IUSA offers Freshman Internship Program for ‘valuable experience’

Freshman? Check. Motivated? Check. Exposure to one of the most influential student organizations on campus? Check.

The IU Student Association, government of the IU student body, is now accepting applications for its Freshman Internship Program through Oct. 15.

Students can pick up applications at the IUSA office located in the Indiana Memorial Union, Room 387.

“We are presenting a comprehensive leadership development program exclusively for freshman,” said Dan Sloat, IUSA vice president. “The program is tailored in a way in which freshmen can get hands-on leadership experience in real life and for IUSA.”

Upon selection, students will have the choice to pick which directorship they are interested in, and they will be assigned to specific positions such as sustainability, marketing, student organizations or finance, to name a few.

“As an intern, freshmen will learn not only about some inner-workings of IUSA, but will be exposed to more student groups and different options for them to get involved with during their college career,” said freshman counsel Sierra Hsieh. “In addition, freshmen will develop great leadership skills and gain valuable experience from IUSA.”

In addition to being assigned a directorship position, students will be able to receive academic credit for their efforts by selecting from a list of five leadership courses with topics including leadership essentials, leadership ethics, fast track to leadership, diversity issues and introduction to civic engagement.

“This is the first time we have offered the classes,” said IUSA president Luke Fields. “We want to give freshmen the opportunity and make sure that they have all the tools they need to succeed.”

Interns will have the opportunity to shadow certain directors and are encouraged to consult with the executives to learn about their positions as they are available.

“This is a really unique opportunity for freshmen to become a part of,” Fields said. “It will give freshmen the chance to see what IUSA does and what they can do from the beginning.”

The program will run during the second eight weeks of the fall semester, and upon successful completion of the fall component, interns will automatically qualify to participate in a leadership development initiative for the spring component.

Sloat encouraged any non-freshmen interested in working with IUSA to e-mail Dan Sloat at dsloat@indiana.edu.

“Sometimes it is hard to get involved as a freshman because he or she isn’t really aware of the opportunities out there that parallel their interests,” Hsieh said. “IUSA interns will become more familiar with these opportunities.”