While most University of Memphis students will start school allover again in the spring, a select few will spend their semester inNashville with Tennessee's government.
The U of M political science department is looking for 20students to fill internship positions with the Tennessee GeneralAssembly in Nashville through the State Legislative InternshipProgram, which allows students to spend the spring semesterinterning in the offices of the Shelby County delegation to theTennessee Senate or House of Representatives.
"We think it's a really great experience for students," saidMichael Collins, academic coordinator for the State LegislativeInternship Program. "It supplements what students learn in theclassroom."
In fact, much of what this internship program is about islearning outside of a classroom environment.
The program "helps students get past the formal knowledge intheir text books and see real life," said Shannon Blanton, chair ofThe U of M political science department.
Selected interns can expect to experience laws being made,committee hearings and receive a broad overview of state governmentwhile earning 12 hours of upper division credit and a paycheck.
"In the past, our interns have done research on bills,constituent work and attended committee meetings," Collinssaid.
While grades are important, the internship program is by nomeans limited to political science majors. Juniors, seniors, andgraduate students from any major can apply for the statewideinternship.
"Any student interested in doing business with the governmentshould apply," Collins said. "And lets face it, we probably allhave to deal with the government in some manner."
The program, started in 1978, has been very successful inhelping students find careers as legislative assistants, lobbyistsand campaign consultants due in large part to the connectionsstudents make while in Nashville, officials said.
"Students make contacts they may find useful down the road,"Blanton said. "I've known students who have used these politicalcontacts for recommendations to get into law school."
Another part of the program is learning to live selfreliantly.
"Interns will learn a great deal about the state government, butthey will also learn valuable people skills and how to liveindependently," Collins said.
Students are responsible for finding their own housing inNashville, but the department does offer assistance.
"We organize a meeting before the students leave to help themwith their living situations," Collins said.
While in Nashville, students work 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondaythrough Friday.
Seminars are held every Friday and have included appearances bySupreme Court Justices and members of the attorney general'soffice.
"This really is a first hand opportunity for students to observepolitical legislation behind the scenes," Blanton said.
For information on applying to the State Legislative InternshipProgram, contact the political science department, 678-2395.
