MONTGOMERY EXPERIENCE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1.) What is it?
The Montgomery Experience is an intensive, three-week internship course (PSC 399, 3 credit hours) that combines real work experience (120 hours) in a political or governmental office, academic reading and writing assignments, and some (optional) educational events, speakers, and and/or tours. This year, it’s offered during Interim Term (May 7 - 25, 2012).

2.) Who is eligible to take the course?

Students are selected to participate through a competitive process. Application guidelines are available at http://bama.ua.edu/~sborrell. Students who do not apply or who are not accepted through this process will not be permitted to register for PSC 399 for Interim Term.

3.) Where do students work as interns?

We are in the process of arranging a number of interesting work sites, including the Offices of Governor, Lt. Governor, Atty. General, and Public Service Commissioner; the State Budget Office; the State Department of Public Health; Alabama Dept. of Economic and Community Affairs; the Alabama Education Association (AEA); Manufacture Alabama (an interest group representing the manufacturing sector in AL); and the Alabama State Nurses Association. Student preferences and qualifications are considered in the process of matching students with jobs. Students who are accepted are guaranteed a good placement somewhere; but we cannot guarantee any student a particular assignment.

4.) What work will students do as interns?

Each worksite pledges to give students work that will help them learn about the political process and political issues in Alabama, but students need to understand that given the three-week duration of the program, and the fact that it takes place largely after the legislative session is over, the work will not always be as glamorous and dramatic as they might hope. Some offices prefer to assign their intern one large project that will take up most of their three-week assignment; others prefer to give students a small taste of a number of different kinds of tasks, maybe even working in different parts or divisions in the same office. Either way, an observant and open-minded student will learn a great deal both by doing and observing, and will have plenty to write about in their academic papers. Keeping a daily journal or blog will be a must!

5..) I have already done (or am planning to do) a Washington internship, which is also numbered PSC 399. Can I also take the Montgomery Experience for credit?

Students are allowed to take both the Washington Experience and the Montgomery Experience for credit, in the same years or in different years. However, no more than 6 hours total of PSC 399 credit may be applied toward a major or minor in political science.

6.) What will the academic assignments be like?

Students will write 3 6 – 8 pp. papers focusing on

a.) The educational and career paths of their colleagues at work
b.) The history, structure, and functioning of the agency or group they work for
c.) The “inside story” of an important issue or event that affects, or is affected by, their employing agency or group

and will submit a daily journal or blog of their work and related activities in Montgomery.

7.) What extracurricular activities can I participate in?

In the past few years, students have gone on optional tours of the Hyundai plant, Kilby state prison, various state agencies, and the State Capitol. We are hoping to be able to plan similar events and/or speakers in 2012.

8.) Where would I live in Montgomery?

In past years, Auburn University’s Montgomery campus has made short-term dormitory housing available for our interns for about $30-$35 a day; however students are free to live anywhere they choose in the Montgomery area, as long as they provide their contact information to Dr. Borrelli and their employers. This is NOT a UA “travel course” (e.g., a UA Study Abroad program); students are entirely responsible for their own transportation, financial, and lodging arrangements.