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Agency Information:

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At the annual GPSI recognition breakfast held April 3, 2008 -- Angela Tin, Director of Environmental Programs for the American Lung Assoc. of Illinois, was the recipient of the Sagarika Madala Memorial Award for Exemplary Leadership in recognition of her exemplary leadership as a GPSI supervisor and mentor. The award is presented annually in memory of Sagarika Madala, a GPSI intern who died in March 2007. To be eligible for consideration, supervisors must be nominated by their current GPSI interns. Congratulations Angela! Thanks for making a difference!

Graduate Public Service Internship Program

For over 30 years the University of Illinois at Springfield has partnered with state and local government agencies through the GPSI program to provide agencies with highly qualified, highly motivated graduate level interns who wish to simultaneously begin a career in state government while earning a UIS graduate degree.  GPSI has a strong track record of placing exceptional students in governmental agencies. Since 1974, GPSI has placed over 2000 graduate students in over 45 state agencies and organizations.

GPSI is a cost-effective resource for agencies to utilize as a means to help staff agency initiatives. For FY09, the estimated agency cost to bring a top-flight intern on board is $18,100, which covers the tuition waiver, monthly stipend, professional development allotment, and administrative costs.                     

The goal of the GPSI program is to provide a 21 month internship placement with a maximum of forty (40) credit hours of tuition waiver. The GPSI office prepares a university/agency contract and bills the agency two times during the fiscal year. New interns begin placements on August 16, 2008.

Participating agencies conduct their own interviews arranged by the GPSI office and make the final hiring decision. There is no obligation to accept a placement, even after agencies conduct applicant interviews.   

Participating agencies set professional goals and objectives, and play a key role in the development of these emerging professionals.  GPSI interns are not clerical support.  They are highly-motivated graduate-level students with experience in professional proficiencies.  Core competencies include environmental studies, public health, business and accounting, management information systems, computer science, and public administration.