Panetta Congressional Internship Program

Program Overview

The Panetta Institute for Public Policy begins its annual Congressional Internship Program between August and December. Students are nominated by the presidents of the twenty-three campuses of California State University and three private universities. 

This semester-long program begins with a rigorous two-week academic orientation at the Panetta Institute at CSU Monterey Bay in August. The training and orientation focus on preparing students for their internship work in Washington, D.C., by giving them an in-depth background to understand our nation's most important policy challenges. The Panetta Institute invites experts at the top levels within their fields to expand students' understanding of politics and policy.

Following the orientation, in late August, students will travel to Washington, D.C., for their eleven-week internships with the members of the U.S. House of Representatives, both Republican and Democrat, from the California delegation, where they will serve through early November. While in Washington, D.C., students are mentored and closely supervised by Panetta Institute faculty in California as well as Panetta Institute staff in Washington, D.C. Another unique feature of the Congressional Internship Program includes weekly seminars on policy issues that the interns attend while working on Capitol Hill with nationally renowned leaders who currently practice in their specialized field. Interns will also be required to submit weekly reports summarizing their internship work and summaries of the lessons presented through the speaker seminars.

Upon return to California in early November, interns begin to work on the academic requirements of the program: a twenty-page policy paper with evidence of research and analysis and a twenty-page reflective journal, a polished compendium of the student's intern experience. The academic program ends in early December, with the submission of both assignments directly to the Panetta Institute for grading by the Institute's professors. The internship ends in mid-December, with the submission of final grades.

Upon completion of all requirements for this course, interns will earn a letter grade commensurate with their performance for twenty (20) full-time academic units that will be posted to their university transcripts. All program costs are covered, including housing, ground transportation, travel to and from Washington, D.C., and some reimbursement for living expenses.

Course Components

• Participate in a two-week training session at the Panetta Institute, located at the CSU Monterey Bay Campus.
• Work full-time for eleven weeks in the assigned Washington, D.C. congressional office for a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from the California delegation.
• Attend special seminars held exclusively for Panetta Institute interns while in Washington, D.C., and submit reports on all classes and seminars.
• Timely submit weekly reports and other assignments.
• Attend weekly meetings with Panetta Institute staff while in Washington, D.C.
• Submit an experiential twenty-page journal and twenty-page research paper consistent with the syllabus provided by the Institute.
• Earn letter grades commensurate with their performance for twenty (20) full-time academic credits upon successful completion of the internship

Position Functions and Tasks

Provide support to the congressional office staff that includes, but is not limited to:

• Answer phones: take messages; transfer calls; conference calls
• Enter data
• Draft correspondence or other materials
• Meet and greet constituents
• Provide tours of Capitol Building
• Compile newspaper clippings
• Attend hearings and briefings, take notes and provide summaries/reports
• Conduct issue/legislative research
• Perform other work that involves the practical application of what is learned in the classroom

Minimum Requirements and Eligibility

• Any academic major may apply; the program is open to qualified students regardless of income
• Matriculated students in upper-division undergraduate status (juniors or seniors during the time of the internship). Note: students who have accumulated more than 120 semester units before the Fall 2025 term, the start of the Panetta program, are ineligible.
• U.S. citizen and State of California resident
• Superior academic achievement (overall 3.5+ GPA)
• High academic standing at all colleges/universities attended (includes lower division)
• Demonstrated commitment to community and public service and leadership
• Excellent English oral and written skills to interact with constituents appropriately
• Willing to live in assigned group housing during the entire 11-week program
• Never been disciplined under the CA Code of Regulations, Title 5, Article 2, Sec. 41301
• At the time of personal interview, must have proof of health insurance that is compliant with the Affordable Care Act and that covers students while residing and working in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area and Northern California
• Must provide a copy of a government-issued photo identification card
• Willing to undergo a background check and successfully pass to meet Panetta Institute's eligibility requirements

Position Qualifications

Experience

• Outstanding student leader who is not a former Panetta Institute Congressional Internship Program participant
• Demonstrated commitment to community and public service

Skills

• Advanced written and verbal communication skills (especially clear speech)
• General computer proficiency, word processing, and spreadsheet knowledge
• Ability to follow instructions carefully
• Flexibility to adjust with poise to changing deadlines and priorities
• Ability to provide information to the public and others as directed by supervisors
• Strong organizational skills
• Ability to multi-task and prioritize assignments
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to be a good team member with an attitude of doing what it takes to get the job done and doing so with a pleasant, cooperative, and professional demeanor

Other qualities

• Exemplary conduct at the home campus university and in the community;
• Positive attitude with a willingness to work (hard) on any project assigned by the congressional office
• Willingness to accept work involving the practical application of what is learned in the classroom
• Exercises maturity and sound judgment;
• Willing to abide by the Panetta Institute's Code of Conduct and Confidentiality Agreement
• A full-time commitment to the Panetta Institute's Congressional Internship Program; no extra-curricular or outside courses allowed including, but not limited to, scheduling of LSAT, GRE, MCAT, GMAT, etc.

2025 Application Information

Important Dates:*

• Informational webinar: Thursday, February 6, 2025 - 11:45 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. 
• Application deadline: Friday, February 14, 2025 by 11:59 p.m. PST
• Invitation - First round candidate interviews with Cal Poly selection committee: Week of March 3, 2025 
• Invitation - Final candidates interview with President Armstrong: Week of March 17, 2025 
• Cal Poly announces Panetta nomination: April 2025 
• Panetta Institute begins interviews with campus intern nominees: May 2025
• Panetta Institute announces intern appointments: June 2025
• Fall 2025 Panetta Interns arrive for classes at Panetta Institute:  mid-August 2025
• Interns depart for Washington, D.C.:  late August 2025
• Interns return to California: early November 2025
• The policy paper and reflective journal assignments are due to Panetta Institute: early December 2025
• Grades for twenty internship units submitted to Cal Poly: late December 2025

*All dates are subject to change 

Application Process: 

Qualified applicants will be selected based on their application materials and the program requirements. Selected applicants will be contacted for a preliminary interview with the campus selection committee. During the interview, the committee will assess the applicant’s clarity of speech, overall demeanor and character, leadership potential or experience, and interest in or commitment to community and public service, among other items. Selected finalists will advance to an interview with President Armstrong, who will determine the campus nominee. All applicants will be notified of selection or non-selection.

Cal Poly’s nominee will travel to the Panetta Institute in Monterey for an interview with the Panetta Institute interview team, which includes a representative from the CSU Chancellor’s Office. During that visit, the campus nominee will also meet with the CSU Monterey Bay campus police department to begin the process for a background investigation. The Panetta Institute interview team reserves the right to reject the nominee if the student fails to meet the Panetta Institute’s standards set for participation. Students may also be rejected due to the findings of the required background investigation. The Panetta Institutes makes the final determination for all program participants.

How to Apply: 

To apply, students must submit a packet with the following application materials via our online application:

1. A written two-page, typewritten essay. Your statement should include a) why you are interested in the Panetta Institute's Congressional Internship Program; b) academic background and preparation (include what activities have you been involved in on campus and in the community since the beginning of your college career (e.g. service-learning, previous internship experiences, relevant coursework);  and c) what do you hope to gain from the experience.
2. A current resume
3. Transcripts (unofficial transcripts are acceptable). Include all prior community/junior college and/or another college/university work (in the order they happened).
4. A copy of a recently graded paper (at least three pages long) with the professor's comments and grade accompanying or written on the paper.