New program sends students to D.C.

Updated 10:00 AM March 07, 2005

New program sends students to D.C.

By Allison Yang
Office of the Vice President for Communications

The University has developed a program for highly qualified students to spend a semester in Washington, D.C., to gain unique experiences that will help them compete in the workforce.

"Having experience like this—a combination of the real world and education—is terrific. It will be life-changing for many students," says Edie Goldenberg, faculty director for the Michigan in Washington Program and professor of political science and public policy.

The program committee has selected 20 students to participate in the first semester of the program, which will begin in fall 2005.

"I think it gives students the opportunity to experience their interests in a contextualized, urban way, in ways not available in other areas of the country," says Jessica Evans, an LSA junior. "This is especially true in the field of politics or law, but Washington, D.C., also has museums and arts and other places where students can broaden their studies."

Students participating in the program will spend the semester working 32 hours per week in an internship and developing an independent research project on a topic of their interest drawn from their internship. Additionally, students can select one to two elective courses to bring their course load to 12 to 15 credits. U-M professors and local leaders will teach the courses.

Thanks to the response of alumni and friends in the D.C. area, the program already has an inventory of more than 100 internship possibilities, and the number keeps growing, Goldenberg says. Students will live in apartments made available through the Boston University Washington Center—a central location that is accessible to the D.C. community.

"We've taken an active role working closely with the University's political science department, assisting in the research of other universities' programs and serving as a source for all Washington information," says Cindy Bank, assistant director of the U-M Washington, D.C., office. Bank adds that the office is helping by looking into internship possibilities and working with the local alumni club to develop a mentorship program.

Other universities across the nation have similar programs, including Cornell University, the University of California system and Michigan State University.

"We really have not seen any failures in other universities' programs—only successes. They're all just good programs that allow students to really learn what Washington is all about," Bank says.

While many programs are geared toward political science majors, Michigan in Washington encourages students of all disciplines to apply.

"We received 30 applications for the program, which is great for our first time," Goldenberg says. "The students come from majors in business, organizational studies, sociology, women's studies, environmental studies, economics, communications and psychology, as well as political science."

Because the program costs approximately $3,000 more for students than living and taking classes in Ann Arbor, the program, with the provost's help, has made "a commitment to provide all additional costs for students with financial need," Goldenberg says.

Initial funding for the program comes from a three-year grant awarded by the University and LSA. The University hopes to extend the life of the program through private donations, Goldenberg says.

Applications for the winter 2006 semester are due in September. For more information, visit http://www.michiganinwashington.lsa.umich.edu.

New program sends students to D.C.

More Stories