Division of Government Affairs
Congressional Internship Overview
INFORMATION SHEET
SUMMER 2013
OVERVIEW
As a service to Columbia and Barnard students, the Columbia University Office of Government and Community Affairs provides assistance to undergraduates interested in spending the summer interning in either the local or Washington, DC office of a United States Congressperson. In addition to assisting students as they apply for internships, our office also hosts events for Columbia students in D.C. throughout the summer and passes along information about exciting events and opportunities open to Columbians in our nation's capital. Those who wish to receive advice and guidance from the Office of Government and Community Affairs should register their intention to apply to a congressional office by emailing Kevin Brannon (kb2332@columbia.edu) with their contact information, home state, and the offices to which they intend to apply.
Limited funds may be available to students eligible for financial assitance. In order to be eligible, applicants must be students of Columbia College, the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, or the School of General Studies. Barnard College offers students completing unpaid internships access to the Alumnae and Donor Sponsored Internship Grant Program. More information, including deadlines and requirements, can be found at: http://www.barnard.edu/cd/
CHOOSING AN OFFICE
Summer internships in Washington, D.C. afford students the opportunity to gain first-hand experience with the inner workings of the federal government. While interns are most often not directly involved in policy-making, they gain valuable exposure to the procedure, politics, agenda setting and policy of the nation’s capital. Unlike Washington, D.C. offices, district offices do not usually concentrate on policy-making, but provide students with valuable experience in the constituent relations and casework.
The responsibilities of an intern may vary from office to office. In general, an intern will:
Washington DC Internship
Perform general office duties
Have an opportunity for involvement in one or more of the following:
- Attend committee hearings and prepare reports
- Research policy and legislation
- Draft correspondence, articles, and speeches
- Represent the office at meetings and briefings
- Lead tours of the Capitol for visiting constituents
- Answer constituent mail
District Office Internship
Perform general office duties
Have an opportunity for involvement in one or more or the following:
- Perform casework for constituents
- Record constituent sentiment on policy issues
- Answer constituent mail
Columbia does not grant students academic credit for completing congressional Internships. Internships are, however, listed on official University transcripts.
For more information on the Columbia University Congressional Internship Program, please contact Karen Jewett, Vice President, Government and Community Affairs at (212) 854-4344 (kej1@columbia.edu) or Kevin Brannon, Administrative Coordinator at (212) 854-3117 (kb2332@columbia.edu).
For additional information please refer to the website at: http://www.columbia.edu/cu/gca/index.html