APA Congressional Fellowships

Application deadline: December 1, 2008

The American Planning Association is pleased to offer the APA Congressional Fellowships for Urban Planning & Community Livability. Started in 2000, the Congressional Fellowship program is now entering its ninth year. These six-month fellowships will allow two qualified graduate or post-graduate students in urban planning or public policy to work on issues of planning and smart growth in the U.S. Congress. Students in related disciplines are eligible to apply.

Two fellowship positions are being offered for 2009. One fellow will be placed in the U.S. House of Representatives and one in the U.S. Senate. Fellows will work directly with key congressional organizations dealing with planning issues, such as the House Livable Communities Task Force and the Senate Smart Growth Task Force. Previous fellows have served in the offices of Rep. Blumenauer (D-Ore.), former Sen. James Jeffords (I-Vt.), Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.), and the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs. Specific assignments in the House and Senate are not yet available, but fellows will focus on smart growth and planning concerns in the congressional agenda.

Fellows work alongside congressional staff in a Capitol Hill office. Projects include conducting policy and legislative research, drafting policy briefs, developing briefings and resources for congressional staff on planning and smart growth issues, and serving as staff liaison to congressional caucuses and organizations interested in planning and smart growth. Fellows gain direct and substantial experience in the legislative process. Fellows are expected to work full-time, however some schedule flexibility is possible for educational purposes.

APA's Policy Office in Washington, D.C. will provide additional opportunities for training in the politics and policies of planning and smart growth. Fellows also receive a complimentary registration and travel expenses to the 2009 National Planning Conference in Minneapolis.

Current and previous award recipients

Term & Stipend

Fellowships begin on February 2, 2009 and conclude on July 31, 2009. Fellows receive a stipend of $4,000. A housing allowance is not provided in addition to the stipend. As noted above, APA conference travel and registration expenses are provided as part of the fellowship in addition to the stipend.

To Apply

Qualified candidates should submit a statement of interest and qualification, resume or curriculum vitae, letter of recommendation, and a writing sample or research project. Application materials must be received by 5:00 p.m. (Eastern), Monday, December 1, 2008. Application materials should be sent to:

APA Congressional Fellowship Program
American Planning Association
1776 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Suite 400
Washington, DC 20036

Application materials may also be faxed to 202-872-0643 or e-mailed to govtaffairs@planning.org with the subject line: Congressional Fellowship.

The above listed items constitute a complete application; no separate application form is required.

Fellows will be officially selected by the end of the year.

Questions regarding the program should be directed to APA's government affairs department at 202-349-1024.

APA is an equal opportunity employer.