Polis Student Committee (PSC)

The Polis Student Committee (PSC) is a community of undergraduate, graduate, and professional students at Duke University who share an interest in politics, democracy, and public service. The PSC aims to promote greater understanding of—and engagement with—politics at the local, state, national, and global levels. PSC members are official members of the Polis community who participate in the center’s events and activities, gain access to special perks and unique opportunities, and play a valuable role in helping to shape Polis’s programs. It also serves as a pipeline to Polis Director’s Fellows positions. (Polis Director’s Fellows will be selected from the members of the Polis Student Committee and will serve as the student leadership team of the PSC.)

If you are looking for a group that offers transformative political conversations, leadership development opportunities, the chance to connect with inspiring political leaders, and the opportunity to be a part of a vibrant community that cares about politics, democracy, and public service, the Polis Student Committee is for you!

Sample PSC Events, Activities, and Perks:

High-profile guest speakers
Political discussions (with free food!)
Access to workshops and training events
Opportunities to connect with guest speakers in smaller settings
Connecting with faculty
Research opportunities
Mentoring opportunities
Special trips/travel opportunities
Being featured on Polis media channels
The opportunity to work on a Polis project team (e.g., events team, social media team, etc.)
Volunteering at Polis Events
Pathway to Polis Director’s Fellows

What Members Can Look Forward To:

Apply for the Polis/PolicyLab Fellows Duke Political History Project, 9/15
Kick-Off PSC Event, 10/13: free food, games, prizes, and swag!
Meet Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt, 11/14
Fall Capitol Trip to Raleigh, N.C.
Spring Capitol Trip to Washington, D.C.

Polis/PolicyLab Fellows will be drawn from the membership of the Polis Student Committee (PSC).

Since its founding, Duke University has played a central role in the development of generations of student-citizens, providing access to educational credentials that open the doors to social, economic, and political opportunity. Moreover, many of Duke’s students, faculty, and staff members have actively engaged in political leadership, activism, and democracy work. As part of a larger investigation of Duke’s institutional history that grapples with the University’s relationship with slavery and its posture toward racial justice, this project examines how Duke has shaped the development of citizens/politically engaged people over time. It also considers the role that the University has played in shaping the political landscape in Durham and North Carolina.

Polis/PolicyLab would like to engage a special team of research fellows to help with this project, which differs from customary PolicyLab memo projects. Duties will include helping with background research, assisting with original and primary data collection (e.g., archival research, gathering data from databases, helping with interviews), help with data processing (e.g., coding), fact checking, and more.

Fellows will work approximately 5-10 hours per week during Fall semester. The PSC and the Duke Political History Project are open to all Duke undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. These are hourly positions that are paid according to the Sanford School’s hourly rate ranges for student workers.

Click here to learn more!

Position Requirements
PSC Members regularly attend Polis events and activities and are committed to building an inclusive community that is characterized by mutual respect and support, authenticity, open-mindedness, and an orientation toward growth.

Eligibility
All current Duke undergraduate, graduate, and professional students with an interest in politics, democracy, and public service are eligible to apply. This includes incoming first-year students, DKU students, and transfer students. (Note: All students are welcome and encouraged to apply—regardless of level of political knowledge, experience, or course of study!)

Application
 For AY 2022-23, we will select Polis Student Committee members during the Fall semester.

AY 2022-23 Selection Process Timeline (please note that this schedule may be subject to adjustment depending on the number of applications that we receive):

Application Deadline: September 15, 2022
Interviews: The week of September 19, 2022
Selection Notification: By September 23, 2022
PSC Kickoff: October 13, 2022

Click here to apply!

If you have questions about the Polis Student Committee, please contact Polis’s Senior Program Coordinator, Meg Bittle at meg.bittle@duke.edu.