Vernon Sykes, Ph.D.
Director, Columbus Program in Intergovernmental Issues
Department of Political Science
Kent State University
302 Bowman Hall
Kent, Ohio 44242
(330) 672-8948 phone
(877) 682-4813 fax
(614) 631-0555 Columbus voice mail
http://www.kent.edu/CPII
vsykes@kent.edu

1) The name of the program is "The Columbus Program in Intergovernmental Issues."

2) The program was founded as a partnership between Kent State's Department of Political Science and the Alumni Office.

3) Kent State University's Columbus Program in Intergovernmental Issues (CPII) helps tomorrow's leaders understand public policy development at the state level. A selected group of student leaders, from a variety of academic disciplines, will be given the opportunity to serve as interns in Columbus, Ohio. Interns study practical aspects of public policy-making firsthand, have the opportunity to establish career-long professional contacts and gain valuable pre-career knowledge and skills - and to enjoy the cultural amenities of Ohio's capitol city. CPII is a collaborative program between Kent State's Department of Political Science and the Kent State Alumni Association, and is modeled after Kent State's highly successful Washington Program in National Issues.

4) Who is Eligible to Participate in CPII?
Students of all majors are eligible to participate!
CPII is open primarily to junior and seniors from accredited collegiate institutions. Applicants must have completed the equivalent of two courses in political science and have a grade point average of 2.50. Students who complete the CPII curriculum and one to three other prescribed courses will have fulfilled the requirements of a minor in political science. Participation in CPII is selective. Internship slots are limited. Although students must complete an application for admission by April 1st, eligible students who apply early will be given priority. Applicants will be notified of the selection committee's decision by April 15th.

5) Where do CPII students live?
CPII students are housed in corporate-level apartment quads that are fully furnished including televisions, cable, dishes, and weekly maid service.
Housing is centrally located on High Street, three blocks north of the central business district and convenient to downtown Columbus.

6) The program will be offered each fall semester. Interns are accompanied by faculty director, will live in Columbus, participate in internships, attend briefings by state and political leaders, and conduct research on public policy issues. Students will work as interns three days per week and two days a week attend briefings and take a course in State Government. CPII participants will earn a full semester's credit (15 hours).

7) The program has three objectives:
a. Afford students with practical work experience for career development.
b. Exposure students to state public policy-making environments.
c. Study and research in intergovernmental issues of both public and private organizations.

8) What are the costs associated with CPII?
The required fees, payable to the university, include the regular Kent State tuition, lodging, and a $100 administrative fee. Housing costs are comparable to the costs of living in one of the Kent Campus residences halls.

9)Curriculum
The CPII curriculum is divided into three course units, and students should register for all three units, through the Department of Political Science. Students will receive course credit and grades for all three units:
1) POL 30991: Internship Section:
Students will be placed in professional working environments that match their interests, skills, career objectives, and academic requirements. Students will gain firsthand experience in the workplace.
(Six-credit hours)
2) POL 30991: Pre-departure Colloquium and Briefings in Columbus Section:
a. The pre-departure colloquium is one week of fulltime intensive presentation and orientation to prepare students to live and work in Columbus, Ohio.
b. Briefings conducted by state and local political and business leaders will be held in Columbus two days each week to expose students to the public policy-making culture in Ohio's capitol city.
(Six-credit hours)
3) POL 30140: State Government: This course exposes students to practical and theoretical aspects of the organization and operation of state governments. Particular emphasis is given to understanding how to work with and in the branches of Ohio's state government.
(Three-credit hours)

Program Director
Dr. Vernon Sykes, of the Department of Political Science at Kent State University, has had a long and productive career in public service. CPII is fortunate to have him as its director. In addition to working for Summit County government, he served two terms on the Akron City Council and 18 years in the Ohio House of Representatives. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Ohio University, a Master of Economics degree from Wright State University and a Masters of Public Administration from Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government, and a Ph.D. in public administration from the University of Akron. It is this combination of academic training and political experience that makes Dr. Sykes an ideal director of the Columbus Program in Intergovernmental Issues.