GVPT 388I Dr. Vietri ([email protected]) Spring 2006 Office: 1141 TYD, ext 54152 UTA: Gary Studen Office hours: M:3-5pm;Tu:11am-1pm also by appointment PUBLIC POLICY INTERNSHIP SEMINAR Introduction Welcome to the weekly seminar for Public Policy Interns. The Government and Politics Department has broadly defined this program to include interns working in a variety or organizations that influence or are influenced by the public policy process. In addition to local, state, and federal-level governmental organizations, your classmates may be interning in associations, non-profit organizations, non-governmental organizations, law firms, public affairs offices of corporations. etc. What brings us all together in this seminar is the desire to learn and grow from each other’s experiences, to integrate the leading research to the actual day to day experiences you are having in a real-world public policy setting, and to share in each others’ career aspirations and journeys. Several outcomes are expected from the totality of the internship experience and seminar: (1) an integration of theory and practice; (2) pre-professional training; (3) work experience; (4) networking; (5) exposure to public service; and (6) working through the transition from social to organization life in a supportive classroom environment. Internship and Seminar Protocol Your supervisor will grade you on the GVPT 386 portion of the internship: pass fail and for either 3 credits or 6 credits depending on your time commitment. Evaluation forms are included with the syllabus to give to your supervisor. It is your responsibility to make sure that your supervisor returns this evaluation to me by May 17 in a sealed and signed envelope. Always remember that as an intern that you are representing not only yourself but also the GVPT Public Policy Internship Program and the University of Maryland, College Park. If you fail to show up for the internship or break your agreement with your supervisor, it will place our program in jeopardy. If you are having issues, don’t be reactive; let me know immediately. We want you to have the ‘best possible experience’. Sometimes the ‘best possible experience’ may not be optimal or the most pleasant but your learning in this case will end up being just as valuable as a more positive internship experience. Seminar protocol differs from the typical lecture class. Everyone is expected to participate equally by the end of the semester. If you have to miss a session for any reason or will be arriving late or leaving early, we would appreciate the courtesy of a phone call or email. Individualized Reading (500 pages) Since each of your internship assignments varies, you are responsible for building your own reading list that should include journal articles (Harvard Business Review, American Politics Quarterly, Public Administration Review), books on institutions and institutional politics (e.g. Congress, the Bureaucracy, Nonprofits, State government, etc), books and articles on leadership, and trade journals such as Government Executive,Congressional Record, etc. and internal publications (e.g. handbooks, reports, etc).The ratio of scholarly to internal publication pages should be 4:1. You will prepare a preliminary reading list for the midterm meetings. The readings will give all of your papers scholarly content especially the final paper.GVPT 388I page two Grading The course team will be evaluating your work in GVPT 388I using a regular grading format. Your evaluation will be based on the following: 10% participation 10% midsemester meeting 40% 5 assignments 20% papers 1,2 20% paper 3 All written work is expected to be research-driven and should be reflected in the individualized readings you chose to inform your intern experience. I would be happy to consult with you in this process. A work requires solid, scholarly research and high quality writing. Academic Integrity The University of Maryland, College Park has a nationally recognized Code of Academic Integrity, administered by the Student Honor Council. This code sets standards for academic Integrity at Maryland for all undergraduate and graduate students. As a student you are responsible for upholding these standards for this course. It is very important for you to be aware of the consequences of cheating, fabrication, facilitation, and plagiarism. For more information on the Code of Academic Integrity or the Student Honor Council, please visit http:// www.studenthonorcouncil.umd.edu/whatis.html. Seminar Themes and Assignments January 30 Overview, Introductions, and Expectations as Intern and Seminar Participant February 6 Working in your organization: Who are you? Assignment 1: assess your organizational style complete worksheet February 13 Getting to know your placement site: identifying your organization’s mission, management and leadership styles Homework: informational interviews with (former) interns, supervisors, co-workers, and leadership February 20 Working in your organization: structure and culture Assignment 2: bring in an organizational chart in overhead format and present to the class February 27 Exploring organizational dynamics: group processes, leadership, etc Paper 1: your internship in context: internal and external processes March 6 Researching the policy process and organizational involvement Assignment 3: email individualized bibliography one day prior to midsemester meeting March 13 No Class Tonight: Individual midsemester meetings this week Homework: reading in principled negotiationGVPT 388I page three March 20 Spring break