Program Overview

The Graduate Archer Fellowship Program provides graduate students from across The University of Texas System with a unique opportunity to live, learn, and intern in our nation’s capital during the summer. Home to many government, media, research, and cultural institutions, Washington, D.C., offers unparalleled opportunities for career development and cultural enrichment. While in D.C., students earn in-residence UT Arlington credit for their coursework and gain hands-on work experience in an internship. Through a shared cohort experience, Graduate Archer Fellows build lasting friendships and professional connections with each other. The Graduate Archer Fellowship Program is tailored to students’ own personal and intellectual interests, which allows them to connect their developing expertise to policy and public service.

 

Eligibility

The Graduate Archer Fellowship Program is available to graduate, medical, and doctoral students of all academic disciplines, and we welcome a diverse array of student interests and backgrounds.

 

Students must meet the following eligibility requirements in order to apply:

• Applicant must be pursuing a graduate degree (masters, Ph.D., M.D., J.D.) at a University of Texas System university
• GPA of 3.0 or greater at The University of Texas at Arlington (first year students must meet this requirement by the end of the Fall 2023 semester)
• Previous professional or internship experience
• Campus involvement and/or community leadership experience

 

If selected for the Graduate Archer Fellowship Program, students must meet the following requirements by the beginning of the summer they will be in Washington, D.C.:

• Nine hours of in-residence credit completed at The University of Texas at Arlington
• GPA of 3.0 or greater

 

Courses

Archer Fellows take courses housed in political science, which are taught by faculty from UT Dallas and policy experts from the Washington, D.C., community. Students earn 9 hours of graduate-level credit:

 

POLS 5392: Policymaking

POLS 5393: Archer Internship

POLS 5394: Archer Independent Study

 

Students are strongly encouraged to consult their academic advisors to learn how these classes will fit into their degree plans.

 

Policy Working Groups

As part of the coursework, Archer Fellows will participate in a specialized working group in one of several topic areas: General Domestic Policy, Education Policy, Health and Healthcare Policy, National Security, and Global Affairs Policy. These working groups enable Archer Fellows to connect with policy leaders in their field through policy roundtables and tailored academic research projects. In addition, these working groups foster research and policy collaboration between Archer Fellows.

 

Internship

All Archer Fellows participate in a full-time internship that aligns with their academic and professional goals. Archer Fellows are responsible for researching and applying for internships, while Archer Center staff provides guidance and assistance throughout the process. The Archer Center has a vast network of connections in a variety of fields in the nation’s capital, and Archer Fellows have developed a fantastic reputation as high quality interns.

 

While many internships in Washington, D.C., offer financial compensation (e.g. stipends, hourly pay, etc.), some opportunities remain unpaid. For that reason, students should not expect to earn an income while in D.C. Visit archercenter.org for a non-exhaustive list of potential internship sites.

 

Program Cost and Scholarships

The summer 2024 Graduate Archer Fellowship Program fee is $3,900, and is subject to change in future years. This fee does not cover housing or other expenses. Archer Fellows pay a program fee in lieu of UT Arlington tuition, and most financial resources currently used on their home campus can apply to the Archer Fellowship Program costs. Students are encouraged to visit archercenter.org/funding-your- fellowship.html for more information on program expenses.

 

Generous scholarships are available to help Archer Fellows fund their semester in Washington, D.C.

Typically, students fund their fellowship through existing financial aid, designated campus funding, and Archer Center need and merit-based scholarships.

If you have concerns about the cost of the program, please reach out to the Archer Center. We do not want financial concerns to keep you from applying to be an Archer Fellow.

 

Contact Information

Bobbie Brown

Campus Coordinator at UT Arlington Director of the AP Summer Institute The Honors College archerfellows@uta.edu

 

Christine Anderson

Assistant Director of Recruitment and Admissions The Archer Center

chanderson@utsystem.edu

 

Archer Center Admissions

archeradmissions@utsystem.edu