Political Science Links

Future Leader Internship Program

Wendy Creekmore studies the legislative process in political science classes at NKU, but the Future Leader Internship Program (FLIP) gave her an opportunity to actually work with the Kentucky state legislature in Frankfort.

"I learned things that cannot be taught in the classroom," Creekmore said. "One example is to actually see the legislative process play out in real life. It's one thing to read about the process in textbooks, but a completely different experience to be on the chamber floor as the legislators follow parliamentary procedure and make new laws."

FLIP was created in the fall of 2006 through a partnership between the Department of Political Science & Criminal Justice and the Government Relations Department at NKU. It gives students a unique opportunity to take classroom knowledge and apply it to real-life experience.

Approximately 15-20 students are carefully selected to participate in FLIP for a semester.  Every Tuesday and Thursday while the state legislature is in session, students go to Frankfort via transportation provided by NKU and work for a state legislator, learning the ins and outs of public policy.

While interning in Frankfort, students are required to treat the internship like a profession, including adhering to a strict professional dress code. 

The typical day consists of interns reporting to their representative's office where they check the bill log and the Legislative Record for the status of any bills their legislator was working on.  At other times, interns simply prepare material for committee meetings.

"Committee meetings were the most meaningful because you could see the legislators address and discuss the bills at hand,"  said Adam Caswell, who participated in FLIP in 2007.  "Attending committee meetings gives you the behind-closed-doors perspective that only a handful of people ever see." 

Monitoring and learning about legislative bills sponsored and co-sponsored by legislators is one of the most exciting and educational experiences in FLIP, according to Caswell. He spent a lot of time tracking the legislative bill to allow gambling in Kentucky. 

Any student at NKU is eligible for FLIP.  No specific GPA is required and  students in all majors are encouraged to apply. Every applicant is required to write an essay about a bill they want to see enacted.

Interns are chosen based on their strong communication and writing skills, ability to work in a high pressure setting, leadership experience and interest in public service. 

Students selected for the program receive six hours of upper-level internship credit and independent study credit. Three credit hours will be graded and three credit hours will be pass/fail. Full-time internships are also available.

Interns receive a $750 stipend to pay expenses and compensate for time they need to take off work.

There are several other colleges and universities in Kentucky that offer this internship opportunity, but NKU is one of the few that provides transportation to and from Frankfort. The NKU program also tries to match students and legislators who are interested in the same issues.

"The number one thing, in my opinion, that I see most students take away from FLIP is a better understanding of how government works," said Katie Herschede, Director of Governmental Relations at NKU.  "Students learn how easy it is to petition government and track information."

Herschede works closely with the interns while they are in Frankfort.  She helps make the program a dynamic educational experience. 

"FLIP affects the future of students by providing an excellent opportunity for students to walk away with strong networking contacts with staff writers and legislators," Caswell said. "FLIP lays a nice groundwork for your future whether you're in government or public policy."