Honors College takes to The Hill


In the midst of uncertainty in the 113th Congress, FIU in D.C. welcomed students from the Honors College’s “Confronting America” class to the nation’s capital. The students visited the week of March 11, and FIU’s Office of Governmental Relations was there to provide an insider’s perspective on lobbying to advance the university’s priorities.

 

Honors College students with Prof. Steve Fain on the rooftop of FIU's Federal Relations Office.

Honors College students with Prof. Steve Fain on the rooftop of the Federal Relations Office.

Led by Professor Steve Fain, who has led this trip for 10 years, the course takes third-year honors students and engages them to think critically about the behavior of the nation and its people. In addition to a briefing by Federal Relations intern and Honors College alumnus Sanjeev Udhnani, the team of 16 students toured national monuments and the F.B.I., and spoke to prominent alumni working on the Hill.

Alumna Amy Smith, policy director for the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, gave the students a behind-the-scenes look at the operations on the floor of the House of Representatives. She offered students a first-person account of the life of a Congressional staffer.

“This trip to D.C. has really given me a greater understanding of how the federal government operates,” said Christian Tennant, a junior in electrical engineering. “I really enjoyed meeting with the FIU staff in D.C. to see all the cool things they work on here on the Hill.”

 

Honors College Students listening to Amy Smith about how DC works.

Honors College students listening to FIU alumna Amy Smith, policy director for the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, who spoke about how D.C. works.

 

Stem Education & Financial Aid

The House Science Committee’s Research Subcommittee held a hearing the week of March 11 focused on STEM Education Industry and Philanthropic Initiatives, featuring innovative contributions by companies such as Honeywell and Intel that help reform curriculum, engage K-12 and provide a pipeline for the future scientific workforce. FIU’s own reforms in these areas now seek greater federal support  to make a greater difference in South Florida.

As Congress prepares to renew the Higher Education Act, hearings on the Hill continue to focus on the future redesign of the federal financial aid system and possible changes to federal student loans.  Read more:  Inside Higher Ed

Seeking Applicants for D.C. Internship

Applications are now being accepted for FIU’s summer federal relations internship. Each semester, this internship offers a hands-on leadership experience for FIU students or recent graduates to help advocate on the university’s behalf and expand FIU’s profile in Washington. The student selected will become a critical element of the university’s federal advocacy operation. He or she will work on a full-time basis in a fast-paced, intense work environment and will have the opportunity to interact with elected officials, agency appointees and university executives.

The ideal candidate is a self-driven, persuasive, professional individual who is passionate about FIU. Excellent research and writing skills are a must. This internship is ideal for persons interested in a career in the public sector or politically-related fields, but it is open to students of all majors. Additionally, experience in social media/networking platforms is required.

We are proud of the individuals who have served as our interns over the past 12 years. They continue to represent us well in their respective careers to date.

Interested applicants can review the criteria and find an application here. For more information, please send an email to federal@fiu.edu or at 202-737-8171.

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