Legislative Internship Program

The program provides an opportunity for FGCU students to receive a full-time, internship that is scholarship supported during the Spring Semester of each academic year. Interns will receive hands-on experience learning about state political dynamics and the legislative process while working for a Senator or Representative in the Florida State Legislature. The program engages students in government and provides them with unparalleled access to Florida’s legislative process. Program participants will receive a well-rounded educational experience that complements their traditional classroom learning with real-world career experience by immersing the selected interns into the unique political, intellectual and cultural atmosphere of the Florida State Capitol.  Legislative Interns represent Florida Gulf Coast University, and therefore, the highest conduct is expected. Interns must adapt to a rigorous work schedule, and develop an effective working relationship with legislators.

• Be enrolled as a full-time, degree-seeking, student at FGCU
• Must possess a 3.0 GPA or greater
• Completion of 30 credit hours; Completion of 60 credit hours (preferred)

• Interest in, or knowledge of, the legislative process
• Ability to operate a personal computer with proficiency in Microsoft Office
• Ability to organize and prioritize multiple and competing tasks while maintaining attention to detail
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to effectively communicate both orally and in writing in a professional and collegial manner with a wide range of individuals and constituents
• Ability to operate independently and take initiative in a fast paced and highly visible environment
• Ability to have transportation to Tallahassee and legislative district office

• Expose and teach students the jurisdiction and responsibilities of the Florida State Legislature
• Expose and teach students the state legislative process
• Expose and teach students the activities and functions of a state legislative office

• Develop an enhanced understanding of the legislative process
• Develop an enhanced understanding of policy and constituent related research
• Develop written and oral communication skills
• Develop professional competencies in time-management, teamwork, organizational networking, and leadership

Interns will function as support staff to legislators, performing a wide range of tasks, such as, collecting press clippings, researching issues, analyzing bills, tracking legislation, attending committee meetings, responding to constituent letters, answering phones and more. As a result, interns learn about the legislative process and the many other functions of a legislative office.

A panel consisting of members from the Office of Government Relations, the Department of Political Science and Public Administration and Student Government will review the applications and select semi-finalists to advance to the interview stage of the selection process. All applicants will be notified of whether they are advancing or not to the semi-finalist stage no later than October 15. The panel will conduct in person interviews during the week of October 19-23. All semi-finalists will be notified of whether they are chosen as a finalist by October 26.

Interns will be required to attend an orientation in the FGCU Office of Government Relations and travel to their assigned Legislator’s District Office for a Meet and Greet. The orientation will cover topics such as the legislative process, bill research and drafting, bill analysis and tracking, legislative etiquette, and House and Senate rules.

Interns who successfully complete the Legislative Internship Program will receive 6-9 credits in internship credit hours.  Interns will have the option to work with their academic and faculty advisor within their major to supplement an additional 6 credits received for the internship by enrolling in online or independent study courses.

Interns are assigned to a professor in the Department of Political Science and Public Administration who will be responsible for the academic portion of the internship and final grade. The assigned professor will provide the intern with a syllabus outlining the academic course assignments, which are in addition to the hours worked in the Legislator’s office.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there are additional risks in participating in face-to-face experiential learning and interns have been made aware of these risks and have been provided remote alternatives to in-person experiences.  In participating in the in-person experiential opportunity, the intern will comply with the facility’s directions and CDC guidelines regarding personal protective equipment and social distancing and assume the risks of engaging in this activity.

The internship program will begin the first week of the spring semester and conclude on the last week of the spring semester. 

Interns are assigned to a Southwest Florida Legislator for whom they will work for in both their District Office and Capitol Office. The interns will work January-March in the Legislator’s Southwest Florida District Office and March-May in the Legislator’s Capitol Office in Tallahassee, Florida, throughout the sixty day Legislative Session.

Accommodations:

The Internship Program will provide interns with furnished housing, which includes the payment of rent and utilities ($6,500), while they are interning in their assigned Legislator’s Capitol Office for the Legislative Session.

Scholarship:

Interns are eligible to receive a $2,000 scholarship. The scholarship is deposited into the intern’s Banner Account prior to the start of the Spring academic semester.