The UTSA Legislative Fellows program provides undergraduate students with the opportunity to serve as interns in the Texas State Capitol during regular legislative sessions. Coordinated by the UTSA Honors College, students in this program also participate in the University of Texas System Texas Legislative Interns Program. Legislative Fellows began as a collaborative initiative between Texas State Representative Ruth Jones McClendon and The University of Texas at San Antonio. Students of all majors with an interest in public policy and a commitment to public service are encouraged to apply.
Information Session Schedule
| Tuesday, September 3, 2024 12-1 pm at GSR 1.204 (ELL) |
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| Tuesday, September 24, 2024 12-1 pm virtual |
RowdyLink |
| Monday, October 7, 2024 12-1 pm at GSR 1.204 (ELL) |
For questions about the UTSA Legislative Fellows Program, email HonorsSpecialPrograms@utsa.edu
Contact
Assistant Dean for Special Programs, Director for UTSA Top Scholar Program, Terry Scholars Coordinator at UTSA, Archer Fellowship Campus Coordinator, Citymester Coordinator, Assistant Professor of Practice
Honors College
Program Information
The UTSA Legislative Fellows Program includes a comprehensive orientation prior to the start of the Legislative session, mentoring throughout the program, and 12 SCH of asynchronous courses. UTSA Legislative Fellows receive a generous stipend and are responsible for their own housing, transportation, and other expenses while residing in Austin.
Academic Credit
The UTSA Legislative Fellows Program includes 12 credit hours of academic courses, all asynchronous, including 6 credit hours of internship, a professional development course, and an independent study. Honors Special Programs staff work individually with program participants to get course credits applied to their degree plans. Honors College students earn three (3) Honors Experiences for this program.
Responsibilities
Interns are assigned to work in the offices of members of the Texas State Senate and Texas House of Representatives at the Texas State Capitol throughout the session. The internship requires the ability to perform and manage a number of diverse activities, including writing a variety of documents, analyzing proposals, performing research, and corresponding and meeting with stakeholders. Good judgment, independent thinking, and a high degree of ingenuity, resourcefulness, and professionalism are critical to the successful management of an intern’s responsibilities. Interns must live in Austin during the legislative session.
Eligibility
UTSA students from any academic major may apply for the UTSA Legislative Fellows Program. To be eligible for the UTSA Legislative Fellows Program, students must:
- have completed at least 60 undergraduate hours,
- be enrolled at UTSA for the fall semester prior to the beginning of the Legislative Session,
- have exceptional skills in writing, composition, and computer literacy,
- have a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA.
Victoria Kidder
The Legislative Fellows Program gave political science and economics student Victoria Kidder an opportunity to live in Austin while interning with the Texas Senate. An aspiring lawyer, Victoria got to learn about the state’s lawmaking and political processes first-hand while working with politicians and community members from across Texas. Her experience as a Legislative Fellow served as a springboard for her success, and she was later selected for a competitive White House internship with the Council of Economic Advisers.
Application is now open for the 2025 Legislative Session
Legislative Session: January 14, 2025 - June 2, 2025
Application PRIORITY DEADLINE - September 15, 2024
Application FINAL DEADLINE - October 15, 2024
Students who submit completed applications by the priority deadline will be interviewed in October and receive priority consideration for program placement.
*Note: Only active UTSA students may submit the UTSA Legislative Fellows Program application. If you encounter issues when attempting to start the application, please visit Microsoft Office and ensure you are signed in with your UTSA account (firstname.lastname@my.utsa.edu).
Opportunities within the Honors College
The Honors College offers students the opportunity to participate in a number of different programs to further expand knowledge, especially in the realms of professional development, leadership development, and public service. Special programs are fully integrated into the Honors College curriculum, making credit transfer simple and ensuring that students are working toward Honors requirements.
