Internship and Funding Opportunities

1) Internship Forum:

Thursday, November 19
Spring Semester Climate Change Internship Opportunities – An open forum for students
5:00-6:00 pm, Main Hall, Room 210
Sponsored by the Climate Change Studies Program.
Students interested in doing a climate change-related internship next spring are welcome to attend this forum to learn about available opportunities and meet potential supervisors. Details will soon be provided on the CCS website for students who cannot make it to the forum.

2) That there are funds available for students for internships and research, $500-$2500, and up to $12,500 or more total. See attached. Applications are due December 1st, and must demonstrate connection to public policy in the US.

Student Funding Available
for Internships and Research in the Areas of Public Policy and Leadership

Application Deadline: December 1, 2009


The Public Policy and Leadership Initiative of the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Center is pleased to offer internship and research awards in the areas of public policy and leadership to both undergraduate and graduate students in amounts ranging from $500-$2,500.

The Public Policy and Leadership Initiative fosters civic responsibility in future leaders and furthers civil dialogue on domestic policy considerations. The program emphasizes the global nature of responsible decision-making; the ethical imperatives of leadership; and the skills necessary for careful policy analysis and development.

Priority will be given toward applications in the areas of representation and public discourse, low‑income or under-represented populations, and the environment, though awards will not be solely limited to these areas.

Grants will be awarded for use by both undergraduate and graduate students in Winter, Spring, and Summer 2010, for completion no later than July 31, 2010. Applications are due in the Mansfield Center by 5:00 pm on Tuesday, December 1, 2009. Depending upon the needs of the Fall applicant pool, a second round of awards may be announced in Spring 2010 for Summer 2010.

Grants will be made in two areas: internships and research.

Internships. Students must already have a specific internship in mind to which these funds would be applied (for example, an internship obtained through Internship Services, the Davidson Honors College, Missoula community partners, or personal contacts), though applicants may certainly consult with such UM departments as the Political Science Department, Environmental Studies, or the Mansfield Center on relevant opportunities.

Internship Application Criteria:
1. UM cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better. Please submit an unofficial UM transcript.
2. Suitability of the student’s academic program for a public service or leadership internship, as indicated by successful coursework in relevant fields such as American government, politics, history, economics, environmental studies, education, social work, or other public policy issues, though students will also be considered from other disciplines.
3. Evidence of interest in public policy or leadership, as indicated by a one-page resume.
4. A concise essay (500 words maximum) specifically noting the internship to be pursued, addressing how the internship would advance the student’s academic program and career goals, particularly in the realm of public service, and stating the student’s current interest in a specific public policy issue.
5. Contact information for two UM faculty members who can provide references on behalf of the student.
Research Grants. Students must have sufficient background in the discipline of the major to conduct meaningful research and the ability to develop and carry out a research project under the guidance of a faculty mentor. The student applicant must have the faculty mentor’s written agreement to work with the student. Each successful student applicant will be expected to submit research results to be made available via the Mansfield Center web site as a resource for the academic community as well as the broader public.

Research Grant Application Criteria:
1. UM cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better. Please submit an unofficial UM transcript.
2. Suitability of the student’s academic program for a public policy or leadership research project, as indicated by successful coursework in relevant fields such as American government, politics, history, economics, environmental studies, education, social work, or other public policy issues, though students will also be considered from other disciplines.
3. Evidence of interest in public policy or leadership, as indicated by a one-page resume.
4. A one-page abstract of your proposal. This abstract should be a 250-word summary of your project and the methods involved. Design it to convince the reader-judge of the project’s merit.
5. Provide a prospectus of approximately five pages in which you give a description of your project, a plan of how you will organize your research, and a preliminary bibliography (if appropriate). The prospectus should indicate the number of hours of student work anticipated per week.
6. A budget page, showing estimated research expenses for books, material, equipment, and student travel.
7. One letter of support from your faculty project director(s) or mentor(s).

Please submit your application including cover sheet with contact information to: Deena Mansour, Project Manager, Mansfield Center, Mansfield Library Fourth Floor, The University of Montana. For more information, e-mail deena.mansour@mso.umt.edu or call 243-2713. Awardees will be contacted by December 14 and posted on www.umt.edu/mansfield.

Application coversheet will be posted on the forthcoming UMCAN website and linked to in the blog

Application Deadline: 5 pm on Tuesday, December 1
at The Mansfield Center, MLIB 4th floor.
Only complete applications will be accepted.