State Sen. Bruce McPherson, R-Santa Cruz, announced today the
availability of applications for the 2004-2005 California Senate
Fellows Program.
State Sen. Bruce McPherson, R-Santa Cruz, announced today the availability of applications for the 2004-2005 California Senate Fellows Program.
Established in 1973, the program provides college graduates with the opportunity to become full-time Senate staff members for 11 months beginning in October 2004. Fellows are assigned to the personal or committee staff of a Senator and also participate in academic seminars with Senators, senior staff, journalists, lobbyists, and state government officials. The fellowship program is operated jointly by the California Senate and the Center for California Studies at California State University, Sacramento (CSUS).
In addition to earning 12 units of graduate credit from CSUS for the academic portion of the program, fellows are paid a stipend of $1,882 a month plus health, vision, and dental benefits.
“California is constantly breaking new ground in the public policy arena,” said McPherson. “Being a Senate Fellow is perhaps the best way to gain first-hand experience with the legislative process in an environment unmatched in its expertise, innovation and inspiration.”
Senate Fellows are principally involved in the functions of a busy Senate office. Responsibilities include helping develop legislative proposals, researching and analyzing bills, assisting with constituent casework, and writing press releases and speeches. Designed to broaden the perspective of those planning academic, business or government careers, the Senate Fellows program provides valuable training for those with career goals in the public or private sector.
Anyone who will graduate from a four-year college or university by September 2004 is eligible to apply. There is no preferred major, and there is no need to be a recent graduate.
Applications may be requested from Senator Bruce McPherson’s district office at 25 San Juan Grade Road, Salinas, CA 93906-2001 or by calling the program office at (916) 322-7563. Applications are also available at the Senate’s Web site (www.sen.ca.gov/ftp/sen/fellows/_home) and the program Web site (www.csus.edu/calst/Programs/senate_fellows.html).
The deadline for submitting applications is Feb. 25. Eighteen Fellows will be selected in May after an initial screening and subsequent panel interview of semifinalists.
