The South Carolina Congressional Delegation, with six representatives and two senators, provides the core of work placement. After intensive interviews students are assigned according to their interests, work skills and political convictions. Participants should realize that the program has an important commitment to placements in the offices of the state's Congressional Delegation.
Office work varies widely, from copying and faxing to answering constituent mail.
It can include taking notes for a Congressman at a committee meeting or running an entire office while the staff is out of town. The job can range from preparing information for news conferences and releases to representing an office at a reception. Of course, much of the work is routine office procedure, no different from what the rest of the staff is doing. All students enroll in the following three courses for a total of 15 honors credits. Each course is designed specifically for Washington Semester Program Fellows and each stresses experiential, hands-on learning.