AMERICAN INDIAN PROGRAM

WASHINGTON INTERNSHIPS FOR NATIVE STUDENTS (WINS)

The Washington Internships for Native Students (WINS) provides an opportunity for Native American and Alaskan Native students to live in Washington, D.C., gain professional work experience through an internship, and earn academic credits. Participants intern in a federal agecny or at a private firm; take courses focusing on Native American public policy concerns; and enjoy social and cultural activities.

This program is offered free of charge to eligible students through a scholarship grant funded by American University and sponsoring organizations.

Eligibility

American Indian and Alaska Native students* who are enrolled in a college or university as a sophomore, junior, senior, or graduate student in good academic standing are eligible to apply to participate in WINS.

* All require membership in a recognized tribe for this scholarship.

Stipend

Participants receive a stipend to cover most incidental expenses.

Academic Course Work

The 6-credit summer program is designed specifically for Native students. Students receive three credits for the internship and related class and three credits for the academic course. The academic course covers topics important to Native communities such as tribal sovereignty; trust responsibilities; health and social welfare issues; and gaming and economic development concerns.

Workplace Internship

Special arrangements are made with a wide range of federal agencies, private sector, and Native organizations to provide a focused internship experience for WINS participants.

Internship Opportunities

Students intern in a variety of Washington, D.C. organizations. Recent WINS participants have interned with:

· Department of Agriculture*

· Bureau of Indian Affairs

· Department of Labor

· Department of Veterans Affairs ·

National Institutes of Health

· Department of Health and Human Services

· Social Security Administration

· Department of Justice

· Department of Defense

· Federal Communications Commission

· Federal Burea of Investigations

· Department of the Treasury

· Environmental Protection Agency

· Law offices of Akin, Gump, Strauss, Haver & Feld, LLP

Applications for summer semester are due the first Friday in February.

Schedule for summer 2006 isn't posted yet. Summer session for 2005 ran from May 31 - July 30, 2005.

Information

Special thanks to Kathie for sharing this information.

Contents

January 2006 Reports

Last updated on January 10, 2006