Spring Pedagogical Preparation
Before Patman Fellows have access to their summer stipend, they must satisfactorily complete the Patman gateway course in the spring of their junior year, which directly engages questions of political leadership and structural barriers to political participation. This course is limited to Patman Fellows. The 2024 gateway course was PUBPOL 490 – Political Communications in a Social World, taught by Prof. Lenny Stern.
Students also meet monthly with the HLP Program Coordinator, receiving one-on-one mentorship in preparation for their immersive summer experience.
Immersive Summer Learning
Patman Fellows are awarded a $3000 stipend for use in the summer between junior and senior year. These funds can be applied to either a summer internship or to research for an honors thesis.
- Internships must be with nonpartisan organizations or agencies that work broadly in the political realm, including, but not limited to: local, state, federal, or tribal governments; think tanks; nonpartisan legislative or policy organizations; political media or news literacy initiatives; youth political engagement; redistricting and gerrymandering; voting rights and ballot access; democracy reform/democratic renewal; civic participation; or political communications.
- Thesis funds may be used for independent research contributing to a Sanford senior honors thesis on a question relating to any of the above topics or another aspect of political leadership.
- Students must meet with the HLP program coordinator when developing their summer proposals. Funding proposals must be submitted for review and approval by April 1 in order to be processed.
Reflective Practice
Students write two “letters home” during their summer experience in which they reflect on their work and its implications for their own future political engagement. Each letter is read and responded to by a Hart faculty member.
Public Purpose
Students present their summer work at the Hart Leadership Program's Public Purpose Symposium in the fall semester.
