University of District of Columbia News September 12, 2011 Capitol Hill Embraces UDC Students Washington, DC - The University of the District of Columbia announces the inaugural class of the Congressional Internship Program, a new program designed to give students experience working on Capitol Hill with the nation's elected officials. The Congressional Internship Program (CIP) is the product of a joint effort between the University's Office of Government Relations, faculty of the School of Urban Affairs, Social Sciences, Social Work, and the Members of Congress who have agreed to employ University students for one or two semester internships. "As Washington, DC's only public university, we are proud to be able to extend these opportunities to our students," said President Allen L. Sessoms. "We are grateful for these Members of Congress, who look to UDC as a real resource not just for them, but for Washingtonians at large." This semester, the program has placed six undergraduate students in various Congressional offices, including the offices of Congressman Lacy Clay (MO), Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Congressman Raul Grijalva (AZ), and Congressman Danny K. Davis (IL). A second class of CIP participants will be placed in the spring. "This is a great time for the District's state university," said Aimee Occhetti, UDC's Vice President for Government Relations. "Our students can now see how the Hill operates and gain valuable work experience - just like students at universities all over America." "I'm a little nervous but very excited," said Amoy Reid, a UDC Senior and Political Science Major. "As District residents, we should all learn how things work on Capitol Hill and get involved in the many issues in which the federal government affects our lives." As the only urban land-grant institution in the United States, the University of the District of Columbia (www.udc.edu) supports a broad mission of education, research and community service across all member colleges and schools, which include the Community College, College of Agriculture, Urban Sustainability and Environmental Sciences, College Arts and Sciences, School of Business and Public Administration, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and David A. Clarke School of Law. The University of the District of Columbia is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action institution. Minorities, women, veterans and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. For a full version of the University's EO Policy Statement, please visit: http://www.udc.edu/equal_opportunity. The University of the District of Columbia is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education - 3624 Market Street - Philadelphia, PA 19104 - 267.284.5000 Contact: Alan Etter, Vice President of University Relations & Public Affairs, aetter@udc.edu, 202.345.6371 SANDRA M. PHOENIX Program Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 404.592.4820 Skype:sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree Street NW Suite 200 Atlanta, GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (Lyrasis) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children.