Here's a great opportunity!
The PPIA Junior Summer Institute is a seven-week program that aims to prepare students for graduate study and careers in public policy and international affairs. It provides rigorous training in policy analysis and serves as a springboard to careers in public service. Applicants must be college juniors with one or two semesters of undergraduate work left, and must have an interest in a career in public or international affairs as well as demonstrated interest in cross-cultural and social issues.
The program is FREE. PPIA covers tuition, books, meals, a single room, and air travel to and from Princeton. The institute also provides a $1,500 stipend.
You can get details at www.ppiaprogram.org
Application deadline is November 1.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Internship: Department of Homeland Security
For more, go here: http://www.dhs.gov/xabout/careers/gc_1248728267762.shtm
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security headquarters seeks motivated students looking to contribute their unique insight, skills and talents to support the important mission of securing the homeland.
Our headquarters offices offer volunteer internship opportunities for full-time and part-time college or university students during the fall (until mid-to-late December) and spring (until mid-to-late May) academic terms. Academic credit will be awarded in accordance with the appointee's work schedule and his/her individual college or university policies.
The Headquarters Volunteer Fellows Program offers opportunities for students to gain on-the-job experience in one of the following fields over the course of an academic semester:
*
Buying/Pricing/Contract Negotiation
*
Communications & Public Affairs
*
Finance & Accounting
*
General Administration/Clerical
*
Health Affairs
*
Human Resources
*
Information Technology
*
Intelligence & Analysis
*
Legal/law
*
Legislative Affairs
*
Policy
*
Privacy
*
Science and Technology
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security headquarters seeks motivated students looking to contribute their unique insight, skills and talents to support the important mission of securing the homeland.
Our headquarters offices offer volunteer internship opportunities for full-time and part-time college or university students during the fall (until mid-to-late December) and spring (until mid-to-late May) academic terms. Academic credit will be awarded in accordance with the appointee's work schedule and his/her individual college or university policies.
The Headquarters Volunteer Fellows Program offers opportunities for students to gain on-the-job experience in one of the following fields over the course of an academic semester:
*
Buying/Pricing/Contract Negotiation
*
Communications & Public Affairs
*
Finance & Accounting
*
General Administration/Clerical
*
Health Affairs
*
Human Resources
*
Information Technology
*
Intelligence & Analysis
*
Legal/law
*
Legislative Affairs
*
Policy
*
Privacy
*
Science and Technology
Congrats to Norah Atkinson!
Congrats to Norah Atkinson '10 who was selected for the new paid internship at Congressman Adam Smith's office. Way to go!
...and students, think about applying for it in future. Great opportunity, and there are few internships this good that pay to boot.
...and students, think about applying for it in future. Great opportunity, and there are few internships this good that pay to boot.
Matt Ferchen, PhD '93: Two presentations this week!
Please announce the following talks taking place this week in your classes. Both talks will be given by Matt Ferchen, a 1993 graduate of Puget Sound who earned a Ph.D. from Cornell University and now teaches at Tsinghua University in Beijing.
Thursday, September 3, 4-5 p.m., Wyatt 101: “The Illusions of a Beijing Consensus: Contending Understandings of China’s State-Economy Relations”
Friday, September 4, 12-1 p.m., Whatt 226: “Academic and Career Options for P&G Majors: How to Forge Your Own Path”
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Volunteers? Help close the achievement gap one kid at a time
McCarver Elementary School is just a few miles from campus at South 21st and J Street. The school faces severe challenges, including what was last year the highest poverty rate among its students of any public elementary school in our state. My good friend Scott Rich has just been named principal at McCarver. Scott is a dynamic young principal who has just completed a successful term at Birney Elementary. He tells me he has a great staff at McCarver, but he and the teachers and the kids could use some help. If you’d like to volunteer a little time to work with elementary school kids on reading and other skills, please let me know and I will put you in touch with Scott. Please email David Sousa at sousa@ups.edu, or call at extension 3176.
Friday, August 28, 2009
The places you go...ABC Correspondent Rachel Martin '96
What one PG alum, Rachel Martin '96 has done in a bit over a decade (from the ABC website):
Rachel Martin is a correspondent for ABC News based in Washington, D.C. She covers politics, foreign affairs and faith and values topics for ABC News platforms, including "World News With Charles Gibson" and "Weekend Good Morning America."
Martin's began her career with NPR as a freelance reporter in Afghanistan, where she covered the reconstruction effort after the U.S. invasion in 2003 and, later, the country's first Democratic presidential election. She has reported widely on women's issues in Afghanistan, the emerging transitional justice system and NATO-led efforts to quell the ongoing Taliban insurgency. She has also reported from Iraq, where she covered U.S. military operations in Baghdad and their effect on Iraqi citizens, the alliance between Sunni sheiks and the U.S. military in Anbar province, and the war crimes trial of Chemical Ali.
Martin was a foreign correspondent based in Berlin, starting in 2005. While based in Berlin, she covered the London terrorist attacks, the federal elections in Germany, the 2006 World Cup and issues surrounding immigration and shifting cultural identities in Europe. Martin returned to the United States in August 2006 as NPR's religion correspondent for the network's national desk. The following year, she won an award for "best radio feature" by the Religion News Writers Association for a story about Islam in America.
wow. I hope that Ms. Martin will come out to campus in the next year or so; I'll keep your posted.
Rachel Martin is a correspondent for ABC News based in Washington, D.C. She covers politics, foreign affairs and faith and values topics for ABC News platforms, including "World News With Charles Gibson" and "Weekend Good Morning America."
Martin's began her career with NPR as a freelance reporter in Afghanistan, where she covered the reconstruction effort after the U.S. invasion in 2003 and, later, the country's first Democratic presidential election. She has reported widely on women's issues in Afghanistan, the emerging transitional justice system and NATO-led efforts to quell the ongoing Taliban insurgency. She has also reported from Iraq, where she covered U.S. military operations in Baghdad and their effect on Iraqi citizens, the alliance between Sunni sheiks and the U.S. military in Anbar province, and the war crimes trial of Chemical Ali.
Martin was a foreign correspondent based in Berlin, starting in 2005. While based in Berlin, she covered the London terrorist attacks, the federal elections in Germany, the 2006 World Cup and issues surrounding immigration and shifting cultural identities in Europe. Martin returned to the United States in August 2006 as NPR's religion correspondent for the network's national desk. The following year, she won an award for "best radio feature" by the Religion News Writers Association for a story about Islam in America.
wow. I hope that Ms. Martin will come out to campus in the next year or so; I'll keep your posted.
President Thomas' State of the University Address
Every fall President Thomas convenes the faculty for a conversation about how we are doing and where we are going--SAT scores of incoming freshman, fundraising efforts, that sort of thing. This year, in light of the economic situation, much of the conversation was focused on that. Some points:
1. Like everyone else, our endowment has taken a hit as investments declined in value.
2. Donations to the university have similarly dropped, though from much improved position last year.
3. We have a larger class this year than expected--higher than normal, when we were planning for a smaller class. However, the class is also more dependent on university financial aid--so more students has not meant a gain in revenue.
The long-term question will be how we operate in lean times, especially if these conditions continue over the course of several years. Many state universities have responded to the economy with sometimes dramatic budget cuts; see for example, the comments by University of Washington President Emmert on his blog. How do we shepherd our resources without undercutting our teaching and weakening our presence in the market? Questions yet to be answered.
PS One thing I find interesting on the UW pres blog is the suggestion that full professors take a pay freeze or gift part of their salary back to the university. That could be directed toward financial aid, while not undercutting junior faculty whose pay is lower. Since I'm full faculty, I can get away with saying this!
1. Like everyone else, our endowment has taken a hit as investments declined in value.
2. Donations to the university have similarly dropped, though from much improved position last year.
3. We have a larger class this year than expected--higher than normal, when we were planning for a smaller class. However, the class is also more dependent on university financial aid--so more students has not meant a gain in revenue.
The long-term question will be how we operate in lean times, especially if these conditions continue over the course of several years. Many state universities have responded to the economy with sometimes dramatic budget cuts; see for example, the comments by University of Washington President Emmert on his blog. How do we shepherd our resources without undercutting our teaching and weakening our presence in the market? Questions yet to be answered.
PS One thing I find interesting on the UW pres blog is the suggestion that full professors take a pay freeze or gift part of their salary back to the university. That could be directed toward financial aid, while not undercutting junior faculty whose pay is lower. Since I'm full faculty, I can get away with saying this!
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Opportunity: Undergraduate Conference on Foreign Affairs at the Air Force Academy
Cadet Brittney L. Garrett
Academy Assembly Director
Department of Political Science
2354 Fairchild Drive, 6L108
USAF Academy, CO 80840-6258
SUBJECT: Invitation for the 51st Academy Assembly
Dear Faculty Representative,
For the past 50 years, the United States Air Force Academy has hosted a prestigious undergraduate student conference on a topic of contemporary political significance. This year the Air Force Academy is proud to announce that the 51st Academy Assembly will take place on October 6 – 9, 2009. This year’s conference is entitled, “Building the Bridge from War to Peace: Defining Interagency Roles in Rebuilding a Nation” and will examine an issue that is at the forefront of the US foreign policy debate.
Started in 1959 by General Robert McDermott, the United States Air Force Academy’s first Dean of Faculty, the Academy Assembly is an undergraduate student conference sponsored jointly by the Air Force Academy and Columbia University’s American Assembly. Held on the Academy grounds, this student-planned and executed conference provides a unique opportunity for over 50 highly qualified undergraduates to discuss a topic of contemporary significance in a premier forum. It draws prominent scholars, business leaders, government officials and military officers to come and interact with undergraduate students, serving as speakers and roundtable leaders. Undergraduate students from prestigious colleges, universities, and military academies in the United States attend as delegates and spend the week interacting and discussing the topic in depth. It gives delegates the unique opportunity to think of new solutions to old problems as well as to develop lifelong relationships with future American leaders.
We would like to extend you an invitation to send undergraduate delegates to this year’s Assembly. During the conference, the Air Force Academy will provide transportation for all events in addition to morning, noon, and evening meals. Delegates or their schools are responsible for travel and the conference registration fee. The registration fee will include all meals, lodging, and other costs associated with the program.
Registration must be accomplished online and will open on 1 May. Attendance will be limited to 50 delegates. While we have no limit on the amount of delegates you may send, we reserve the right to limit delegates in order to increase the diversity of the schools attending. The web address for online registration is www.usafa.af.mil/df/dfps/Programs/Assembly. Further information regarding the Academy Assembly, speaker biographies, a schedule of events, and historical information on the Academy Assembly can also be found on the website.
The Air Force Academy is honored to host this outstanding event and we look forward to hosting undergraduates from your university. If you have any questions, please contact the Assembly staff at academyassembly09@usafa.edu.
Academy Assembly Director
Department of Political Science
2354 Fairchild Drive, 6L108
USAF Academy, CO 80840-6258
SUBJECT: Invitation for the 51st Academy Assembly
Dear Faculty Representative,
For the past 50 years, the United States Air Force Academy has hosted a prestigious undergraduate student conference on a topic of contemporary political significance. This year the Air Force Academy is proud to announce that the 51st Academy Assembly will take place on October 6 – 9, 2009. This year’s conference is entitled, “Building the Bridge from War to Peace: Defining Interagency Roles in Rebuilding a Nation” and will examine an issue that is at the forefront of the US foreign policy debate.
Started in 1959 by General Robert McDermott, the United States Air Force Academy’s first Dean of Faculty, the Academy Assembly is an undergraduate student conference sponsored jointly by the Air Force Academy and Columbia University’s American Assembly. Held on the Academy grounds, this student-planned and executed conference provides a unique opportunity for over 50 highly qualified undergraduates to discuss a topic of contemporary significance in a premier forum. It draws prominent scholars, business leaders, government officials and military officers to come and interact with undergraduate students, serving as speakers and roundtable leaders. Undergraduate students from prestigious colleges, universities, and military academies in the United States attend as delegates and spend the week interacting and discussing the topic in depth. It gives delegates the unique opportunity to think of new solutions to old problems as well as to develop lifelong relationships with future American leaders.
We would like to extend you an invitation to send undergraduate delegates to this year’s Assembly. During the conference, the Air Force Academy will provide transportation for all events in addition to morning, noon, and evening meals. Delegates or their schools are responsible for travel and the conference registration fee. The registration fee will include all meals, lodging, and other costs associated with the program.
Registration must be accomplished online and will open on 1 May. Attendance will be limited to 50 delegates. While we have no limit on the amount of delegates you may send, we reserve the right to limit delegates in order to increase the diversity of the schools attending. The web address for online registration is www.usafa.af.mil/df/dfps/Programs/Assembly. Further information regarding the Academy Assembly, speaker biographies, a schedule of events, and historical information on the Academy Assembly can also be found on the website.
The Air Force Academy is honored to host this outstanding event and we look forward to hosting undergraduates from your university. If you have any questions, please contact the Assembly staff at academyassembly09@usafa.edu.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Cool foreign policy internship in DC
hat tip: Professor Weinberger:
The Foreign Policy Initiative (FPI) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization intending to qualify as a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code. FPI seeks to promote an active U.S. foreign policy committed to supporting democratic allies, defending human rights, equipping a strong American military to meet the challenges of the 21st century, and strengthening America's global economic competitiveness.
FPI is seeking undergraduate or graduate students to work as unpaid interns at its Dupont Circle office in downtown Washington, DC during the fall of 2009. Interns will conduct research for FPI staff and assist with FPI events and outreach activities. FPI will reimburse students for daily Metro costs if applicable.
Please access our website at www.foreignpolicyi.org for information about our activities.
Applicants should submit a cover letter containing dates of availability and a resume online. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis until September 15, 2009.
Apply Now
The Foreign Policy Initiative (FPI) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization intending to qualify as a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code. FPI seeks to promote an active U.S. foreign policy committed to supporting democratic allies, defending human rights, equipping a strong American military to meet the challenges of the 21st century, and strengthening America's global economic competitiveness.
FPI is seeking undergraduate or graduate students to work as unpaid interns at its Dupont Circle office in downtown Washington, DC during the fall of 2009. Interns will conduct research for FPI staff and assist with FPI events and outreach activities. FPI will reimburse students for daily Metro costs if applicable.
Please access our website at www.foreignpolicyi.org for information about our activities.
Applicants should submit a cover letter containing dates of availability and a resume online. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis until September 15, 2009.
Apply Now
Grad school fairs: Seattle, Portland
Thinking about grad school? Check out one of the grad school fairs fund by Idealist.org. October 20 in Seattle and October 22 in Portland. Find out more here.
Welcome! To help people considering graduate education as a way to improve their skills and advance their careers, we have launched a series of Graduate Degree Fairs for the Public Good where potential applicants can meet with representatives from graduate programs. Each event will also offer a set of workshops that will describe the various degrees, illuminate the application and financial aid process, and guide attendees in how to transition back to school.
Our Graduate Degree Fairs for the Public Good bring together a range of degree programs including, but not limited to:
* Public Interest Law
* Public Administration
* Public Policy
* Social Work
* Socially Responsible Business
* Urban Planning
* Divinity
* Education
* Environmental Sciences
* Global and Public Health
* International Affairs
* Nonprofit Management
Welcome! To help people considering graduate education as a way to improve their skills and advance their careers, we have launched a series of Graduate Degree Fairs for the Public Good where potential applicants can meet with representatives from graduate programs. Each event will also offer a set of workshops that will describe the various degrees, illuminate the application and financial aid process, and guide attendees in how to transition back to school.
Our Graduate Degree Fairs for the Public Good bring together a range of degree programs including, but not limited to:
* Public Interest Law
* Public Administration
* Public Policy
* Social Work
* Socially Responsible Business
* Urban Planning
* Divinity
* Education
* Environmental Sciences
* Global and Public Health
* International Affairs
* Nonprofit Management
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Becca Bryant recommends internship in DC
Something for recent grads, or spring '10?
Professor O'Neil,
As the summer is quickly winding down, and summer internships are finishing, I have an opportunity for those students (most likely already graduated) who may be looking for internships this fall.
One of my internships this summer was 2 days a week with the United Service Organizations (USO) where I was a Donor Services Intern. The position was with the USO World Headquarters, located in Arlington, VA, right near the Courthouse Metro.
The duties of the position vary, but include the following:
* Drafting foundation proposals, completing applications for participation with non-profit organizations
* Researching membership with other foundation such as United Way that may have an interest in funding the USO
* Preparing stewardship reports
* Other research & duties as assigned
The position requires a 3.3 minimum GPA, in addition to excellent reading and writing skills, strong internet research skills, the ability to work with confidential material in an appropriate manner, and 2 letters of recommendation.
The USO is a great organization to work with, and I really enjoyed my short time working for them. If you know of any students who are interested in the position (it vacates on Friday August 14, when my internship is complete) please let then know they can contact me with any questions, or go online to www.uso.org and go to the Career Opportunities page. Keep in mind that the USO has offices all over the world - an internship in DC one summer may lead to a position working abroad!
Please don't hesitate to let me know if you have any questions.
Best,
Rebecca Bryant
Professor O'Neil,
As the summer is quickly winding down, and summer internships are finishing, I have an opportunity for those students (most likely already graduated) who may be looking for internships this fall.
One of my internships this summer was 2 days a week with the United Service Organizations (USO) where I was a Donor Services Intern. The position was with the USO World Headquarters, located in Arlington, VA, right near the Courthouse Metro.
The duties of the position vary, but include the following:
* Drafting foundation proposals, completing applications for participation with non-profit organizations
* Researching membership with other foundation such as United Way that may have an interest in funding the USO
* Preparing stewardship reports
* Other research & duties as assigned
The position requires a 3.3 minimum GPA, in addition to excellent reading and writing skills, strong internet research skills, the ability to work with confidential material in an appropriate manner, and 2 letters of recommendation.
The USO is a great organization to work with, and I really enjoyed my short time working for them. If you know of any students who are interested in the position (it vacates on Friday August 14, when my internship is complete) please let then know they can contact me with any questions, or go online to www.uso.org and go to the Career Opportunities page. Keep in mind that the USO has offices all over the world - an internship in DC one summer may lead to a position working abroad!
Please don't hesitate to let me know if you have any questions.
Best,
Rebecca Bryant
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
International relations...of zombies
Hat tip: Megan Serenco '97
From Dan Drezner over at Foreign Policy:
...let's have some fun with this and ask a different question -- what would different systemic international relations theories* predict regarding the effects of a zombie outbreak? Would the result be inconsequential -- or World War Z?
A structural realist would argue that, because of the uneven distribution of capabilities, some governments will be better placed to repulse the zombies than others. Furthermore, anyone who has seen Land of the Dead knows that zombies are not deterred by the stopping power of water. So that's the bad news....
Read the whole thing, before you get eaten, here.
From Dan Drezner over at Foreign Policy:
...let's have some fun with this and ask a different question -- what would different systemic international relations theories* predict regarding the effects of a zombie outbreak? Would the result be inconsequential -- or World War Z?
A structural realist would argue that, because of the uneven distribution of capabilities, some governments will be better placed to repulse the zombies than others. Furthermore, anyone who has seen Land of the Dead knows that zombies are not deterred by the stopping power of water. So that's the bad news....
Read the whole thing, before you get eaten, here.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
How do you make college tours better...
by having the tour guide walk forward, of course.
huh?
The remaking of the campus tour is the latest development in the pitched competition among colleges to woo the most talented applicants.
Among the institutions that now instruct their tour guides to walk forward, alongside visitors, are big schools like the University of Texas at Austin, American University in Washington, and the State University at Oswego, N.Y.,, as well as smaller colleges like Trinity University in San Antonio, Albright in Reading, Pa,. and Spelman in Atlanta.
Though some have done so on their own, others have been urged to turn their guides around by a private consulting firm called TargetX. It charges colleges thousands of dollars to “audit” their tours and look at other aspects of how they present themselves to visitors, including visitor parking.
“Walking backwards is just not conducive to having a conversation,” said Jeff Kallay, a principal at the firm whose job title is experience evangelist. “Not only are you talking at someone, but it’s also so stressful to watch. We have seen guides hit signs and trees and lampposts.”
..who knew that we could get students by simply turning around? read the whole, er, "article," here.
huh?
The remaking of the campus tour is the latest development in the pitched competition among colleges to woo the most talented applicants.
Among the institutions that now instruct their tour guides to walk forward, alongside visitors, are big schools like the University of Texas at Austin, American University in Washington, and the State University at Oswego, N.Y.,, as well as smaller colleges like Trinity University in San Antonio, Albright in Reading, Pa,. and Spelman in Atlanta.
Though some have done so on their own, others have been urged to turn their guides around by a private consulting firm called TargetX. It charges colleges thousands of dollars to “audit” their tours and look at other aspects of how they present themselves to visitors, including visitor parking.
“Walking backwards is just not conducive to having a conversation,” said Jeff Kallay, a principal at the firm whose job title is experience evangelist. “Not only are you talking at someone, but it’s also so stressful to watch. We have seen guides hit signs and trees and lampposts.”
..who knew that we could get students by simply turning around? read the whole, er, "article," here.
Project Vote Smart Internship
Dear Political Science Department:
Project Vote Smart is a national, non-partisan, non-profit political research library located in the Montana Rockies. The Project was founded by former US Presidents Carter and Ford, as well as 40 other prominent national leaders of both major political parties and funded by the Carnegie and Ford Foundations. The New York Times said that “Project Vote Smart is so good that even the Federal Government recommends it.”
We are currently accepting applications for our Fall and Winter National Internship Program. This is an especially great opportunity for recent graduates. This year we are excited to announce our new online application system where students can now submit their applications completely electronically, expediting the review and acceptance process! To apply online or to get more information about Project Vote Smart, please visit www.votesmart.org. I hope you will look over our website and forward our information to any interested students. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Thanks to the generous support of our members across the country, we are once again able to offer the Barry Goldwater scholarship to all accepted students. This scholarship provides room and board for the duration of the student’s 10 week internship at our headquarters, the Great Divide Ranch in Montana.
Through our internships, your students will have a unique opportunity to be involved with the political process, while enjoying one of the most spectacular places on earth. Our internship will give your students the chance to provide millions of people with factual, unbiased information, as well as the opportunity to stroll around pristine lakes and rivers, hike throughout the Rocky Mountains, or ski some of the best slopes in the country. During an internship with Project Vote Smart, students will work hard and learn a great deal, all in an environment defined by its beautiful scenery and the commitment of its staff and interns.
Our internships, as with all the other areas of the organization, focus on the end product: providing voters with pertinent, factual information on presidential, congressional, gubernatorial, and state legislative candidates and elected officials. For students, this means a hands-on internship with significant opportunities for learning and growth. In fact, more than 90 percent of the information that Project Vote Smart provides is researched, entered, and checked by interns and volunteers. This system has been developed and cultivated specifically to ensure that interns are primarily responsible for the research; the few staff members are here simply to train and guide interns in what needs to be accomplished.
Please ask your students to consider this opportunity and contact me with any questions at 1-888-VOTESMART (1-888-868-3762) or via email at intern@votesmart.org. I look forward to working together to provide your students with an unforgettable learning experience.
Sincerely,
Tallie Spiller
Project Vote Smart
Internship Coordinator
Project Vote Smart is a national, non-partisan, non-profit political research library located in the Montana Rockies. The Project was founded by former US Presidents Carter and Ford, as well as 40 other prominent national leaders of both major political parties and funded by the Carnegie and Ford Foundations. The New York Times said that “Project Vote Smart is so good that even the Federal Government recommends it.”
We are currently accepting applications for our Fall and Winter National Internship Program. This is an especially great opportunity for recent graduates. This year we are excited to announce our new online application system where students can now submit their applications completely electronically, expediting the review and acceptance process! To apply online or to get more information about Project Vote Smart, please visit www.votesmart.org. I hope you will look over our website and forward our information to any interested students. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Thanks to the generous support of our members across the country, we are once again able to offer the Barry Goldwater scholarship to all accepted students. This scholarship provides room and board for the duration of the student’s 10 week internship at our headquarters, the Great Divide Ranch in Montana.
Through our internships, your students will have a unique opportunity to be involved with the political process, while enjoying one of the most spectacular places on earth. Our internship will give your students the chance to provide millions of people with factual, unbiased information, as well as the opportunity to stroll around pristine lakes and rivers, hike throughout the Rocky Mountains, or ski some of the best slopes in the country. During an internship with Project Vote Smart, students will work hard and learn a great deal, all in an environment defined by its beautiful scenery and the commitment of its staff and interns.
Our internships, as with all the other areas of the organization, focus on the end product: providing voters with pertinent, factual information on presidential, congressional, gubernatorial, and state legislative candidates and elected officials. For students, this means a hands-on internship with significant opportunities for learning and growth. In fact, more than 90 percent of the information that Project Vote Smart provides is researched, entered, and checked by interns and volunteers. This system has been developed and cultivated specifically to ensure that interns are primarily responsible for the research; the few staff members are here simply to train and guide interns in what needs to be accomplished.
Please ask your students to consider this opportunity and contact me with any questions at 1-888-VOTESMART (1-888-868-3762) or via email at intern@votesmart.org. I look forward to working together to provide your students with an unforgettable learning experience.
Sincerely,
Tallie Spiller
Project Vote Smart
Internship Coordinator
Monday, August 17, 2009
Political Science takes us everywhere
Two cool pieces in the New York Times this weekend; one that lots of political scientists are noting, the other, I suspect, no one is:
In the weekend magazine, a piece on Bruce Bueno de Mesquita, who for years has been honing software to predict political outcomes:
A professor at New York University and a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford, he is well known academically for his work on “political survival,” or how leaders build coalitions to stay in power. But among national-security types and corporate decision makers, he is even better known for his prognostications. For 29 years, Bueno de Mesquita has been developing and honing a computer model that predicts the outcome of any situation in which parties can be described as trying to persuade or coerce one another. Since the early 1980s, C.I.A. officials have hired him to perform more than a thousand predictions; a study by the C.I.A., now declassified, found that Bueno de Mesquita’s predictions “hit the bull’s-eye” twice as often as its own analysts did.
And about as far away from that as you can get, in the arts section a long wonderful piece on the dancing films of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers:
In the 1960s and ’70s you had to wait for Astaire-Rogers movies on television or in revival houses. In the case of “Roberta” (1935) you often had to wait years. Ms. Croce rightly calls this “their most ebullient film.” But MGM (which remade it in 1952 as “Lovely to Look At”) tried to bury it for decades. Now you can get a DVD boxed set of all 10 Astaire-Rogers movies and watch “Roberta” to your heart’s content. The “Swing Time” DVD can be watched with a commentary by John Mueller, whose 440-page study “Astaire Dancing” (1986) is...indispensable to Astaire studies...
So why do I cite this? Although the piece doesn't mention it, John Mueller, in addition to being an author of an important work on Astaire, is a professor of political science at Ohio State whose work on international relations and other issues is widely read. Political scientists--we're everywhere.
In the weekend magazine, a piece on Bruce Bueno de Mesquita, who for years has been honing software to predict political outcomes:
A professor at New York University and a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford, he is well known academically for his work on “political survival,” or how leaders build coalitions to stay in power. But among national-security types and corporate decision makers, he is even better known for his prognostications. For 29 years, Bueno de Mesquita has been developing and honing a computer model that predicts the outcome of any situation in which parties can be described as trying to persuade or coerce one another. Since the early 1980s, C.I.A. officials have hired him to perform more than a thousand predictions; a study by the C.I.A., now declassified, found that Bueno de Mesquita’s predictions “hit the bull’s-eye” twice as often as its own analysts did.
And about as far away from that as you can get, in the arts section a long wonderful piece on the dancing films of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers:
In the 1960s and ’70s you had to wait for Astaire-Rogers movies on television or in revival houses. In the case of “Roberta” (1935) you often had to wait years. Ms. Croce rightly calls this “their most ebullient film.” But MGM (which remade it in 1952 as “Lovely to Look At”) tried to bury it for decades. Now you can get a DVD boxed set of all 10 Astaire-Rogers movies and watch “Roberta” to your heart’s content. The “Swing Time” DVD can be watched with a commentary by John Mueller, whose 440-page study “Astaire Dancing” (1986) is...indispensable to Astaire studies...
So why do I cite this? Although the piece doesn't mention it, John Mueller, in addition to being an author of an important work on Astaire, is a professor of political science at Ohio State whose work on international relations and other issues is widely read. Political scientists--we're everywhere.
Friday, August 14, 2009
Economists, Obama? Bah!
From Inside Higher Ed (Hat tip, Media Relations):
Jerry Jacobs, a professor of sociology at the University of Pennsylvania, said “on the one hand, the president can ask anyone for advice" -- criminologists, public health experts and others. "It's not that the president is short of advice, but there is a lack of legitimized and organized social science at the highest levels of policy formation.”
“Even in a tremendously sympathetic administration,” Jacobs said, “it is hard to ignore” that within the social sciences, economists have the access. “For me, the agenda [of pushing for a new social science council in the White House] “is figuring out what we need to do to get ourselves a seat at the table.”
I'm sure Obama will be giving me a ring soon.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Professor Karl Fields in Arches
If you haven't received your copy of Arches yet, you'll soon find a great piece by our own Professor Karl Fields on the Pac Rim program and his recent participation. In the meantime, Arches has some nifty new software for reading the magazine online; find it here:
http://ups.journalgraphicsdigital.com/pubs/ups/current/
Chair Sousa: PG Fall 2009 News
an update from our illustrious chair:
POLITICS & GOV’T DEPARTMENT NEWS Fall 2010
DEPARTMENT WELCOMES TWO NEW COLLEAGUES!
Dr. Rachel DeMotts earned her Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and comes to us from the University of Massachusetts—Lowell. Her position is funded by a grant from the Mellon Foundation, and she is Mellon Assistant Professor of Global Environmental Politics. Professor DeMotts focuses on politics in sub-Saharan Africa, and will teach P&G 325, African Politics this fall. She is affiliated with the Environmental Policy and Decision Making Program, and will teach on global environmental politics, conservation, gender and environment, and related topics. DeMotts’ research focuses on transboundary environmental issues in southern Africa, including the relationships between parks and rural villages, participation in natural resource management and community-based conservation, and the social effects of living with wildlife. She has recently published papers on the intersection of gender, HIV/AIDS, and conservation and on natural resource management in Botswana.
Dr. Robin Dale Jacobson earned her Ph.D. from the University of Oregon, and comes to Puget Sound from Bucknell University. Professor Jacobson is an expert on US politics. This fall she will teach P&G 101, Introduction to US Politics, and P&G 304, Race in American Politics. Jacobson’s research has focused on immigration politics. In addition to several articles and many conference presentations she published a book, The New Nativism: Proposition 187 and the Debate Over Immigration with the University of Minnesota Press. Professor Jacobson is now working on an edited volume, Faith and Race in American Political Life, which explores how the intersection of race and religion is central to our political culture, institutions, and behavior.
POLITICAL SCIENCE STUDENTS ASSOCIATION (PSA) RECRUITING AND PLANNING FOR THE YEAR
The Politics and Government Students Association (PSA) is organizing for the coming year. The PSA sponsors talks and current events discussions, organizes social events, and provides an important mechanism through which students can communicate with P&G faculty. Please consider joining the group as it begins its planning for the new academic year! Look for the group’s announcements, or contact Katie Rader (krader@ups.edu) for information.
THE BLOG ROLLS ON
Professor O’Neil will continue to blog at http://upspolitics.blogspot.com, the departmental blog. You will find news about happenings on campus and in the department, job/internship/scholarship/research opportunities, reports from P&G graduates and students studying abroad, and news from the wild world of higher education. Sign up for the digest and get a weekly update on what’s been happening on the blog!
BECOME A FACEBOOK FAN OF THE P&G DEPARTMENT
P&G has created a Facebook fan page, a running source of information about departmental events, internship, job, and research opportunities. Are you a fan? Find us at University of Puget Sound Politics and Government.
NEW and RECENT BOOKS FROM P&G FACULTY
Daniel Sherman’s book, Not Here, Not There, Not Anywhere: Implementation Vulnerabilities of the Low-Level Radioactive Waste Policy Act and the Power of Local Collective Opposition will be published by Resources for the Future Press in 2010.
Seth Weinberger’s book, Restoring the Balance: War Powers in an Age of Terror, will be published in late August 2009 by Praeger Security International Press.
Patrick O’Neil’s widely-adopted comparative politics text, Essentials of Comparative Politics, will appear in its third edition from Norton in 2009. O’Neil has collaborated with Karl Fields and Don Share on Cases in Comparative Politics, which will also appear in a new edition from Norton in 2009.
Robin Dale Jacobson’s book, The New Nativism: Proposition 187 and the Debate Over Immigration was published by the University of Minnesota Press in 2008.
David Sousa’s book (co-authored with Christopher McGrory Klyza), American Environmental Policy 1990-2006: Beyond Gridlock was published by MIT Press in 2008.
INTERNSHIPS: TELL US WHAT YOU’VE BEEN DOING!
P&G has been strongly encouraging students to take internships, and has been slowly developing a network of internship contacts. If you have completed an internship recently, Professor Sousa (sousa@ups.edu) would like to hear from you about your experience and about who we might contact to place another Puget Sound student in that position. Please help us build a database of good internships for current and future P&G students.
NEW DEPARTMENT CHAIR
David Sousa is now P&G chair. Please offer congratulations on a job well done to Professor O’Neil, whose three-year term has ended, and direct inquiries for the chair to Sousa.
POLITICS & GOV’T DEPARTMENT NEWS Fall 2010
DEPARTMENT WELCOMES TWO NEW COLLEAGUES!
Dr. Rachel DeMotts earned her Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and comes to us from the University of Massachusetts—Lowell. Her position is funded by a grant from the Mellon Foundation, and she is Mellon Assistant Professor of Global Environmental Politics. Professor DeMotts focuses on politics in sub-Saharan Africa, and will teach P&G 325, African Politics this fall. She is affiliated with the Environmental Policy and Decision Making Program, and will teach on global environmental politics, conservation, gender and environment, and related topics. DeMotts’ research focuses on transboundary environmental issues in southern Africa, including the relationships between parks and rural villages, participation in natural resource management and community-based conservation, and the social effects of living with wildlife. She has recently published papers on the intersection of gender, HIV/AIDS, and conservation and on natural resource management in Botswana.
Dr. Robin Dale Jacobson earned her Ph.D. from the University of Oregon, and comes to Puget Sound from Bucknell University. Professor Jacobson is an expert on US politics. This fall she will teach P&G 101, Introduction to US Politics, and P&G 304, Race in American Politics. Jacobson’s research has focused on immigration politics. In addition to several articles and many conference presentations she published a book, The New Nativism: Proposition 187 and the Debate Over Immigration with the University of Minnesota Press. Professor Jacobson is now working on an edited volume, Faith and Race in American Political Life, which explores how the intersection of race and religion is central to our political culture, institutions, and behavior.
POLITICAL SCIENCE STUDENTS ASSOCIATION (PSA) RECRUITING AND PLANNING FOR THE YEAR
The Politics and Government Students Association (PSA) is organizing for the coming year. The PSA sponsors talks and current events discussions, organizes social events, and provides an important mechanism through which students can communicate with P&G faculty. Please consider joining the group as it begins its planning for the new academic year! Look for the group’s announcements, or contact Katie Rader (krader@ups.edu) for information.
THE BLOG ROLLS ON
Professor O’Neil will continue to blog at http://upspolitics.blogspot.com, the departmental blog. You will find news about happenings on campus and in the department, job/internship/scholarship/research opportunities, reports from P&G graduates and students studying abroad, and news from the wild world of higher education. Sign up for the digest and get a weekly update on what’s been happening on the blog!
BECOME A FACEBOOK FAN OF THE P&G DEPARTMENT
P&G has created a Facebook fan page, a running source of information about departmental events, internship, job, and research opportunities. Are you a fan? Find us at University of Puget Sound Politics and Government.
NEW and RECENT BOOKS FROM P&G FACULTY
Daniel Sherman’s book, Not Here, Not There, Not Anywhere: Implementation Vulnerabilities of the Low-Level Radioactive Waste Policy Act and the Power of Local Collective Opposition will be published by Resources for the Future Press in 2010.
Seth Weinberger’s book, Restoring the Balance: War Powers in an Age of Terror, will be published in late August 2009 by Praeger Security International Press.
Patrick O’Neil’s widely-adopted comparative politics text, Essentials of Comparative Politics, will appear in its third edition from Norton in 2009. O’Neil has collaborated with Karl Fields and Don Share on Cases in Comparative Politics, which will also appear in a new edition from Norton in 2009.
Robin Dale Jacobson’s book, The New Nativism: Proposition 187 and the Debate Over Immigration was published by the University of Minnesota Press in 2008.
David Sousa’s book (co-authored with Christopher McGrory Klyza), American Environmental Policy 1990-2006: Beyond Gridlock was published by MIT Press in 2008.
INTERNSHIPS: TELL US WHAT YOU’VE BEEN DOING!
P&G has been strongly encouraging students to take internships, and has been slowly developing a network of internship contacts. If you have completed an internship recently, Professor Sousa (sousa@ups.edu) would like to hear from you about your experience and about who we might contact to place another Puget Sound student in that position. Please help us build a database of good internships for current and future P&G students.
NEW DEPARTMENT CHAIR
David Sousa is now P&G chair. Please offer congratulations on a job well done to Professor O’Neil, whose three-year term has ended, and direct inquiries for the chair to Sousa.
Another year, another ranking.
Forbes is ranking schools (hat tip: Media Relations). We're 143.
http://www.forbes.com/lists/2009/94/colleges-09_University-of-Puget-Sound_94494.html
Some reference points:
Whitman: 20
Reed: 44
Willamette: 169
Pacific Lutheran 214
Lewis and Clark 232
Here's the methodology:
The methodology used in Forbes' 2008 inaugural edition of "America's Best Colleges" rankings has been modestly revised for 2009. As in 2008, we base 25% of the rankings on student satisfaction with their course instruction. Also, like last year, we base another 25% on indicators of post-graduate employment success, and one-sixth (16.67%) on the likelihood of graduation from college within four years. Last year, we weighted the estimated average four year student loan debt at one-sixth (16.67%) in the rankings. Given the rising costs, debt levels and associated concerns with this issue, we have increased the weight to 20% this year.
Thoughts?
http://www.forbes.com/lists/2009/94/colleges-09_University-of-Puget-Sound_94494.html
Some reference points:
Whitman: 20
Reed: 44
Willamette: 169
Pacific Lutheran 214
Lewis and Clark 232
Here's the methodology:
The methodology used in Forbes' 2008 inaugural edition of "America's Best Colleges" rankings has been modestly revised for 2009. As in 2008, we base 25% of the rankings on student satisfaction with their course instruction. Also, like last year, we base another 25% on indicators of post-graduate employment success, and one-sixth (16.67%) on the likelihood of graduation from college within four years. Last year, we weighted the estimated average four year student loan debt at one-sixth (16.67%) in the rankings. Given the rising costs, debt levels and associated concerns with this issue, we have increased the weight to 20% this year.
Thoughts?
Internship, World Affairs Council, Seattle
Greetings from the World Affairs Council!
We thought some of your students or advisees may be interested in the following internship opportunity:
Here at the World Affairs Council in Seattle, we have quarterly unpaid internships for up to 16 internationally-minded students in the Puget Sound Community.
Our interns commit 12-15 hours per week during our office business hours, which are 9am-5pm Monday through Friday for 10-12 weeks (3 - 6 months). Our interns gain valuable hands on skills and perform basic office tasks plus special projects, which vary depending on the department. In the past, special projects have included accompanying high-level international delegates to their meetings in Seattle, writing grants, and co-creating international curriculum for local schools. Whether your interest is in applying what you have learned in your international affairs class, tweaking your office skills and resume, or finding out about the inner workings of a not-for-profit, there are lots of opportunities for you at the World Affairs Council! And what’s more, after you complete your internship, you will receive a complementary one year membership plus receive monthly newsletters with job, intern, and volunteer opportunities.
The World Affairs Council in Seattle has six departments which include Administration, Development, Membership, International Visitor Program, Community Programs, and Global Classroom. If you are interested in applying, please take some time to review the website at www.world-affairs.org/aboutus_internships.html and take a closer look each department. You may submit your resume and cover letter to Ms. Alyse Cato at acato@world-affairs.org. The deadline for the Fall Quarter internship is September 11, 2009.
We regret that we are only to able to contact candidates selected for interviews.
Please look forward to 2009-2010 work-study opportunities posted soon at www.world-affairs.org.
Best wishes,
Mina O’Brien
______________________
Administrative Assistant
World Affairs Council
2200 Alaskan Way, Suite 450
Seattle, WA 98121
(ph) 206.441.5910
(fax) 206.441.5908
adminassist@world-affairs.org
www.world-affairs.org
We thought some of your students or advisees may be interested in the following internship opportunity:
Here at the World Affairs Council in Seattle, we have quarterly unpaid internships for up to 16 internationally-minded students in the Puget Sound Community.
Our interns commit 12-15 hours per week during our office business hours, which are 9am-5pm Monday through Friday for 10-12 weeks (3 - 6 months). Our interns gain valuable hands on skills and perform basic office tasks plus special projects, which vary depending on the department. In the past, special projects have included accompanying high-level international delegates to their meetings in Seattle, writing grants, and co-creating international curriculum for local schools. Whether your interest is in applying what you have learned in your international affairs class, tweaking your office skills and resume, or finding out about the inner workings of a not-for-profit, there are lots of opportunities for you at the World Affairs Council! And what’s more, after you complete your internship, you will receive a complementary one year membership plus receive monthly newsletters with job, intern, and volunteer opportunities.
The World Affairs Council in Seattle has six departments which include Administration, Development, Membership, International Visitor Program, Community Programs, and Global Classroom. If you are interested in applying, please take some time to review the website at www.world-affairs.org/aboutus_internships.html and take a closer look each department. You may submit your resume and cover letter to Ms. Alyse Cato at acato@world-affairs.org. The deadline for the Fall Quarter internship is September 11, 2009.
We regret that we are only to able to contact candidates selected for interviews.
Please look forward to 2009-2010 work-study opportunities posted soon at www.world-affairs.org.
Best wishes,
Mina O’Brien
______________________
Administrative Assistant
World Affairs Council
2200 Alaskan Way, Suite 450
Seattle, WA 98121
(ph) 206.441.5910
(fax) 206.441.5908
adminassist@world-affairs.org
www.world-affairs.org
Saturday, August 08, 2009
Stats matter
from the New York Times--
I keep saying that the sexy job in the next 10 years will be statisticians,” said Hal Varian, chief economist at Google. “And I’m not kidding.”
The rising stature of statisticians, who can earn $125,000 at top companies in their first year after getting a doctorate, is a byproduct of the recent explosion of digital data. In field after field, computing and the Web are creating new realms of data to explore — sensor signals, surveillance tapes, social network chatter, public records and more. And the digital data surge only promises to accelerate, rising fivefold by 2012, according to a projection by IDC, a research firm.
Yet data is merely the raw material of knowledge. “We’re rapidly entering a world where everything can be monitored and measured,” said Erik Brynjolfsson, an economist and director of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Center for Digital Business. “But the big problem is going to be the ability of humans to use, analyze and make sense of the data.”
read the rest here.
I keep saying that the sexy job in the next 10 years will be statisticians,” said Hal Varian, chief economist at Google. “And I’m not kidding.”
The rising stature of statisticians, who can earn $125,000 at top companies in their first year after getting a doctorate, is a byproduct of the recent explosion of digital data. In field after field, computing and the Web are creating new realms of data to explore — sensor signals, surveillance tapes, social network chatter, public records and more. And the digital data surge only promises to accelerate, rising fivefold by 2012, according to a projection by IDC, a research firm.
Yet data is merely the raw material of knowledge. “We’re rapidly entering a world where everything can be monitored and measured,” said Erik Brynjolfsson, an economist and director of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Center for Digital Business. “But the big problem is going to be the ability of humans to use, analyze and make sense of the data.”
read the rest here.
Thursday, August 06, 2009
19th International Youth Leadership Conference Prague
19th International Youth Leadership Conference
January 4th – 9th, 2010
Prague, Czech Republic
Join prominent university students from 40 different countries for an experience of a lifetime!
This winter Civic Concepts International will be welcoming 100 students from 40 different countries for an open-minded exchange of diverse perspectives on contemporary global challenges.
The IYLC involves participants in:
§ Simulation of a UN Security Council Meeting
§ International Criminal Court mock pre-trial
§ Model European Parliament proceedings
§ Visits to foreign embassies, governmental and other institutions
§ Group debates and panel discussions on subjects of global importance
§ Meeting and dinners with diplomats, politicians and experts
The IYLC is a unique cross-cultural and networking opportunity that will help you build lifelong friendships.
For more information and application, please visit www.CzechLeadership.com.
Apply early to take advantage of the Early Bird discounts.
---------------------------------------------
We welcome university professors and staff to join the conference as observers. If you or your colleagues are interested in becoming observers, please visit www.czechleadership.com/observers.php.
I thank you for your time and support. I will be looking forward to hearing from your students. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any further questions.
Yours faithfully,
Ismayil
Ismayil Khayredinov
ismayil@civicconcepts.org
Conference Director
19th International Youth Leadership Conference
Civic Concepts International
www.czechleadership.com
tel: +420 272 730 897
January 4th – 9th, 2010
Prague, Czech Republic
Join prominent university students from 40 different countries for an experience of a lifetime!
This winter Civic Concepts International will be welcoming 100 students from 40 different countries for an open-minded exchange of diverse perspectives on contemporary global challenges.
The IYLC involves participants in:
§ Simulation of a UN Security Council Meeting
§ International Criminal Court mock pre-trial
§ Model European Parliament proceedings
§ Visits to foreign embassies, governmental and other institutions
§ Group debates and panel discussions on subjects of global importance
§ Meeting and dinners with diplomats, politicians and experts
The IYLC is a unique cross-cultural and networking opportunity that will help you build lifelong friendships.
For more information and application, please visit www.CzechLeadership.com.
Apply early to take advantage of the Early Bird discounts.
---------------------------------------------
We welcome university professors and staff to join the conference as observers. If you or your colleagues are interested in becoming observers, please visit www.czechleadership.com/observers.php.
I thank you for your time and support. I will be looking forward to hearing from your students. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any further questions.
Yours faithfully,
Ismayil
Ismayil Khayredinov
ismayil@civicconcepts.org
Conference Director
19th International Youth Leadership Conference
Civic Concepts International
www.czechleadership.com
tel: +420 272 730 897
$150,000 in grats for undergrad and grad studies in Canada
2010-11 VANIER CANADA GRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS / $50,000 ANNUALLY / STUDY IN CANADA UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS
The prestigious VANIER CANADA GRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP program in which American students may pursue doctoral studies in Canada is in its 2nd year. The federal granting councils in Canada are: the INSTITUTE OF HEALTH RESEARCH (CIHR), the NATURAL SCIENCES & ENGINEERING RESEARCH COUNCIL (NSERC) and the SOCIAL SCIENCES & HUMANITIES RESEARCH COUNCIL (SSHRC) which promote and manage all aspects of the scholarship program.
For the 2010-11 academic year 166 awards are expected.
Candidates must be nominated by a Canadian university with a Vanier program quota in order to be considered. The granting councils deadline for the 2010-11 competition is expected to be in early November 2009.
Attached is information for interested American students.
Websites for additional information on scholarships available to American undergraduate (ie Killam Fellowships) and graduate students are:
www.vanier.gc.ca
www.scholarships.gc.ca
The prestigious VANIER CANADA GRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP program in which American students may pursue doctoral studies in Canada is in its 2nd year. The federal granting councils in Canada are: the INSTITUTE OF HEALTH RESEARCH (CIHR), the NATURAL SCIENCES & ENGINEERING RESEARCH COUNCIL (NSERC) and the SOCIAL SCIENCES & HUMANITIES RESEARCH COUNCIL (SSHRC) which promote and manage all aspects of the scholarship program.
For the 2010-11 academic year 166 awards are expected.
Candidates must be nominated by a Canadian university with a Vanier program quota in order to be considered. The granting councils deadline for the 2010-11 competition is expected to be in early November 2009.
Attached is information for interested American students.
Websites for additional information on scholarships available to American undergraduate (ie Killam Fellowships) and graduate students are:
www.vanier.gc.ca
www.scholarships.gc.ca
Wednesday, August 05, 2009
Former President Pierce on/in the academic search
From Inside Higher Ed, former President Pierce has a piece on the problems and pitfalls of academic searches (like for university presidents); while some of it is academia-specific, much applies more widely to job searches:
In contrast to letters that are tailored to the position, nothing alienates a committee more than receiving what I think of as a “generic” or “to whom it may concern” letter, i.e. an all-purpose letter that candidates have prepared to send in response to every ad that strikes their fancy (and some that do not). Those of us who serve as search consultants know of a number of perennial candidates whose stock letters arrive usually within a day or two of the ad’s appearance. These letters tend to follow the same pattern. They begin and end with a paragraph that mentions the hiring institution’s name, but in the body of the letter they focus exclusively on their self-perceived strengths and accomplishments without regard to the college or university. Such letters typically end with a reiteration of how much the candidate wants the position.
My own favorite example of the dangers of such an approach came from a candidate who submitted her template by mistake. Her letter of application therefore began:
Dear [name of chair of search committee],
This is to apply for [name of position] at [name of school]. I am sure that I would be a great [name of position] at [name of school]. Indeed, I have spent my life preparing to be [name of position] at [name of school].
This application provided the committee with some welcome comic relief, but its members had no interest in the candidate.
Read the whole thing here.
In contrast to letters that are tailored to the position, nothing alienates a committee more than receiving what I think of as a “generic” or “to whom it may concern” letter, i.e. an all-purpose letter that candidates have prepared to send in response to every ad that strikes their fancy (and some that do not). Those of us who serve as search consultants know of a number of perennial candidates whose stock letters arrive usually within a day or two of the ad’s appearance. These letters tend to follow the same pattern. They begin and end with a paragraph that mentions the hiring institution’s name, but in the body of the letter they focus exclusively on their self-perceived strengths and accomplishments without regard to the college or university. Such letters typically end with a reiteration of how much the candidate wants the position.
My own favorite example of the dangers of such an approach came from a candidate who submitted her template by mistake. Her letter of application therefore began:
Dear [name of chair of search committee],
This is to apply for [name of position] at [name of school]. I am sure that I would be a great [name of position] at [name of school]. Indeed, I have spent my life preparing to be [name of position] at [name of school].
This application provided the committee with some welcome comic relief, but its members had no interest in the candidate.
Read the whole thing here.
Ellyn Henriksen's Beijing tubesteak recap
大家好！
Thought I'd check in with all of you! I'm down to my last 3 weeks here and this week I got a mention in Beijing City Weekend, second only to the Beijinger for expat press here. Here's a link to the article:
http://www.cityweekend.com.cn/beijing/articles/blogs-beijing/the-dish-bj/beijing-weiners/
Also, I have been picked up as a "volunteer" for the Dongcheng District Police. Essentially I pose for various propaganda photo shoots about the different types of visas and foreigner housing registration (everyone must register where they are living/staying within 24 hours of getting into the country). It was the strangest thing but they had me come out to an event one morning. I headed into it knowing only that it had something to do with the police. When I got there I was greeted by about 30 police officers (including the chief of police), several press members and a handful foreigners who were just as confused as I was. They just took a lot of photos of us accepting information pamphlets. It was great. It was supposed to have been in the local papers but as I can only really read the English ones I never saw it. They also did an interview with me that was supposed to have been for television. I had to talk about how helpful the police are (which they are!) and how much they've helped me since I arrived here. What I left out were my stories about the two times they've nearly broken down my door because of mix-ups with my housing registration!
So I guess I have some strange little celebrity status around Nanluogu Xiang. No idea how it came to be but my role as the Meiguoren hot dog lady seems to have become very official.
Aside from that things are pretty calm around here. Lot's of other foreign kids are headed home right about now and it's sad to watch them leave. I've pretty much made up my mind that I need to come back to study here in a year. We all seem to agree, there's something about Beijing that just sucks you back in, despite struggling with a love/hate relationship with the city the whole time you're here. I've met amazing people and have established a little bit of guanxi while I've been here, essentially the Chinese version of social capital (norms of reciprocity!) and I plan to use it upon my return.
Well that's about all I have to report now. I'm facing the end of my journey with a bit of excitement to come home (closed showers and milkshakes ahoy!) and a reluctance to leave. Either way, I'm so glad I dove head first into this experience. It has been unbelievable and life changing.
See you soon(ish),
Elly in Beijing
Thought I'd check in with all of you! I'm down to my last 3 weeks here and this week I got a mention in Beijing City Weekend, second only to the Beijinger for expat press here. Here's a link to the article:
http://www.cityweekend.com.cn/beijing/articles/blogs-beijing/the-dish-bj/beijing-weiners/
Also, I have been picked up as a "volunteer" for the Dongcheng District Police. Essentially I pose for various propaganda photo shoots about the different types of visas and foreigner housing registration (everyone must register where they are living/staying within 24 hours of getting into the country). It was the strangest thing but they had me come out to an event one morning. I headed into it knowing only that it had something to do with the police. When I got there I was greeted by about 30 police officers (including the chief of police), several press members and a handful foreigners who were just as confused as I was. They just took a lot of photos of us accepting information pamphlets. It was great. It was supposed to have been in the local papers but as I can only really read the English ones I never saw it. They also did an interview with me that was supposed to have been for television. I had to talk about how helpful the police are (which they are!) and how much they've helped me since I arrived here. What I left out were my stories about the two times they've nearly broken down my door because of mix-ups with my housing registration!
So I guess I have some strange little celebrity status around Nanluogu Xiang. No idea how it came to be but my role as the Meiguoren hot dog lady seems to have become very official.
Aside from that things are pretty calm around here. Lot's of other foreign kids are headed home right about now and it's sad to watch them leave. I've pretty much made up my mind that I need to come back to study here in a year. We all seem to agree, there's something about Beijing that just sucks you back in, despite struggling with a love/hate relationship with the city the whole time you're here. I've met amazing people and have established a little bit of guanxi while I've been here, essentially the Chinese version of social capital (norms of reciprocity!) and I plan to use it upon my return.
Well that's about all I have to report now. I'm facing the end of my journey with a bit of excitement to come home (closed showers and milkshakes ahoy!) and a reluctance to leave. Either way, I'm so glad I dove head first into this experience. It has been unbelievable and life changing.
See you soon(ish),
Elly in Beijing
Monday, August 03, 2009
NYT: School networks mean jobs--for older alums, too
Read the whole thing here:
THE last time Miriam Korn Haimes used Syracuse University’s career services, she was a kid. Twenty-one? Twenty-two, maybe?
When you’re the Class of ’76, that’s ancient history. The bachelor’s degree nestles at the bottom of a rich résumé filled with professional benchmarks, including a 23-year career at JPMorgan Chase, topped by the title of senior vice president.
“I hadn’t kept up with the university at all,” said Ms. Haimes, of Montclair, N.J. “It was so long ago.”
Until this spring, when Ms. Haimes’s department was relocated to Columbus, Ohio, and she found herself unemployed.
In the new world order of job searches, networking is everything, so she gamely dusted off her 33-year-old Syracuse affiliation. Armed with her business card and her 60-second “I’m in transition” speech, she went recently to a cocktail party for alumni. There, another Orangewoman gave her a tip: the university’s career center is not just for undergraduates but for older alumni, too.
Syracuse counselors have since critiqued Ms. Haimes’s résumé, helped tweak her job search and offered to connect her with graduates in related fields. “It’s all free,” said Ms. Haimes, in wonderment. “No one’s asked for a donation. But if I get a job, I’ll give them a large one.”
For the unemployed, the standing advice about how to find work involves doggedly attending job fairs and reaching out to everyone in your e-mail address book. But increasingly, a lesser-known avenue with the potential to be effective, thanks to the emotional bonds formed during undergraduate years, turns out to be the alma mater.
In the last year, as the recession and a 9.5 percent unemployment rate have slowed the economy, schools have been amending their pitches to older graduates. Typically, undergraduate institutions offer standard-fare golf tournaments and wine-tasting reunions — hoping to tap nostalgia and shake loose donations. Now, they are providing an expanding array of career services, including panels of alumni experts, professional affinity networks, personal coaching and job listings, support that is becoming a fixture of business and law programs. Old school ties, they suggest, can have new currency, even urgency.
THE last time Miriam Korn Haimes used Syracuse University’s career services, she was a kid. Twenty-one? Twenty-two, maybe?
When you’re the Class of ’76, that’s ancient history. The bachelor’s degree nestles at the bottom of a rich résumé filled with professional benchmarks, including a 23-year career at JPMorgan Chase, topped by the title of senior vice president.
“I hadn’t kept up with the university at all,” said Ms. Haimes, of Montclair, N.J. “It was so long ago.”
Until this spring, when Ms. Haimes’s department was relocated to Columbus, Ohio, and she found herself unemployed.
In the new world order of job searches, networking is everything, so she gamely dusted off her 33-year-old Syracuse affiliation. Armed with her business card and her 60-second “I’m in transition” speech, she went recently to a cocktail party for alumni. There, another Orangewoman gave her a tip: the university’s career center is not just for undergraduates but for older alumni, too.
Syracuse counselors have since critiqued Ms. Haimes’s résumé, helped tweak her job search and offered to connect her with graduates in related fields. “It’s all free,” said Ms. Haimes, in wonderment. “No one’s asked for a donation. But if I get a job, I’ll give them a large one.”
For the unemployed, the standing advice about how to find work involves doggedly attending job fairs and reaching out to everyone in your e-mail address book. But increasingly, a lesser-known avenue with the potential to be effective, thanks to the emotional bonds formed during undergraduate years, turns out to be the alma mater.
In the last year, as the recession and a 9.5 percent unemployment rate have slowed the economy, schools have been amending their pitches to older graduates. Typically, undergraduate institutions offer standard-fare golf tournaments and wine-tasting reunions — hoping to tap nostalgia and shake loose donations. Now, they are providing an expanding array of career services, including panels of alumni experts, professional affinity networks, personal coaching and job listings, support that is becoming a fixture of business and law programs. Old school ties, they suggest, can have new currency, even urgency.
Accessible, rocking, ungodly
According to the Princeton Review, Puget Sound falls in the top twenty in the following three areas:
Puget Sound in the News
The Princeton Review released its “Best 371 Colleges” publication. The press release naming the “best of” and the page covering Puget Sound are attached. Students are quoted speaking highly of the faculty. Puget Sound appeared in three lists, as below.
Best College Radio Station
Most Accessible Professors
Least Religious Students
Of course, we all know that the radio station and irreligious nature of our students are connected--what with that devil music that spews from our airwaves.
Puget Sound in the News
The Princeton Review released its “Best 371 Colleges” publication. The press release naming the “best of” and the page covering Puget Sound are attached. Students are quoted speaking highly of the faculty. Puget Sound appeared in three lists, as below.
Best College Radio Station
Most Accessible Professors
Least Religious Students
Of course, we all know that the radio station and irreligious nature of our students are connected--what with that devil music that spews from our airwaves.
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