A few new announcements about opportunities for undergraduate research and peer consulting. Research Assistant positions for spring semester:
Professor Eric Plutzer is soliciting applications to serve as a part-time research assistant during the current semester. One or two students shall be selected.
The Topic: Did you know that young adults who attended community colleges have higher voter turnout rates than young adults who attended four year colleges? The project concerns the ways that community colleges spur civic engagement and promote political participation among their students. This undergraduate research experience is made possible by a generous gift from James and Deborah Newell.
Details: Students will work approximately 8 hours each week and will be paid $8/hour. The project will begin before the end of January and run through the last week of classes. Initial work will involve internet research and may later move to classifying the civic engagement and service learning programs of roughly 600 community colleges. Some database work may be involved later in the semester.
Application deadline and guidelines: Students should send a resume, unofficial PSU transcript and a brief note (1-2 paragraphs) indicating their interest and motivation for this position. Emailed applications are encouraged. Email to Plutzer@psu.edu with "RA APPLICATION" in the subject line. Application deadline is January 26th or until the positions are filled.
Peer Consultants Needed for Fall 2006
Applications are being accepted to be a peer consultant in the fall. Peer consultants are paid and work between 1 and 4 hours a week. To apply, bring a letter explaining why you would be a good peer consultant, your resume, and an unofficial transcript to 202 Pond. Peer consultants should be good students with strong interpersonal skills. Internship experience is a plus! If you are curious about what the job involves stop by and speak with Mary Cameron or our current peer consultants, who are on duty from around 11-3 each day.
Financial Support for Internships and Study Abroad
Alumni of The Political Science Department have made available funds to use to support student study abroad, internships, and research. These awards are made on competitive basis.
We'll announce the due dates for these applications later in the semester (in March or April) but in the meantime we'll accept them on a rolling basis. Submit applications to Ginny Struble in 202 Pond Lab. Email submissions are not accepted.
For Internships: If you have been accepted into an internship, or have an application pending, you can apply for internship support. Some of these funds are limited to students with demonstrated financial need. This information comes to us from the College of Liberal Arts. For internship support please submit a 1-2 page letter describing your internship, its relationship to your course of study, and expected expenses. Let us know if you will be receiving a stipend or pay for the internship. Include as well a resume and unofficial course transcript. Please update us if there are any changes in your internship plans after submitting the application.
For Study Abroad: If you are planning on studying abroad submit a 1-2 page description of your plans and how they relate to your course of study in Political Science or International Politics. Include as well a resume and unofficial course transcript.
For Research:In 1-2 pages, describe your research and how you will use research funds. Submit a budget, list of other financial support (if applicable), unofficial course transcript, and a resume.
Some of you may already be applying for support from the College of the Liberal Arts. Enrichment requests from Liberal Arts should be accompanied by the information above.