Graduate Fellowship Program in Politics and Government

About the Graduate Fellowship Program

Eagleton is accepting applications for Eagleton Graduate Fellowship Program. The application closed on March 24^th at 5:00 pm EST. Contact Sarah Kozak, fellows@eagleton.rutgers.edu, with any questions.

Build knowledge, skills and networks to engage in American politics, government and advocacy in your community. The Eagleton Fellowship offers Rutgers graduate students the opportunity to further their understanding of government, public affairs, and the real-world practice of politics. During the fellowship, students make connections between their Eagleton coursework, government internship experience, and their chosen fields of study. All Rutgers graduate students are eligible to apply for this one-year, interdisciplinary certificate program which includes stipends and tuition support awards. Meet the current Eagleton Fellows.

The Eagleton Graduate Fellowship is open to graduate students from all departments and schools on any Rutgers campus who are interested in politics and government. Recent Fellows have represented more than 45 departments in the social sciences, humanities and natural sciences, and 20 different graduate and professional schools reflecting a wide variety of interests and perspectives.

Eagleton Fellows work toward their graduate degrees without interruption; the one-year fellowship is designed to complement academic study. Throughout the year, students are provided direct access to practitioners in state and national politics and government. These connections help to bridge the gap between the academic training of a graduate student and the everyday challenges of a life in politics and public affairs. Eagleton fellowships expose students to the art and politics of governing and to multiple aspects of public policymaking while providing meaningful assistance to government.

All Fellows take the Perspective in American Politics courses in the fall to expand their knowledge and prepare them for an internship placement in the spring. For their internship, Fellows are placed in government offices and agencies at the state (legislative and executive branches), federal, regional, county and municipal levels.

“Throughout my graduate studies I have learned extensive details regarding Medicare and Medicaid policies. I have written many policy briefs… I thought I had a good understanding of health policy in the United States. I was wrong. After interning at the Medicaid office, I have learned more than I did throughout my graduate course work.”
– Mariam Rashid, Eagleton Fellow

 

The Eagleton Graduate Fellowship is open to graduate students from all departments and schools on any Rutgers campus who are interested in politics and government. Recent Fellows have represented more than 45 departments in the social sciences, humanities and natural sciences, and 19 different graduate and professional schools reflecting a wide variety of interests and perspectives.

“The biggest highlight of the Eagleton Fellowship has been the diversity among fellows in our professional and political backgrounds.” – Brandon Pugh, Eagleton Fellow

Courses

“I cannot imagine a better place to learn directly from people who have been involved in politics in so many different capacities.” – Kyle Holder, Eagleton Fellow

Perspectives on American Politics

Course #: 16:790:595:01 (3 credits)
Day/Time: Fridays 1:00-4:00 pm
Location: Eagleton
Instructors: T. Missy Balmir and John Weingart

This course is open to Eagleton Fellows, closed to other students. Perspectives on American Politics explores the practical and human side of politics and policymaking. It focuses on how political institutions, processes and practitioners operate in the policy arena. The seminar investigates the ways by which political capital is accumulated and expended; how decisions are made, compromises are struck and policies enacted. The seminar also examines the leadership traits common in successful political leaders from the executive and legislative branches. Participants investigate the practical and political considerations that must be weighed and balanced in the development of policies to address pressing public issues – past and present. The course also features a series of lectures by practitioners in politics, government and public affairs who have participated in resolving critical policy issues.

How to Apply

Eagleton is accepting applications for Eagleton Graduate Fellowship Program. The application closed on Friday, March 24^th at 5:00 pm EST. Contact Sarah Kozak, fellows@eagleton.rutgers.edu, with any questions.

Application Sections

Submitting your application for the Eagleton Fellowship Program is a three-step process:

1. Complete online application
2. Attach support files (resume, unofficial transcript, and essay)
3. Three letters of recommendation are emailed to Eagleton separately to support of your application.

Applicants will not receive an immediate notification indicating that Eagleton received the applications materials. However, Eagleton will reach out to applicants once their application packet is processed. The three (3) letters of recommendation should be sent to Eagleton directly from the recommender. Receipt of recommendation letters will be confirmed with applicants via email. Application closed on Friday, March 24, 2023 5:00 pm EST to be considered.

Essay/Statement

In 300-500 words, your essay/statement should answer the following questions:

• Why you want to participate in the fellowship program?
• What makes you a strong candidate?
• What has prepared you for this fellowship?
• What are your professional goals?
• How do you think this program will help you meet those goals?

Your essay must be attached to your online application as MS Word or Adobe PDF document.

Letters of Recommendation

• Three (3) letters of recommendation must be submitted in support of your application. Letters should be written by those who can speak to your academic qualifications and/or relevant experience for the Eagleton Fellowship program. You will need to list the names of your recommenders on the application.
• At least one letter should come from a faculty member, preferably at Rutgers. If you are a transfer or new graduate student, then you can use professors from your previous college/institution.
• Letters should be addressed to “Fellowship Selection Committee” and emailed as MS Word or Adobe pdf directly from the recommender to fellows@eagleton.rutgers.edu. Recommendation letters sent from the applicant will not be accepted. Paper recommendation letters are not accepted.
• All recommendations must have been received on Friday, March 24, 2023 at 5:00pm in order to be considered. You will be notified by email when your recommendation letters have been received and processed at Eagleton. The application closed on

Selection Criteria

The selection committee reviews applications using the following criteria: demonstrated interest in government, politics and/or public affairs; academic performance; the quality of the essay and the applicant’s purpose for applying to the program; and letters of recommendation. Overall GPA is considered as part of academic performance. There is no “minimum GPA” in order to apply, but Fellows selected usually have a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher. All applicants must be accepted into a graduate program at Rutgers University to be eligible. Students must be enrolled full or part time from September 2023 to May 2024. Students in one-year graduate programs are encouraged to apply. Preference is generally given to applicants who are further advanced in their graduate program. Students in multi-year graduate programs (i.e., law, PhD, etc..) are generally not accepted for their first year of study.

Application Process

Once you submit your application you will receive an email confirmation when the packet has been processed at Eagleton and your recommendation letters received. Letters of recommendation are confidential between the recommender and the Eagleton selection committee. Applicants cannot request to view the letters.

The selection committee will decide on candidates to interview who will be contacted via email. Henry Raimondo Legislative award candidates will complete a second interview in their legislative placement office before fellowship awards are made. The fellowship class is not finalized until all selected candidates confirm acceptance of awards.

Students will receive preliminary notification of fellowship status by email by the first week of May 2023. Henry Raimondo Legislative and Governor’s Executive fellow award recipients will receive final confirmation of fellowship awards once the New Jersey state budget is approved in early July.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the structure of the fellowship?

The Eagleton Graduate Fellowship is a one-year interdisciplinary certificate program. During the fall, fellows enroll in a weekly, three-credit seminar in applied politics to gain knowledge and help prepare them for the spring semester placement with a government office or agency for 15 hours a week.

In addition to coursework and internship placements, Fellows participate in a series of events and sessions throughout the year, including an opening program meet and greet, monthly seminars, placement orientation, a two-day trip to observe the Maryland Legislature, Eagleton public programs and sponsored events, and a closing program graduation. Fellows also reflect on their spring placements through monthly journals and presentations. Detailed requirements available upon request.

When am I eligible to apply to the program?

Eagleton fellows work toward their graduate degrees without interruption; the one-year fellowships are designed to complement academic study. The program is only open to graduate students at Rutgers University. You can apply at any point during your graduate studies and multiple years, as long as you are enrolled full-time or part-time for the fall and spring semesters. Transfer students are eligible to apply.

Preference is generally given to applicants who are further advanced in their graduate program. Students in the first year of multi-year graduate study programs (i.e., law, PhD, etc.) are generally not accepted, depending on the length of their graduate program. However, students in one-year graduate programs are encouraged to apply.

What majors are eligible for Eagleton Fellowships?

The Eagleton Graduate Fellowship is interdisciplinary – students from all majors and all Rutgers University campus locations are eligible. Previous Fellows have represented a wide variety of graduate majors including: agricultural and food resource economics, anthropology, art history, atmospheric science, biomedical engineering/sciences, business/administration, chemistry, civil and environmental engineering, communications, childhood studies, city and regional planning, criminal justice, cultural heritage preservation, ecology and evolution, economics, education, educational psychology, environmental science, exposure assessment, food science, geography, global affairs, history, journalism and media studies, landscape architecture, law, liberal studies, library and information sciences, management, media, microbiology and molecular genetics, music, neuroscience, nursing, plant biology and pathology, political science, psychology, public administration, public affairs, public health, public policy, social work, sociology, toxicology, urban systems, urban planning, visual arts and women’s and gender studies.

What are the requirements for Eagleton fellowships?

Fellows must maintain a B/3.0 average during the fellowship year and remain in good academic standing in their disciplinary program.

Additional requirements include:

Fall Semester:

• Three-credit course at Wood Lawn
• Opening program (Friday afternoon beginning of September)
• Monthly group seminars (one Friday morning per month)
• Placement orientation (December-first/second Friday all day at State House, Trenton)
• At least one Eagleton public program or sponsored event (times/locations vary)

Spring Semester:

• Internship placement in government office
  • Minimum of 15 hours/week (total of 210 hours)
  • Shadow a legislator/commissioner/high-level official for a day
• Monthly placement journal (submitted electronically the end of each month)
• Monthly group seminars (one Friday morning/month at NJ State House)
• Maryland Legislature trip (late February/early March: Thursday & Friday)
• At least one Eagleton public program or sponsored event (times/locations vary)
• Graduation (May-second/third Thursday evening at Eagleton)

Upon successful completion of these requirements, fellows receive a certificate from the Institute and official notation on their Rutgers transcript.

What are the fellowship awards/classes/internship opportunities?

The Eagleton Graduate Fellowship Program in Politics and Government is made possible by four funding sources. Fellowship awards include Henry J. Raimondo Legislative Award, Governor’s Executive Award, Harold and Reba Martin Award, and Eagleton Alumni Award. All Eagleton Fellows have the same basic requirements (fall class and spring internship). All awards provide a stipend with varying levels of tuition support. There are diverse internship opportunities available at all levels of government.

Henry J. Raimondo Legislative Awards:

This award was initiated by the New Jersey Legislature and Rutgers University to honor the memory of Henry J. Raimondo (1947-1999), who served as associate director and professor at Eagleton. Eight Raimondo fellowships are awarded annually. Raimondo fellowship awards provide a stipend of $8,625 plus $8,625 partial tuition credit for the academic year. (Awards are contingent on funding in the New Jersey State Budget.)

These fellows are placed in the NJ State Legislature during the spring semester. Four fellows are placed with the New Jersey Senate and Assembly Democratic and Republican offices and four are placed with the non-partisan Office of Legislative Services.

Governor’s Executive Awards:

This award is supported by the New Jersey Office of the Governor. Twelve Governor’s Executive fellowships are awarded annually. Governor’s Executive fellowship awards provide a stipend of $8,625. (Awards are contingent on funding in the New Jersey State Budget.)

During the spring semester these fellows are placed in state government departments or agencies, including the Governor’s office and administration.

Harold and Reba Martin Awards:

The Harold and Reba Martin Fellowship Award was established in 1981, when Harold Martin, former Bergen County Assemblyman, and his wife, Reba, made their first generous donation to the Institute. Six Harold and Reba Martin fellowships are awarded annually. These fellowship awards provide stipends of $6,000, plus full remission for tuition and fees for the academic year.

Spring placements are determined by the Fellows’ interests in politics, public affairs and/or government and can be in an office or agency at the municipal, county, state, regional or federal government levels.

Eagleton Alumni Award:

Eagleton Alumni Fellowship Awards are made possible by generous contributions from Institute alumni and friends. At least one Eagleton Alumni fellowship is awarded each year. The Alumni fellowship award provide stipends of $6,000, plus full remission for tuition and fees for the academic year.

Spring placements are determined by the Fellows’ interests in politics, public affairs and/or government and can be in an office or agency at the municipal, county, state, regional or federal government levels.

Alumni

There are more than 1,100 alumni of the fellowship program since the first class graduated in 1958. Some choose careers in public service and politics while others apply their sophisticated knowledge of government and politics in the private and non-profit sectors or in business, education, law, politics, advocacy or a variety of other fields. 

The Institute has a strong alumni network, with many graduates involved as internship placement supervisors, guest speakers, and members of the Eagleton Alumni Committee. 

Current Fellows

Meet the Current Class