Beginning in 2002, the USC Joint Educational Project, in partnership with the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development, has co-directed the USC Summer Public Service Internship program.
The internship program is linked to a service learning class taken by the students in the spring semester. Students enroll in an undergraduate Policy, Planning and Development course, “Public Service in an Urban Setting” (PPD 372m). The course examines the concept of public community service in an urban, multicultural context. The topics covered include: the meaning of service, the theory and practice of service learning, southern California as the multicultural context for public service and volunteers, historical traditions, diverse practices, motivations, relationship to community, problems and limitations of service, public policies, the role of higher education, and models of leadership. The Joint Educational Project partners with the course to provide students with the opportunity to practice service in an urban setting. JEP places students at a community agency or school where they work 2-4 hours per week.
Students enrolled in the class are eligible to apply for a half-time summer public service internship with the agency at which they volunteered during the spring. Their responsibilities build on their service-learning experiences and include participation in fund raising, grant writing, or program development. The interns receive an hourly wage and the agencies receive a stipend to cover the costs of supervising the student.
The internship program was initially funded by a one-year, nonrenewable grant from the Flora Hewlett and Philanthropic Ventures Foundations. In 2003-2005, support from the California Community Foundation the USC Office of Student Affairs, and the Joint Educational Project allowed the program to continue. We are currently seeking support from donors and foundations to allow us to continue and expand the program.