Where suitable, Fellows are placed in offices and committees as research fellows. Congressional assignments are not intended to provide any direct or indirect benefit to the Institute. Rather, the goal of the program is to facilitate for our Strategic Fellows an understanding of the work of democratic policy making in its largest, perhaps best case venue. A different member of the faculty directs each Seminar in the five-day week. The format for every Seminar calls for a reading preparation based on a syllabus.
Exams are frequent.
Written preparation is ongoing. Fellows who fall behind, come late or otherwise lose focus will be dropped from the Program. Resource materials including reading lists and syllabi will be provided approximately one month before the Program begins. Part of the Strategic Fellow's responsibilities includes producing at least one paper of publishable quality, about 25-35 pages, during their tenure. Strategic Fellows are encouraged to develop a thesis for their first paper in the first 8 weeks.