Colleges and Schools > Hobby School of Public Affairs > Harris Fellows
About Harris Fellows
Harris Fellows offers UH undergraduate students the opportunity to work as full-time interns in Harris County government offices.
Harris Fellows will allow Cougars to serve the residents of the nation’s third largest county, whose diverse population of 4.8 million is larger than that of 26 states. Students will apply skills learned in the classroom as well as develop skills that can only be taught in a real world setting. As a major employer, Harris County has 30,504 employees that make an average of $58,186 per year according to OpenPayrolls. Hobby School internship programs have a proven record of leading to gainful employment.
Students will work full-time in Harris County government offices. Although assignments will vary from office to office, students will assist their host office in their general duties. This will most commonly include constituent services, research, policy analysis, and special projects as assigned.
The opportunity will provide students with outside of the classroom experience in real-world day to day operations in county government. Although students will complete a term paper relevant to their internships for academic credit, the overall focus of the program is to immerse them in the workings of county government so they can develop professional skills, gain applied research expertise, polish interpersonal abilities, and build a professional network.
Harris Fellows earn 3-12 hours of upper level political science or public policy credit (dependent on the student’s degree plan) for participation in the program by combining supervised academic study and research with practical training. Hobby School of Public Affairs program director Isaiah Warner manages the program, and senior director Renee Cross is the instructor of record.
Additional benefits include the following:
- Encouraging academic achievements and community involvement;
- Polishing oral and written communication skills;
- Providing leadership training;
- Developing a strong sense of civic responsibility;
- Fostering relationships with interns from other Texas universities; and
- Increasing the positive exposure of UH’s Tier One students in Harris County.
Thanks to the generous support of the Cougar Initiative To Engage and the Hobby School, six students selected for the program will receive a stipend to participate in the program. Students must complete the program requirements in their entirety to receive the full amount; if they are unable to do so, appropriate action will be taken to recoup funds.
Eligibility Requirements
Must be a junior or senior at the University of Houston during the semester of application. Students of any major are welcome to apply. Must be in good academic standing with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
Ideal Candidates Possess
- Outstanding academic achievement
- Strong writing ability
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Demonstrated dedication to public service through volunteerism in school and/or community activities
- Government internship or campaign experience
Personal interviews, academic achievement, writing ability, community and school activities, previous internship and/or professional experience, and financial hardship are factors in the selection process.
Program Requirements
Harris Fellows work a minimum of 40 hours per week, participate in seminars, and complete various academic assignments, which make them eligible for 3-12 academic credit hours. All Harris Fellows must be enrolled for the appropriate hours/classes at UH before the initial stipend is issued. Proof of enrollment is required.
General questions about the Harris Fellows may be directed to Jessica Ruland at jlruland@cougarnet.uh.edu.. For more information and on how to apply, please visit http://www.uh.edu/hobby/interns/harris-fellows
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