Knoxville Fellows Program
The Knoxville Fellows Program is an opportunity for students to not only explore careers in public service/public policy but also provides students with a chance to gain experience while receiving support from the Howard H. Baker Jr. School of Public Policy and Public Affairs. Students will also learn professional development through the career readiness class you take concurrently with your internship. All internships are paid and will be between 10-15 hours a week during the fall/spring semesters.
Student Eligibility
Applicants for the Knoxville Fellows Program must be:
- Enrolled at UTK as a full-time undergraduate student in any program of study (no major/minor restrictions apply)
- Maintaining a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher, while in good academic standing
**Students who are currently involved with the Baker School will be given preference in the selection process. To learn more about how to get involved in our various programs, please visit https://baker.utk.edu/student-experience/.
Academic Credit
Knoxville Fellows have the option of receiving academic credit through HBS 495: Special Topics in Public Policy (1-3 credit hours). Fellows will meet bi-weekly to discuss their experiences and receive mentorship from Baker School faculty and staff. All Fellows will be required to attend the class meetings, regardless if they need the academic credit or not. The course date/times will be published in the application, so students will be able to keep that time open in their schedule.
Duties and Requirements
The Knoxville Fellows Program has partnerships with the City of Knoxville, Knox County, Knoxville’s Community Development Corporation, and the Knoxville Chamber of Commerce. Interns will be assigned to work in various local offices based on partner’s availability and student expertise. Past student internships have ranged from researching affordable housing, working with community members through the Police Advisory & Review Committee, and shadowing city leaders.
Application Details
To apply, students will need to upload the following to Handshake:
- Biographical Information
- Short answer responses on the following:
- Local government and policy interest
- Post-graduation career goals
- How this experience relates to personal goals and skills you want to develop
- Professional Resume (1 page, pdf with name in title)
- Academic History
Spring 2024 applications will be made available in early November.
Learn More
For more information, attend the Baker School Information Session on Thursday, September 7 at 4:00pm in the Toyota Auditorium of the Baker School (Room 103). If you cannot attend, please feel free to request more information by emailing BakerStudents@utk.edu.
