GVPT Undergraduate Newsletter

October 5, 2007

 

In this issue:

- Advising Updates

- Special Assistants Positions in the Department of Transportation

- Provost's Conversation on Diversity, Democracy and Higher Education

- Current Issues Forum

- Diplomat Essay Contest

- 2008 UCPPIA Fellowship Program

- Internship Opportunities


Advising Updates

Spring Pre-Registration will begin October 25 with special populations.  To find out when your registration appointment is, look on Testudo, under Records and Registration -> Registration Appointment.  This will also tell you if you have any mandatory advising blocks from the department, the college or elsewhere. Please read the information below about registration to make this process as smooth as possible:

 

The GVPT Advising Office strongly encourages students to review their Degree Navigator academic progress report before coming to see an advisor. The report can be accessed online through www.testudo.umd.edu/Registrar.html Please make notes of any inaccuracies on the report and bring a copy with you.

               

Walk-in Schedule

Walk-in hours are posted online at the GVPT website: http://www.bsos.umd.edu/gvpt.

The advising office will be implementing walk-in advising based on credit level beginning the week of October 25. The advising schedule will be:

 

        Oct 25 - Oct 30: Special Populations (Athletes, AAP, etc.); 90+ credits earned prior to Spring 2006

        Oct 31 - Nov 5: 60+ credits earned

        Nov 6 - Nov 12: 30+ credits

        Nov 13 - Nov 23: 15+ credits

        Nov 26 - Dec 11: All students

 

We appreciate your cooperation in this matter.


Special Assistants Positions in the Department of Transportation

The Maryland Department of Transportation is looking for a special assistant for the Secretary's Office.  College grads.  Political science or business background.  Will perform some administrative tasks, but will be involved in day-to-day operations of the office - legislative affairs, communications, planning, etc. Please contact: Leif Dormsjo 410-865-1006 (O) 410-865-1340 (F) ldormsjo@mdot.state.md.us


Provost's Conversation on Diversity, Democracy and Higher Education

The Government and Politics Department invites you to the second Provost's Conversation on Diversity, Democracy, and Higher Education: "Dispossession and Collectivity: The Pursuit of Disability Rights in Order to Realize Democracy” Dr. Sharon Snyder and Dr. David Mitchell, University of Illinois at Chicago Wednesday, October 10, 2007 at 12:00-1:30 PM Maryland Room, Marie Mount Hall  A light lunch will be provided. This conversation will offer an exploration of how culturally-rooted disability studies seeks to accomplish curricular as well as social change under the direction of university-based programs and the inclusive efforts of disability services offices. For additional information please visit our website: http://www.provost.umd.edu/diversity/provostsconversations.html


Current Issues Forum

The Current Issues Forum (CIF), sponsored by the National Scholarship Office, is a series of discussions on contemporary topics moderated by University faculty. In these sessions, student participants have the opportunity to enhance their communication skills in a small group setting, as well as to receive feedback from experienced faculty advisors.

In the month of October, CIF features the following two events:
*International Law and American Constitutional Adjudication*
  Moderator – Professor Mark Graber, GVPT
  Monday, October 8, 3:00 pm - Reckord Armory, Room 0104
 

*Election Manipulation in the United States*
  Moderator – Professor Joe Oppenheimer, GVPT

  Wednesday, October 24, 3:00 pm - Nanticoke Room, Stamp Student Union

Participants must register online in advance, and will then be given access to the reading materials for each program: http://www.scholarships.umd.edu/CIF.html. Additional topics and dates will be posted on the National Scholarships Office website.


Essay Contest

STUDENT DIPLOMAT ESSAY COMPETITION

 

You are invited to submit compelling stories that articulate how your undergraduate international experiences have helped meet the United States’ need to understand global situations and compete in the global arena. NAFSA: Association of International Educators and Abroad View: the global education magazine for students are hosting an essay contest for a chance to become the next Student Diplomat. 

Please send your essay showing how your study abroad experience has changed you as an individual and as an American, contributed to global mutual understanding, and further shaped your worldview.

 

Competition Entrants Are Required to Address One of the Following

Questions:

 

1. SHAPING YOUR IDENTITY:

How has your study abroad experience influenced the way you view yourself as an American in the world? What lessons did you learn about being a global citizen?

 

2. FOREIGN POLICY:

Based on your study abroad experience, how do you think study abroad impacts U.S. leadership and foreign policy? How does it promote mutual understanding with other countries and cultures?

 

3. COUNTERING ANTI-AMERICANISM ABROAD:

How did your study abroad experience help to inform your view about the United States? How did your encounters in your host country contribute to the development of cross-cultural understanding and dialogue?

 

Eligibility: The Student Diplomat Essay Competition is open to individuals who have had an undergraduate study abroad experience, whether they are currently enrolled through an accredited college or university or have studied abroad since spring of 2003.

 

Terms: All submissions will be considered for publication by Abroad View and NAFSA: Association of International Educators. The winner will be awarded a cash prize of $150 and an STA Travel voucher worth $300.

 

Guidelines: Essays should be 1000 to 1400 words. The deadline for entries is November 15, 2007. Earlier submissions are welcome, as they will be reviewed on a rolling basis. All essays must include the following to be considered: Full contact name, complete contact information with e-mail address, college or alma mater, and your study abroad program along with the year you studied abroad. E-mail your essay to studentdiplomat@nafsa.org. If you have questions or need further information, please send an e-mail or visit www.nafsa.org/studentdiplomat.


2008 UCPPIA Fellowship Program

The University of California Public Policy & International Affairs (UCPPIA) Fellowship Program is accepting applications for summer of 2008.

Program Information

The University of California Public Policy and International Affairs (UCPPIA) Junior Summer Institute is an intensive seven week academic training program for college juniors. The summer institute prepares undergraduate students for graduate studies in public policy, international affairs and law. Participants complete course work in economics, statistics, and policy analysis; and visit local, state and federal government agencies and non profit organizations. Each year we select thirty students to participate in the program from across the country.  This summer, 10 slots will again be allocated to students interested in pursuing joint degrees in public policy and law.  In addition to learning the fundamentals of policy analysis, UCPPIA Law Fellows will be exposed to the skills necessary to gain entry to and succeed at a top law school.  This program is launched in conjunction with UC Berkeley School of Law. 

Benefits
Students selected to participate receive:
* Assistance with travel expenses to and from the Summer Institute
* $1000 Stipend
* Free room and board
* Free books and materials
* Free GRE or LSAT course
* A minimum $5000 fellowship from a consortium graduate school where the PPIA fellow is accepted
* Be eligible for paid internships and other professional development opportunities

Eligibility
-Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents
-Applicants must apply during their junior year of college
-Applicants must have a demonstrated interest in policy issues most affecting historically underserved communities, including African Americans, Asian Americans/South Asians, Native Americans, Pacific Islanders, Latinos/as and a commitment to working on these issues, as shown by past and/or current service.

Application
The application deadline is November 1, 2007
.

For more information and to apply, please visit our website at: 
http://gspp.berkeley.edu/ppia/index.html
 
Please contact Xuan Quach, UCPPIA Director, via email at xuquach@berkeley.edu or by telephone at (510) 643-8561 if you have any questions.


Internship Opportunities

	

Intern for Kucinich for President

Kucinich for President is seeking college students and recent graduates to work as interns at the campaign’s DC office. Interns will have the opportunity to work in fundraising, scheduling, press, or outreach. The internship is unpaid, but interns will gain valuable campaign experience working with key staffers. If any of your students are interested, they are more than welcome to contact sd9439a@american.edu for more information.

 

Intern for Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot

Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot's campaign office is seeking apaid intern this fall to assist in campaign fundraising. In particular this individual would help with research, fundraising list development, data entry, and provide staffing and logistical support for fundraising events in the DC and Baltimore metropolitan areas. Most of the research can be done online and from a home computer, but in some instances, you will be required to work from either our Silver Spring or Annapolis office's. Ideally, this intern would be available for 12-15 hours per week. Hourly wage negotiable. Please send resume and cover letter to tim.daly@gmail.com. The campaign office is hoping to fill this internship by October 1st.

 

Intern for Policy Review

Policy Review, the Hoover Institution's magazine, is in need of a research assistant/intern in the Hoover Institution's Washington, D.C., office in Dupont Circle.  The magazine is a bi-monthly journal about public policy, foreign affairs, and culture.  The research assistant's duties include researching policy and history topics for Hoover Institution fellows, assisting the editors with magazine production and copy editing, updating editor Tod Lindberg's website, and other office tasks.  Journalism and/or web experience a plus.  Ambitious research assistants will have the opportunity to write for the journal and will have access to D.C. think tanks and media organizations.  The ideal applicant is an independent worker and has interest in conservative media and policy analysis.  Hours are flexible around the student's class schedule and students may earn course credit if desired.

Please take a look at Policy Review's website, http://www.hoover.org/publications/policyreview, before applying.  Send inquiry and resume, or any questions, to office manager Sharon Ragland, ragland@hoover.stanford.edu.

 

          

Intern for NIAC

About NIAC:

 

Founded in early 2002, the National Iranian-American Council is a non-partisan, non-profit organization dedicated to promoting Iranian-American participation in American civic life. Further information is available on our website www.niacouncil.org

 

Internships - Washington, DC

NIAC accepts applications for part-time and full-time interns for Spring, Summer, and Fall to operate out of NIAC’s Washington DC office. Starting date is late January for Spring interns, late May for Summer interns, and early September for Fall semester interns. NIAC will assist in helping interns get school credit.

NIAC is currently accepting applications for Fall internships.

Qualifications:

NIAC seeks dynamic undergraduate or graduate students, preferably in international relations, political science, government, or public policy. Excellent written and spoken communication skills, a highly organized approach to work, and proficiency in the use of computers are essential. A working knowledge of Persian is a plus.

Responsibilities:

Interns work in conjunction with NIAC staff in Washington, DC, on NIAC's programs, including monitoring of Congressional activities, researching legislation, and drafting analyses and action alerts on issues related to immigration, civil rights, and foreign policy. Responsibilities also include covering Congressional hearings and policy conferences and writing reports for NIAC's website. Interns work on various NIAC civic education projects and collaborate closely with Iranian-American organizations across the country. Interns assist with program implementation, database management, community outreach, event planning, logistical support for staff activities, and other administrative duties.

To Apply: Please email resume, cover letter, writing sample, and the names and phone numbers of two references (professional or academic) to the attention of: Trita Parsi (tparsi@niacouncil.org)

Shabnam (Shamie) Sahandy
National Iranian American Council

1411 K Street NW,  Suite 600

Washington DC, 20005

 

Phone: (202) 386-6408
Cell: (410) 353-4352


ssahandy@niacouncil.org
www.niacouncil.org

 

          


 

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.