Public Service Internships at the University of Tennessee
The Institute for Public Service (IPS) at the University of Tennessee supports the university’s three focal areas: service, through consulting and direct technical assistance to government and business leaders across the state; research, through traditional and computerized research, reference library services and Information Technology; a
nd education and instruction, through the training that the agencies of IPS provide to state agencies, local government and industry in Tennessee. IPS does so through 5 outreach organizations including the Center for Industrial Services, the County Technical Assistance Service, the Law Enforcement Innovation Center, the Municipal Technical Advisory Service and the Naifeh Center. IPS sponsors local government interns each semester with students and campuses from across the state. Public service internships average 20 hours per week during spring and fall semesters, and 40 hours per week during the summer. Public Service Interns through IPS are not limited to students at the University of Tennessee and typically are selected from colleges and universities in Tennessee to work in local government in research and policy support. The intern experience helps develop the next generation of leaders committed to local government leadership and management. It provides students with exposure to community service and provides a venue of support to local governments from the academic and research resources of the University of Tennessee. IPS sponsors internships at graduate and post-graduate internships, as defined below:
•Graduate: Graduate interns are assigned to and supervised by MTAS or CTAS offices near their home or campus for research and projects with field consultants and local governments. Students may also qualify for class credit with their respective college or university. This internship is intended to give graduate students both the exposure and the experience to be successful in graduate school and potentially in a local government career. Graduate internships run concurrent with the semester and letters of interest and resumes are accepted at any time.
•Public Management Fellowships: The Public Management Fellowship is a full time two-year internship for students that have completed their graduate degree and are interested in public service in local government. Local governments that choose to take part in the program generally host the intern as a member of the management team of each city or county, and may rotate the Fellow through various departments and duties to provide varied experience in all aspects of city or county management. The purpose of this program is to fully prepare the individual to enter the workforce as a manager within a city or county, or as an assistant city or county manager. For further information, visit the Public Service Internship website - http://www.ips.tennessee.edu/public-service-internships or contact Steve Thompson at IPS, [email protected], telephone (865) 974-9609.
