Axe ’Em, Jacks!
Undergraduate Archer Fellows participate in either the fall or spring semesters of each academic year. Students typically arrive in Washington, D.C., after the start of the semester and complete their fellowship a few weeks before the end of the semester. Students in the program learn about public service and public policy through coursework and internship opportunities. Determination of whether a student participates in the fall or spring is based upon the student’s degree plan, including course requirements, intended graduation semester, as well as placement decisions by The Archer Center.
Students interested in the Archer Fellowship Program should be interested in public policies and public service that are national in scope and lends itself to a Washington, D.C., experience. Students who are interested in state politics and policies should consider the SFA Legislative Internship Program. [Link]
To be an Archer Fellow, applicants undergo a competitive process. Regardless of preferred semester, all undergraduate applications are due Feb. 15 for the following academic year. The application process consists of the following application materials:
Undergraduate applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements:
- Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or greater at SFA
- Previous work experience or internship program
- Campus involvement and/or community service
- Enrollment in a SFA bachelor’s degree program
- Junior or senior status by year and credit hours at the beginning of the semester they will be an Archer Fellow.
Application materials include a résumé, letters of recommendation including at least one from a UT system faculty member, a policy position paper and other materials. All application materials are submitted to the Archer Center through its application web portal. For more information, visit The Archer Center.
After applications are reviewed, semifinalists will be announced and invited to an in-person, on campus interview. A selection committee consisting of SFA faculty and staff and Archer Center representatives conduct the interviews and make recommendations for Archer Fellowship Program finalists. Final decisions are announced each April.
For SFA resources to assist in the application process, visit the SFA Archer Fellowship Resources.
Program Specifics:
Undergraduate Archer Fellows receive 15 hours of course credit for their fellowship. Coursework is completed in Washington, D.C., with on-site faculty members through The University of Texas at Dallas. However, students must enroll in SFA courses, rather than having to be admitted to UT-Dallas.
- GOVT 4189: Internship in Political Science – Archer Fellowship (six hours)
- GOVT 4372: Advocacy and Politics – Archer Fellowship (three hours)
- GOVT 4373: The Politics of National Memory – Archer Fellowship (three hours)
- PADM 3305: American Public Policy – Archer Fellowship (three hours)
Note: students must complete GOVT 2305: Federal Government and GOVT 2306: Texas Government before beginning their Archer Fellowship. These courses are prerequisites for GOVT 4189, 4372 and 4373.
Costs:
Costs for the program include a flat fee of $4,900. Participants are not charged regular tuition and fees for the coursework. Fees do not include housing costs, which are estimated to be $4,900, including a refundable $200 housing deposit along with other expenses.
Archer Fellows are eligible for full federal and state financial aid through the SFA Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships. SFA provides a scholarship/stipend to cover the program fee of $4,900, subject to budgetary availability. Additionally, The Archer Center has numerous merit-based and need-based funding opportunities to help lower costs of participating.