ASUM Legislative Internship
History of the Program
The Legislative Internship Program was founded in 1975 with the purpose of increasing student engagement and representation in state politics. Some of the accomplishments of the legislative interns and ASUM as a whole include:
- Creation of the Student Representative to the Board of Curators position
- Allowing 18-year-olds to consent to medical treatment
- Creation of the Bright Flight Scholarship
- Enacting of harsher penalties for hazing
- Created loan forgiveness program for teachers, medical doctors, and veterinary doctors working in Missouri
- Creation of the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Fund
- Eliminated language from a bill that would increase taxes on college textbooks
- Created the Task Force on Mental Health Issues in Higher Education
What it Means to be an ASUM Intern
The ASUM internship is unique from other programs because our intern team is at the
center of the action; not on the fringes fetching coffee.
- Hands-on: Each intern meets-on-one with approximately two dozen lawmakers throughout the spring semester, in an effort to win their support for student-centric legislation
- Developing cross-functional skills: Interns are taught and have the opportunity to practice engaging with others in a highly professional environment, crafting persuasive arguments, etc.
- Networking: ASUM interns come into contact with dozens of Missouri’s top elected officials and political appointees. Our interns leave the program with new connections and opportunities, so much so that some interns go on to change their degree program to reflect their new interest in politics and policy.
- Engagement: ASUM interns represent their peers in state politics, which means attending campus-level ASUM chapter events and well-informed about the issues.
Perks
- Academic Credit: Up to 6 hours of Political Science credit can be obtained by Missouri S&T students.
- $2,000 stipend: Interns awarded a $2,000 stipend for their work. $500 is awarded on February 1, and the remainder is awarded at the end of the program in May.
- Mileage Reimbursements: All travel incurred throughout the internship is covered. A rental car will be provided for those over the age of 21.
Requirements
- Full time student at a University of Missouri System school (UMSL, UMKC, MU, or S&T)
- Meet campus involvement requirements
- Enroll in no more than 12 credit hours in addition to the internship
- Be available on Tuesdays & Thursdays throughout the spring (non-negotiable!)
- Demonstrate tolerance, maturity, and professionalism at all times