Legislative Internships
Recognizing the need to provide educational opportunities not typically available to students in the traditional academic setting, the Connecticut General Assembly has established an internship program to acquaint students with both the formal and informal aspects of the legislative process.
The program seeks to encourage a high level of personal interaction between legislators and interns, who serve as aides to their assigned legislators. A major objective of the program is to prepare interns to perform the necessary support services desired by the legislators for whom they are working, i.e., bill analysis and tracking, spot and in-depth research, drafting of news releases and speeches, liaison work, constituent casework, etc. The needed support varies substantially from one legislator to another.
Don't Miss This Opportunity!
-
See how state government works firsthand.
-
Work one-on-one with a state legislator and General Assembly staff at the State Capitol.
-
Earn credit while gaining job experience.
Qualifications
All undergraduate students who are attending two or four year institutions of higher education in Connecticut and state residents attending out-of-state colleges may apply to the program. Although students from all disciplines are considered, preference is given to upper-class students and students whose experience and academic background offer some preparation for the work they will undertake. In addition, some consideration is given to contributions that the applicant has made to his or her college and community.
Both full-time and part-time internships are available. Full-time interns are expected to work five days a week, regular working hours. Part-time interns are expected to work two full days a week. Most interns are part-time.
Selection and Placement
Selection is made by the Committee on Legislative Staff Internships. The Committee will interview candidates and decide who will be offered an internship, both full-time and part-time, to serve in the legislative session. The application deadline varies from campus to campus, but ranges from mid-to-late October. See your campus liaison for the specific deadline of your campus.
Interns are assigned to groups of legislators. A major goal of the internship program is to establish a workable and mutually beneficial relationship between legislators and interns.
Duration
The program takes place during the spring semester. Start dates will vary based on a long or short session but generally starts around mid-January. The length of the program is based on the number of weeks required to fulfill the hourly requirements to receive academic credit.
Get Started
You are required to have permission from your campus liaison to apply. Contact your campus liaison from the list below to learn how.
Asnuntuck
Professor Teresa Foley
Email: teresa.foley@ctstate.edu
Phone: 860-253‑3148
Capital
Professor Marsha Bryant
Email: marsha.bryant@ctstate.edu
Phone: 860-906-5236
Gateway
Professor Joe Maynard
Email: joseph.maynard@ctstate.edu
Phone: 203-285‑2407
Housatonic
Professor Sean Brown
Email: sean.brown@ctstate.edu
Phone: 203-332‑5168
Manchester
Professor Angelo Messore
Email: angelo.messore@ctstate.edu
Phone: 860-512‑2755
Middlesex
Professor Tad Lincoln
Email: tad.lincoln@ctstate.edu
Phone: 860-343‑5817
Naugatuck Valley
Professor Venuk Lawrence
Email: lawrence.venuk@ctstate.edu
Phone: 203-596‑8643
Northwestern
Professor Ryan Garesio
Email: ryan.garesio@ctstate.edu
Phone: 860-738-6300
Norwalk
Professor Steven Glazer
Email: steven.glazer@ctstate.edu
Phone: 203-852-1300
Quinebaug Valley
Professor Jayne Battye
Email: jayne.battye@ctstate.edu
Phone: 860-932‑4057
Three Rivers
Professor Phillip Mayer
Email: philip.mayer@ctstate.edu
Phone: 860-215‑9453
Tunxis
Professor Rafaele Fierro
Email: rafaele.fierro@ctstate.edu
Phone: 860-773‑1624