recruitment Associate. This is a full time position with

salary and benefits.

 

Recruitment Associates will:

* Participate in the design and implementation of effective, wide-reaching campaigns on a variety of college campuses that include personal cultivation and marketing strategies

* Independently manage the recruitment campaigns on a set of campuses new to Teach For America's recruitment efforts

* Conduct data analysis to determine effectiveness of campaign strategy and execution

* Organize and provide logistical coordination for recruitment events, information sessions, career fairs and the visits of alumni and recruitment directors to campus

* Help to manage a team of student representatives who work on behalf of Teach For America's efforts on their own campuses

 

HIRING IMMEDIATELY FOR JULY 2008 START DATE. For more information and to submit your application, visit: www.teachforamerica.org/RA. If you have questions or would like to speak with a current Recruitment Associate, please contact laura.tailby@teachforamerica.org.


Summer Mentorship Position

The Maryland English Institute (MEI) at the University of Maryland College Park is offering three Student Mentor positions for a two-week English and American Culture program for undergraduate students from Japan, August 1 – 15, 2008.

Position Description Three Student Mentors will be retained for this program. The primary responsibilities of Student Mentors are to escort participants throughout the program and to generally serve as cultural interpreters. Mentors are responsible for accompanying students on field trips and excursions, participating in extracurricular activities, and assisting with and participating in social activities such as a welcome reception and a closing ceremony. Mentor positions require a substantial commitment, flexibility, and active involvement throughout the two-week program. During the week, activities are generally scheduled in the afternoon or evening, with some activities taking place on campus and others taking place off campus in the Washington, DC area. On weekends, mentors must be available for day excursions to sites such as Annapolis and Baltimore. Mentors will also be responsible for meeting the participants at the airport upon their arrival and escorting them to the airport upon their departure.

QUALIFICATIONS Candidates must be undergraduate students who are U.S. citizens who exhibit cultural sensitivity and possess excellent intercultural communication and leadership skills they can apply to explain U.S. culture, society and customs to participants.

COMPENSATION Mentors are paid $1,000.

HOW TO APPLY Applicants must submit a cover letter indicating their interest in the position, a current CV that highlights relevant experience, and two references from individuals who are familiar with their organizational and communication abilities. Send application materials to lsahin@umd.edu by April 18, 2008.


Hamilton Project Prize Competition

 

The Hamilton Project at the Brookings Institution invites students to participate in its second annual Economic Policy Innovation Prize competition. The Project will award $25,000 in prizes for the best innovative policy proposals written by undergraduate and graduate-level students. The top graduate-level proposal will be awarded $10,000 and the top undergraduate proposal will be awarded $5,000, with the remaining $10,000 divided among the runners-up. In addition to cash prizes, the winning students may also be invited to turn their proposals into discussion papers issued by The Hamilton Project.

 

The Hamilton Prize is open to students at accredited U.S. educational institutions. The deadline for submissions is August 1, 2008. For more information on The Hamilton Project, please visit our website at www.hamiltonproject.org. Please contact Karen Anderson at kanderson@brookings.edu with any questions.


Study Abroad Scholarship

 

A new $750 scholarship has been announced for all eligible applicants to the following course!  All admitted students will be awarded the scholarship and their program fee reduced to $2700.  This course presents a unique opportunity to study the process from domestic political activism to international policy awaits you in summer 2008.  International human rights attorney, Mark Bromley, and director of study abroad at UM, Michael Ulrich, have designed an innovative course that will take you from the national headquarters of organizations in Washington D.C. to the United Nations in Geneva and ending with an international festival and conference in Stockholm.  The specific focus of study will be the extension of existing human rights policies and practices to include greater freedom of sexual expression and identity.  The course will draw upon the experiences of those in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities but also to those from other groups seeking greater tolerance for individuals outside of traditional definitions of sexuality.  Such direct access to important players in the American political system, country representatives to the United Nations and world renowned political activists is a once in a lifetime opportunity.  Students may receive 3 credits in HONR, LGBT or UNIV for the experience.  More information can be found at http://www.international.umd.edu/studyabroad/5010 or by contacting Dr. Ulrich at mjulrich@umd.edu


Looking for Student Researchers

 

Maryland Student Researchers, administered by the Office of the Dean for Undergraduate Studies, introduces undergraduates to the discipline and rewards of scholarly research. Students spend four to six hours a week working with or under the direction of a faculty mentor on that faculty member's own research and receive an Undergraduate Research Assistant notation on their transcript at the conclusion of the assistantship. Participation in the program "makes the big store small" for undergraduates, since it allows them to work closely with faculty members outside the classroom and the opportunity to make significant contributions to faculty research.

One important aspect of the Maryland Student Researchers is that it is non-competitive. It is open to students of all majors and disciplines who have an interest in research. There is no GPA requirement, and research is available is all areas of the university, including humanities, social sciences, fine arts, engineering, biological sciences, physical and computer sciences, journalism, and education. The Faculty Directory is listed alphabetically according to college or school.

The following faculty members in GVPT are accepting applications from Maryland Student Researchers:

James Glass, jglass@gvpt.umd.edu

Frances Lee, flee@gvpt.umd.edu

Wayne McIntosh, wmcintosh@gvpt.umd.edu


Water is Life: Youth Leading Change on World Water Day

 
Learn more and APPLY TODAY!!

Join SMRC, AID, Food and Water Watch, Carnegie Council's Policy Innovations, Razoo.com, UNICEF, Vestergaard Frandsen, Chipotle, Water Advocates, Global Water and many more at the World Water Day Summit in Washington, D.C on March 22nd.

The summit will be a forum for dialogue, through panels, keynotes, workshops and service, between young people from around the United States and leaders, experts and social entrepreneurs on the issue of water and how it remains a global crisis. We are seven years away from 2015, the date that the Millenium Development Goals called for reducing by half the number of people who lack access to water. There is much work to be done. Join us in helping to meet that goal. Click here for a complete schedule.


Senior Summer Scholars

 

Senior Summer Scholars (SSS) is a competitive program sponsored by the Office of Undergraduate Studies that provides students funding to work with faculty mentors on scholarly research or artistic projects. For the summer of 2008, the program will provide stipends of $3,000 each to approximately 40 outstanding rising seniors. Awardees are expected to participate in SSS activities over the summer, submit research reports at the end of the summer, and participate in Undergraduate Research Day the following spring.

Applications should be submitted with two faculty recommendations and a research project proposal.  Applications are due to the Maryland Center for Undergraduate Research by Friday, March 28, 2008 and are available online:
http://www.ugresearch.umd.edu/programs/sss.html


Summer GVPT Courses

 

HUMAN RIGHTS IN WORLD POLITICS – ITS IMPACT IN LATIN AMERICA
    This course analyzes the historical development and growth of human rights as a distinct international regime, with a vast send of universal norms, governmental and non-governmental national, regional and world actors, mechanisms for implementation with a wide range of operational tools, from declaratory statements, through fact-finding, investigation missions, condemnation for gross violations and cultural, diplomatic, economic and military sanctions. The old concept of sovereignty is being challenged by humanitarian intervention and the responsibility to act. Current criticism arises on the will and ability of the international community to enforce such decision globally, and a discussion will focus on “too little too late” and double standards.
Such process has impacted Latin American political development, was instrumental in the process of transition and consolidation of democracy and currently in the claim for socio-economic as well as indigenous rights. Students will be ask to prepare papers on selected cases studies from the region.

 

Human Rights Study Abroad Course

 

A unique opportunity to study the process from domestic political activism to international policy awaits you in summer 2008.  International human rights attorney, Mark Bromley, and director of study abroad at UM, Michael Ulrich, have designed an innovative course that will take you from the national headquarters of organizations in Washington D.C. to the United Nations in Geneva and ending with an international festival and conference in Stockholm.  The specific focus of study will be the extension of existing human rights policies and practices to include greater freedom of sexual expression and identity.  The course will draw upon the experiences of those in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities but also to those from other groups seeking greater tolerance for individuals outside of traditional definitions of sexuality.  Such direct access to important players in the American political system, country representatives to the United Nations and world renowned political activists is a once in a lifetime opportunity.  Students may receive 3 credits in HONR, LGBT or UNIV for the experience.  More information can be found at http://www.international.umd.edu/studyabroad/5010 or by contacting Dr. Ulrich at mjulrich@umd.edu


 

Internship Opportunities

 

Reicken Foundation

 

The Riecken Foundation is a non-profit international foundation dedicated to promoting prosperity and democracy in Central America by building and supporting rural community libraries. The Foundation is currently offering two non-paid internships for the summer of 2008 for undergraduate and graduate students interested in exploring careers in international development. The length of the internship is negotiable, but will be for no less than two months. An internship with the Riecken Foundation offers a unique experience of working in our DC office, supporting both programmatic and administrative efforts to create dynamic spaces for discovery, learning and social participation in Guatemala and Honduras.

 

For more specific information about the Riecken Foundation, please visit our website at www.riecken.org

 

Duties will vary depending on skills of the Intern and the needs of the Foundation. Likely responsibilities include:

-Assist in the development of training materials/manuals—copy editing, design components, and content.

- Develop learning materials for specific programming.

-Compile information or research.

-Write news releases for website and outside audiences.

-Communicate with field offices.

-Assist with file management.

-Update website content.

-Translate documents.

-Help with travel arrangements.

-General administrative duties.

 

Requirements:

-Fluency in Spanish

-Strong writing and research skills

-Flexibility, creativity, and initiative

-Ability to work autonomously with little supervision

-Knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, Illustrator

-Availability to work for at least two months

 

How to apply:

Email cover letter and resume to

intern@riecken.org

-Cover letter should include the following information:

Any special skills you would bring to the internship

Dates and hours of availability

 

 

NIH- Children's Inn

The Children's Inn at NIH is a private, non-profit, family-centered residence for pediatric outpatients at the National Institutes of Health and for their families. Its purposes are to keep children together with their families during serious illness, reduce their stress and facilitate their healing through mutual support.

TCI is a unique public-private partnership.  Candidates would have the opportunity to be exposed to federal policies and procedures as well as the operations and management of a non-profit organization.  For those interested in working with children and families managing chronic and/or life-threatening illness, the Inn offers a unique opportunity.  

Rotations in the following areas are among the options, with the possibility of additional rotations based on the needs of candidates and the organization:  

Child and Family Programming

Financial Management

Human Resources

Property Management

Facilities

Residential Program Operations

Non-profit Management

Legal Issues in a Non-profit Operating within a Federal Environment

Clinical Administration

Fundraising and Public Relations

Association Management

Board and Committee Administration

Volunteer Management

 

TCI is looking for motivated Juniors, Seniors and Graduate Students who are positive, energetic and compassionate; have the ability to work with families in crisis, are flexible and adapt to priority changes; are reliable and committed; pay attention to detail; enjoy learning new things; strive to produce high-quality work; conduct themselves in a professional manner and are very organized.

 

Majors/backgrounds which would best fit our internships include: Behavioral & Social Science, Social Work, Healthcare, Public Health, Business Administration/Management, Public Policy, and Architecture & Construction, but we are open to others who may be interested in a non-profit or hospitality house environment. Through the development of a training plan by the agency, mentor and intern, internships at TCI are tailored to meet the specific needs of each individual and include challenging projects and tasks that are both meaningful and stimulating. Additionally, our experienced mentors and managers work side by side with interns offering invaluable insight to maximize the experience.

 

Interested candidates may learn more about The Children’s Inn at NIH by visiting www.childrensinn.org. To submit your resume or to request additional information, please contact:

Tammy F. Pinson, MS, SPHR

Director of Human Resources

The Children's Inn at NIH

7 West Drive

Bethesda, Maryland 20814

(301) 451-9458 (office)

(301) 402-6884 (fax)

www.childrensinn.org

pinsont@mail.nih.gov

 

 

NAACP

The NAACP Youth & College Division has partnered with the AT&T Foundation to host a six-week fellowship and internship program during the summer of 2008. The program will run from June 14th to July 25th, 2008. This program will provide undergrad and graduate students with the opportunity to work in the NAACP offices in Baltimore, MD, New York, NY, or Washington, DC. As an NAACP/AT&T Fellow or Intern you will work with NAACP staff on relevant matters concerning organizational issues, education, health, civic engagement, juvenile justice and economic empowerment. Through this program you will gain valuable non-profit experience and networking opportunities, while increasing your knowledge about various aspects of the civil rights movement. As a Fellow or Intern you will also have the opportunity to attend the Annual NAACP Convention in Cincinnati, OhioAll NAACP/AT&T Fellows and Interns will receive a stipend and lodging assistance may be available. Transportation to and from the internship city

will not be provided.

 

How to apply:

X Complete and sign the attached application

X Provide a current resume

X Provide an unofficial copy of school transcript

X A short essay discussing why you consider an internship or

fellowship with the NAACP to be a valuable experience. (Not to exceed 300

words)

 

Mail your application to:

NAACP Youth & College Division

4805 Mt. Hope Drive

Baltimore, MD 21215

Attn: Youth & College Division- Summer Internship

Application Deadline: March 18, 2008

 

Develop Intern for NASA

SSAI sponsors paid internships, through NASAs DEVELOP Program, for students to extend science research to local communities. Student teams are forming at Goddard Space Flight Center, UMD- College Park and George Washington University. DEVELOP students initiate projects in response to challenges that communities introduce at leadership forums such as governors' conferences and association meetings. Projects are designed to achieve the widest coverage of NASA's Applications of National Priority using NASA's science missions and models. Each project requires partnerships with the target community to achieve the greatest return on investment. Students work with state, local and tribal governments, industry, non-profit organizations and federal agencies to attract long-term technology and education benefits to the community.

 

The DEVELOP Program began in 1998 with three students who wrote a paper titled "Practical Applications of Remote Sensing". Founded at NASA Langley Research Center, DEVELOP grew to include 52 students participating by May 2000 under the former Digital Earth Program. In December 2001, DEVELOP was given the mandate to become a NASA National Program. DEVELOP has grown nationally and now has activity at six NASA Centers and at seven regional locations.Mail all application materials as listed on DEVELOP Application.

 

Applications and more info on http://develop.larc.nasa.gov Materials requested: Letters of Recommendation, All transcripts, Application form (including essay), see application online for official document requirements

 

Location: College Park, MD

Salary: $9-12/hr, 20 hrs/week during spring

Work authorization: U.S. Citizenship, Permanent Resident

For questions please contact: Massimiliano Ferrucci Email: massi@umd.edu  Phone: (301) 614 5935

 

 


Rules for the GVPT Newsletter

The newsletter is sent out each Friday before 12 pm 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.