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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