Legislative Internship Program

Application Requirements/Qualifications:

• Be enrolled as a full time, degree-seeking, student at FGCU
• Must possess a 3.25 GPA or greater
• Completion of 30 credit hours; Completion of 60 credit hours (preferred)

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.

On the Job Tasks/Activities:

Interns will function as support staff 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 and teach students the jurisdiction and responsibilities of the Florida State Legislature and State Agencies
• Expose students to the state legislative process
• Expose and teach students the activities and functions of a government office

Learning Outcomes:

• Increased understanding of government rules and the state legislative process
• Development of enhanced research skills and understanding of policy and constituent related research
• Expansion of written and oral communication skills
• 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 15 credit hours with course requirements determined by the assigned faculty member in coordination with 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 an additional 6 credits received for the internship by enrolling in online or independent study courses.  If an intern selects this option, 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 from the Political Science and Public Administration Department, who will be responsible for the academic portion of the internship, and register for internship credits.

Can Freshman and Sophomores 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.

What if I am earning a degree in another major and do not need or will not benefit from political science credit or general and/or restricted elective credit, can I substitute credit within my major?

The Government Relations Department will work with a student and the academic advisor within their major to ensure the student registers for the credit hours required for their major. 

Training/Orientation:

• Orientation: Interns will be required to attend an in-person orientation held on the FGCU Campus during the month of November, which may be conducted on a Saturday.  This training will simulate classroom learning and incorporate lessons from individuals from legislative offices, political science/public administration faculty, former FGCU Legislative interns, and 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 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 Government Relations that require completion prior to an assignment of a grade by the assigned faculty member in the Department of Political Science and Public Administration who will be responsible for the academic portion of the internship and final grade.

These assignments will include but are not limited to online modules, attendance and participation at in-person activities, internship hours logged into Eagle Career Network, a constituent workshop, and a written assignment.

Hours Logged:

A minimum of 270 working hours, including transit to and from Tallahassee, within the Spring academic semester are required to receive full academic credit for the internship.

All hours must be logged in to Eagle Career Network. 

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 Government Relations.

How will I get graded?

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

Scholarship:

Interns are eligible to receive a scholarship disbursed before the start of the Spring academic semester.

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

How will the scholarship money be disbursed and how often?

Students selected as interns are required to meet with a financial aid advisor to determine their scholarship eligibility based on their current financial aid package.

If eligible, the full sum of the scholarship is deposited into the intern's Banner Account.

Housing:

Interns are provided with furnished housing for 60 days, which includes the estimated payment of rent and utilities per unit of $8,500 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 $180 while in Tallahassee during the Legislative Session.

A panel consisting of members from Government Relations, the Department of Political Science and Public Administration, and the Student Government Association 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. 

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.