Legislative Internship Program

Application Requirements/Qualifications:

• Be enrolled as a full time, degree-seeking, student at FGCU
• GPA: Required- 3.25 GPA either in the applicant's major or in all FGCU coursework; Preferred- 3.25 GPA or higher both in the applicant's major and in all FGCU coursework
• Credit Hours: Required- Completion of 30 credit hours; Preferred- Completion of 60 credit hours 

Preferred Knowledge and Skills:

• Interest in the legislative process
• Ability to organize and prioritize multiple competing tasks while maintaining attention to detail
• Ability to effectively communicate both orally and in writing in a professional manner
• Ability to operate independently and take initiative in a fast-paced and highly visible environment
• Ability to have transportation to Tallahassee and while in Tallahassee

Do you have to be a Political Science major to apply?

No.  All majors are encouraged to apply for the internship.

Is legislative experience necessary to apply?

No.  Legislative experience is not necessary to apply; just an interest in the legislative process.

Session Tasks/Activities:

Interns will function as support to elected officials, performing a wide range of tasks, such as collecting press clippings, researching issues, analyzing bills, tracking legislation, attending committee meetings, responding to constituent letters, and answering telephones.

Learning Goals:

• Expose students to the state legislative process while learning the jurisdiction and responsibilities of the Florida State Legislature, State Agencies, and the Executive Branch
• Opportunity to apply academic coursework to a "real world" work environment, while learning the activities and functions of government
• Develop skills necessary to be successful in the intended career and enter the workforce as a highly qualified candidate

Learning Outcomes:

• Employ professionalism and accountability in a work-based learning environment
• Increased understanding of government roles and the state legislative process
• Develop, assess and articulate skills, knowledge, and abilities related to future career
• Understanding of effective work habits and development of a strong work ethic, including time management, teamwork, organizational networking, and leadership

Credits:

Interns can earn up to 12 credit hours with course requirements determined by the assigned faculty member in coordination with the Office of Government Relations and the Political Science and Public Administration Department. 

Interns will also have the option to work with their academic/faculty advisor within their major or academic college to supplement additional credits received for the internship by enrolling in online or independent study courses.  If an intern selects this option, the Office of Government Relations must be notified.

What do I need to do to earn academic credits for the internship?

Students selected as interns meet with an assigned faculty member and the Office of Government Relations, who both will be responsible for the academic portion of the internship, and register for internship credits.

Interns will have mandatory academic requirements and trainings that require completion prior to an assignment of a grade and earning academic credits for the internship.

Who can apply?

Students who are enrolled as full-time, degree-seeking student, possess a GPA of 3.25 or greater, and has completed 30 credit hours are qualified to apply for the internship.

Training/Orientation:

• Attend Etiquette Dinner hosted by FGCU Career Development Services
• Orientation: Interns will be required to attend an in-person orientation held on the FGCU Campus during the Fall Semester, which may be conducted on a Saturday.  This training will simulate classroom learning and incorporate lessons from individuals from legislative offices, former FGCU Legislative interns, and the Office of Government Relations staff.  The orientation will cover topics, such as the legislative process, bill research, bill drafting, bill analysis, legislative etiquette, and House and Senate rules.
• Training: Interns will be required to complete mandatory online canvas modules before leaving for the Legislative Session in Tallahassee.  These modules will cover topics such as defining legislative terms, reading a legislative calendar, and understanding the different types of legislative bills. 
• Interns will be required to attend an in-person Legislative Boot Camp scheduled in Tallahassee the weekend prior to the start of the Legislative Session.  This training will give interns a deeper understanding and recognition of the necessary skills that will attribute to the success as legislative interns.

Academic Assignments:

Interns will have mandatory academic requirements through the Office of Government Relations that require satisfactory completion before the assigned faculty member can give a letter grade. 

Office of Government Relations Requirements with Satisfactory Completion:

Online Canvas Modules:

• Module 1- Introduction to the Legislature
• Module 2- Understanding the Legislative Process
• Module 3- Day to Day Operations
• Module 4- Bill Tracking
• Module 5- Confidentiality and Public Records

In-Person Mandatory Trainings:

• Understanding the Rules and Expectations
• The Process of Digital Badging

Online Mandatory Trainings:

• Insights from a Former Intern
• District Constituent Process and Procedures

In-Person Requirements:

• Etiquette Dinner hosted by FGCU Career Development Services
• Program Orientation
• Legislative "Boot Camp" in Tallahassee
• Capitol Dress Code
• Capitol Etiquette and Protocols

Professional Project/Digital Badge:

• Completion of Registration for Professionalism Badge
• Creation of an Artifact

Resume:

• Update resume with legislative internship

LinkedIN:

• Create a profile
• Update with legislative internship

NACE Career Readiness Assessments with the Office of Internships and Cooperative Programs

• Self- Evaluation- Pre-Internship
• Self- Evaluation- Post Internship
• Supervisor Evaluation- Post Internship

State University System (SUS) sponsored events:

• SUS Speaker Series

Eagle Career Network:

• Internship Registration
• Interns must complete at least 270 hours of internship-related work including transit to and from the internship location
• All working hours must be logged into Eagle Career Network before the end of the semester

*Internship hours logged through Eagle Career Network managed by the Office of Internships and Cooperative Programs and approved by the Office of Government Relations before the end of the semester.

Academic Requirements for Internship Credit:

Political Science Internship (POS 4941):

• Reflection Journal #1- Pre- Internship
• Reflection Journal #2- Post-Internship

*Interns will be required to complete academic assignments as outlined in the syllabus for the registered internship course.

Working Hours:

The internship program will begin the first week of the Spring academic semester and conclude in the last week of the Spring academic semester.  

Interns are required to attend weekly scheduled meetings with the Office of Government Relations.

How will I get graded?

Interns will have mandatory academic requirements and trainings that require completion prior to an assignment of a grade and earning academic credits for the internship.

Digital Badges connect your education to unique career pathways and help keep skills current for a lifetime.  FGCU partners with employers to create quality micro-credentials showing you have mastered the skills most in demand today. 

Interns can earn badges in the following areas: Industry-Specific and Transferable Skills. 

For more information: www.fgcu.edu/digitalbadges/

Stipend:

Interns are eligible to receive a $2,500 stipend disbursed before the start of the Spring academic semester.

Interns are required to meet with a financial aid advisor to determine their stipend eligibility based on their current financial aid package. If eligible, the stipend is deposited into the intern's Banner Account before departing for Tallahassee, Florida.

Program participants will work with Human Resources to apply as an Other Personnel Services (OPS) employee. 

Housing:

Interns are provided with furnished housing for 60 days, which includes the estimated payment of rent and utilities per unit of $10,340 while participating in the program and relocated to Tallahassee for the Legislative Session. 

Parking:

Interns are provided reserved parking for 60 days for an estimated cost of $200 while in Tallahassee during the Legislative Session.

A panel consisting of members from the Office of Government Relations, the Department of Political Science and Public Administration, the Student Government Association and the Office of Internships and Cooperative Programs will review the applications and select qualified applicants to advance to the interview stage of the selection process.

All applicants will begin to be notified of whether they are advancing or not to the interview stage in September.  Selected applicants will be notified in November. The Florida Senate and Florida House of Representatives determine the final approval on interns selected. 

Students are encouraged to submit applications throughout the year as the application process will be open-ended.  Qualified applicants will be considered for the next internship cycle.