Summer 2017 Internship in TheOffice for Civil Rights
in the U.S. Department of Education, Seattle
Applications due to the SEC by NOON on Monday,February 27, 2017
The Student Engagement Center is pleased to be able to announce an extraordinaryprofessional opportunity for Whitman students who have either participated in the Whitman Teaches The Movement initiative or who have significant academic work related to civil rights. This will allow the selected student(s)to be a part of current civil rights efforts in the U.S.
The Office for Civil Rights in the U.S. Department of Education (OCR) Seattle office offers up to two Whitman students who are between their sophomore and junior year or junior and senior year the opportunity to participate in the Department’s student volunteer service program during the summer of 2017.
This special internship will last for 10 weeks, and requires the intern to be in the OCR office 20 hours per week. Whitman will award a stipend of $2500 to the student selected for this program to cover living expenses. Additional funding might be available to cover other expenses related to this experience (please see below for more details).
The mission of OCR is to ensure equal access to education and to promote educational excellence throughout the nation through vigorous enforcement of civil rights. OCR Seattle has jurisdiction over the states of Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington and American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam.
Any Whitman College student interested in applying for OCR’s student volunteer service program should refer to the website at to obtain more information about the mission and work of OCR nationally.
STUDENT VOLUNTEER Activities
The Whitman College student who participates in the student volunteer service program during the summer of 2017:
- Will participate in orientation and training provided by OCR
- Will work on mutually-agreed upon projects of benefit to the student and OCR Seattle
- May assist in the investigation of civil rights complaints or compliance reviews
- Will make one presentation to OCR Seattle employees regarding the student’s Teaches the Movement experience or other civil rights experience, academic focus, or background.
STUDENTqualifications
Whitman College students who qualify for the student volunteer service program will have:
- Experience in the College’s Teaches the Movement program, other experience working in civil rights, or an academic focus or background that relates to civil rights.
- Ability to interact with diverse OCR Seattle employees and customers.
- Completed their sophomore or junior year.
- A minimum GPA of 3.0.
- Proficiency with Word, Outlook, office skills, etc.
- Students must be in good standing with the College, in both academic and conduct.
Application Materials
Whitman College students who apply for the student volunteer service program must provide:
- A short (max. 500 words) essay describing their civil rights experience or interest.
- A résumé.
- At least one reference, including one from a faculty member who has taught the student.
Application PROCESS
Completed applications must be submitted to Internship Coordinator, Victoria Wolff, in the Student Engagement Center, by NOON on Monday, February 27. Applications can be emailed or turned in in paper copy. All components of the application must be submitted by the deadline.
If an applicant wishes to apply for additional financial support, please identify all expected costs related to internship, including travel and living expenses. Use additional paper or attach a spreadsheet. Describe additional travel and housing resources that are required to make this experience possible.
Whitman College will process the applications and refer up to five finalists to OCR during the week of March 1st. OCR will review information from the finalists, conduct interviews during that and perhaps the following week and then select one student for placement. Successful completion of a federal background check will be required before the intern can start working.
OCR anticipates a Monday June 1 start date.
QuestionS?
* Any questions about this opportunity should be directed to Noah Leavitt, Associate Dean of Students ()
* More information about Whitman Teaches The Movement can be found here:
* Email completed applications to Victoria Wolff ()