Postgraduate Professional Development Program

Framework for 21st Century Global Skills

Syllabus
Fall Semester 2013
Jacki Banks Tel: 202-238-7967 Fax: 202-238-7700 Email: Jacki.Banks@twc.edu Office Hours: by appointment

Table of Contents
The Washington Centers Mission .................................................................................................................. 3
Institutional Learning Outcomes Objectives .......................................................................................................................................... 3 Academic Internship Program Learning Outcomes Objectives ......................................................................................................... 3

Assignments ........................................................................................................................................................ 5
The Portfolio ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 6 Portfolio Assignments ................................................................................................................................................................................. 7 Portfolio Assignment Due Dates at a Glance....................................................................................................................................... 13 Leadership and Civic Engagement Forum Activities at a Glance..................................................................................................... 14

Assignment Submission and Grading Policies ........................................................................................... 16

Assignment Submission Guidelines........................................................................................................................................................ 17 Grading Policies.......................................................................................................................................................................................... 17 Grading Point System .......................................................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. Academic Misconduct ............................................................................................................................................................................... 19

Site Visit and Attendance Policy ................................................................................................................... 20

Internship Site Visit ................................................................................................................................................................................... 21 Attendance Policy....................................................................................................................................................................................... 21

Contacts and Calendar Management ............................................................................................................ 22

MyTWC: Assignments and Calendar Management ............................................................................................................................. 23 Staying in touch: ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 23

Appendix: Assignment Guidelines ................................................................................................................ 24

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The Washington Centers Mission

The Washington Center was founded on the belief that the right experience can transform students lives setting them on a course of achievement, leadership, and civic responsibility. That is why we immerse qualified college students and professionals in our uniquely intense and productive living, working, and learning program. Our mission is to provide students with transformational experiences that foster academic and professional achievement, leadership and civic engagement.

Institutional Learning Outcomes Objectives

At The Washington Center our goal is to help you grow and succeed professionally, intellectually and personally. All of our programs are built around three fundamental pillars: Academic and Professional Achievement, Leadership and Civic Engagement. The various components of your experience here at The Washington Center are designed to promote these central goals as defined within each of these pillars. As a result of your learning experiences at The Washington Center, you will: Demonstrate academic and professional achievement; Have an enhanced understanding of community and organizational leadership; Develop an increased capacity for civic engagement; Utilize integrative learning to demonstrate a capacity to make connections across experiences and synthesize those for growth and development. At the end, you will be well positioned to launch a career in the dynamic and highly competitive global economy and to forge a path of engagement and leadership in a complex and globally interconnected world.

Academic Internship Program Learning Outcomes Objectives

Your learning in the Academic Internship Program at The Washington Center will take place across three distinct program components, each of which aims at a distinct mode of engaged learning. Integrating the modes of engaged learning outlined here will help you to prepare for a life of achievement, leadership and civic responsibility.

The Postgraduate Professional Development Program (PPDP)

The Postgraduate Professional Development Program offers an innovative approach to professional training using the Framework for 21st Century Learning as outlined by the Partnership for 21st Century Skills. For students, proficiency in 21st century skillsthe skills, knowledge and expertise students must master to succeed in college, work, and lifeshould be the outcome of a 21st century education. 1 As a result of your internship and the programs organized by the PPDP Program, you will: Demonstrate necessary skill sets to adapt to a global professional environment; Engage in professional environments in a manner that focuses academic knowledge into the professional world;

Partnership for 21st Century Skills. (2008). 21st Century Skills, Education & Competitiveness: A Resource and Policy Guide. Retrieved March 8, 2013, from 21stcenturyskills.org.
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Understand what it takes to succeed in the 21st Century Workplace and display fluency in 21st Century Themes and Skills through the successful completion of the Civic Engagement Group Project.

The Academic Course

The academic course is an essential component of the Academic Internship Program experience at The Washington Center. Beyond achieving the learning outlined in your course syllabus, the academic course will also provide you with the opportunity to: Demonstrate a commitment to professionalism in the pursuit of knowledge, development of academic skills and civic learning; Articulate a vision for the transfer of academic learning toward a future of continued achievement (e.g., professional, civic or life-long learning). Note: You will receive a separate syllabus from your course instructor outlining the specific goals and objectives of your course. Regardless of whether or not you will receive academic credit for your course, participation in the academic course is essential to the learning objectives of the Academic Internship Program. You are responsible for attending your academic course each week, and you are expected to complete all class work on time and with academic rigor.

The Leadership and Civic Engagement Forum

The Leadership and Civic Engagement Forum is a hallmark feature of the experience at The Washington Center. As a result of your participation in the Leadership and Civic Engagement Forum, you will have an enriched capacity to: Demonstrate and enact a commitment to being civically engaged in a global society; Integrate personal experiences, values, and skills in understanding your civic identity and impacting the community in a meaningful way; Identify your personal leadership attributes and analyze how those unique traits position you to contribute to the community or workforce.

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Assignments

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The Portfolio
Due: 12/9
The Portfolio facilitates students ability to link classroom work to the world of professional work. Your final portfolio will be uploaded to MyTWC and can serve as documentation of your skills and abilities to potential future employers. The purpose of the Portfolio is to: Document your work and accomplishments from your D.C. experiences; Show growth and improvement personally, professionally, academically, civically, and in your leadership abilities; Reflect on your development as a lifelong learner; At the end of the semester, you will upload one electronic copy to MyTWC. Instructions on how to submit an electronic Portfolio will be posted on MyTWC: http://mytwc.twc.edu. Organize the Portfolio in the following order (each of these assignments are explained in the following section of the syllabus): Cover (Include name and internship site) Table of Contents Capstone Reflection Individual Development Plan Cover Letter Rsum Civic Engagement Project Report Informational Interview Reflection Program Specific Project Work Samples from the Internship, with Cover Page Work Sample from the Academic Course, with Cover Page Academic Course Syllabus (from your evening academic course) Appendix (optional): Feel free to include pictures, related news articles, blogs, etc. For each of the Portfolio assignments, we have developed a rubric that outlines the criteria on which your work will be evaluated. You can access all of the rubrics on our website: http://www.twc.edu/welcomeaccepted-students/rubrics or on MyTWC: http://mytwc.twc.edu. You must have a written extension from your Academic Program Advisor if you are unable to meet the submission deadline. Consult with your Academic Program Advisor to see samples of student Portfolios.

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Portfolio Assignments
1. Rsum
Due: 9/23 * Upload the assignment to MyTWC and indicate the reference number from the Sample Job Bank under Resources. If you found a job posting elsewhere, upload it in addition to your assignment.
You have been provided several different potential job announcements that can be found on MyTWC under Resources. You are to choose one, and create a rsum that is tailored to the job announcement. By the end of the semester, you will have created an updated professional rsum that is targeted to apply for a specific position. The purpose of this assignment is to: Help you incorporate your newly acquired professional and academic experiences into your rsum; List relevant leadership experience, if applicable, noting the role you took and what areas you were in charge of and the applicable dates; Practice targeting your professional and personal experiences to particular job requirements and specific opportunities; Better position you for future employment as the rsum is a critical element to your professional success. You are encouraged to arrange for a private meeting with your Academic Program Advisor to work on this assignment or attend one of the Career Services Rsum workshops before the due date. Your rsum should follow an American format.

2. Cover Letter
Due: 9/23 * Upload the assignment to MyTWC and indicate the reference number from the Sample Job Bank under Resources. If you found a job posting elsewhere, upload it in addition to your assignment.
Using the same job announcement you will now create a cover letter written specifically to apply for this position. The purpose of this assignment is to: Tailor your unique value, strengths, skills and aptitudes as they relate to a particular field of interest; Include relevant examples of leadership experience, if possible, as it relates to one of the required skill sets for the job position; Practice articulating your strengths and qualifications to specific professional audiences. You are encouraged to arrange for a private meeting with your Academic Program Advisor to work on this assignment or attend one of the Career Services Cover Letter workshops before the due date. Your cover letter should be no more than one page and should follow a formal business format.

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3. Individual Development Plan (IDP)

Due: 9/30 (This assignment will be completed in class and uploaded to MyTWC.)
The Washington Center Academic Internship Program offers students transformational experiences that will impact their future success. During the first few weeks, you will have an opportunity to create an Individual Development Plan that will enhance your current skill sets in goal setting, skill development, and how your time in DC will impact your continued development academically and professionally. Assignment instructions are in Appendix. In creating this document, ask yourself the following questions: What do I want to learn/achieve during the next 15 weeks in the areas of Academic and Professional Achievement, Civic Engagement and Leadership? How will I accomplish it? How will I know when I have achieved it? The Individual Development Plan is structured to help you in identifying your goals for the semester. The IDP focuses on three main areas, which are: Academic and Professional Achievement, Civic Engagement, and Leadership. The purpose of this exercise is to: Improve goal-setting skills, a critical element for all facets of ones personal and professional life; Provide the opportunity for you to take personal responsibility for your development by helping you reflect on where you are and where you want to go for this term and beyond; Enhance your capability to have stronger conversations between you and your mentors (internship supervisor and Academic Program Advisor) to ensure achievement of your goals; Serve as a self-developed learning and action plan for this semester. You must discuss your Individual Development Plan (IDP) with your internship supervisor so that he/she can provide appropriate assistance and guidance to you throughout the semester. The IDP will be an important component of the site visit that will take place between you, your internship supervisor, and your Academic Program Advisor mid-way through the semester. (Please see page 21 of the syllabus for an in-depth description of the Site Visit).

4. Informational Interview Reflection

Due: 11/4
One of the best networking tools for job hunters is the Informational Interview. You should interview someone in a position that you would like to have in the near future or someone who works for an organization you would like to work for soon. You cannot interview your internship supervisor or anyone
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who works with you at your organization, your course professor, close friends, or family members. Interviews must be conducted in person. Only under special circumstances will phone or Skype interviews be permitted. No interview should be conducted via email. You are strongly encouraged to attend the Informational Interview workshop offered by Career Services. The purpose of this assignment is to: Help you gain practical insight into the steps required to be successful in a your field of interest; Acquire knowledge of the day-to-day responsibilities of the type of position you are interested in; Provide an opportunity for you to examine leadership styles first-hand; Help you develop confidence in interacting with accomplished professionals; Provide opportunities for you to develop professional contacts in your field of interest. After you have completed your informational interview, you are required to write a reflection of the meeting as a narrative essay of 2-3 pages (single-spaced). A list of guiding questions to consider is provided in the Appendix. Assignment instructions are in Appendix.

5. Civic Engagement Group Project

Due: 12/9 (Include your Prezi/PowerPoint in your Portfolio.)
The Civic Engagement Group Project will focus on the 21st Century Themes of Global Awareness and Civic Literacy. It will also incorporate the 21st Century Skills you have been studying throughout the semester, specifically, Life and Career Skills and Learning and Innovation Skills. As a group, identify a social issue and plan to devote a minimum of 15 hours over the semester to education (attending meetings, lectures, hearings) and action. (For your action component, be creative! You may write a lesson plan; develop a media project to include a blog, website, PSA, fundraising video, or podcast; complete a group service opportunity; or advocate on behalf of an issue.) You will be expected to provide a ten-fifteen minute Prezi or PowerPoint presentation on your chosen issue. Please cover the following areas in your presentation: Identify an Issue: Explain why you chose this particular issue and why it is significant. Education: Discuss the political/social context of the issue, events and meetings you attended. Provide extensive details on what you learned. Action: What actions did you take as an advocate or a volunteer? Where did you volunteer and how often? How did you contribute to making a positive difference on this particular issue? What new skills did you develop such as learning about the legislative process; teamwork and leadership; teaching English to immigrants; or interacting with torture survivors, homeless advocates and veterans? Reflection: How did this project help you become a better informed citizen of the US or a global citizen? What was your impact or contribution to resolving this issue? What role did each group member take? How did you delegate responsibilities? What is your overall critical assessment of the group process? (What obstacles did you have? How did you overcome them? Was your group successful? Why or why not?)

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7. Public Policy Dialogues

The purpose of the Public Policy Dialogues component is to: Help you improve your understanding of citizen advocacy and representative democracy through personal meetings with Members of Congress and/or their legislative staff; Develop written and verbal communication, research, and civic participation skills; Enhance your understanding of the Member of Congress position on an issue of interest to you. Domestic students will have the opportunity to be grouped by state and congressional district to attend one meeting with a member of the U.S. Senate or House of Representatives and/or their legislative staff (not based on political affiliation). International students will meet with a staff member of a committee focused on a specific region of the world, staff member of a think tank focused on their region, or attend a panel discussion with speakers that represent their specific home region. The Senior Program Coordinator of Public Policy Dialogues will arrange and attend your visit and grade you on your performance and conduct during the meeting. Before your Public Policy Dialogues visit you will have the opportunity to access the rubric that will be used to assess your participation in your meeting and the Congressional Visit Worksheet. Please make sure to bring your completed Congressional Visit Worksheet with you to your visit. Any late worksheets may not be accepted. Scheduling these meetings takes time, and meeting schedules vary among TWC students. If you have questions regarding the scheduling of your Public Policy Dialogue, contact James Liska, the Senior Program Coordinator, at public.policy@twc.edu.

8. Capstone Reflection
Due: 12/9 (In the Portfolio) * Please refer to the chart on page 18 for grading point system.
Your Capstone Reflection is an occasion for you to assess and evaluate your experiences and learning from the semester in Washington, D.C., as they will help to prepare you for your future accomplishments. Your reflection should be 3-4 pages (single spaced) and should be organized as an essay (rather than responses to separate questions). In your Capstone Reflection, discuss each of the following: Your experience with the process of developing and implementing your Individual Development Plan (IDP). What items did you accomplish? What areas could still use more work? Did you have to revise or abandon a goal or plan? In what ways has this process helped you to plan for your future more strategically? (Be as specific as possible.) Discuss any connections you were able to make between your previous academic knowledge, your academic course, your internship, your civic engagement efforts and your individual programming this

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semester. In what ways, if any, have your professional and civic experiences this semester caused you to view your academic skills differently? (Refer to your work samples, if appropriate.) What did you learn about leadership development? Compare and reflect on different leadership styles you witnessed this semester. Discuss a recent milestone in your understanding of leadership. What skills will you now focus on in your leadership development? After reflecting on your DC experience in its entirety, discuss your future plans and how you will achieve them.

In your Capstone Reflection, you might consider discussing examples of the following: Surprising experiences in new professional or civic contexts. Did your experiences give you any unexpected insights into your strengths or weaknesses, values or interests? Only in D.C.! Were there any moments that could only have occurred here in D.C. that helped you to clarify your future plans, goals or ambitions?

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9. Work Samples from the Internship, with Cover Page

Due: 12/9 (In the Portfolio)
The purpose of the inclusion of work samples is: To provide you an opportunity to showcase your knowledge, skills, and abilities gained through the internship. Future employers may ask you to submit a professional writing sample or provide an example of projects you completed. To demonstrate to your liaison or faculty member at your home institution the depth and breadth of the types of assignments you completed in your internship. Samples may include any of the following: memos, issue summaries, published work, presentations, and web and social media content. Other examples of your work may also include projects that you have submitted to your internship supervisor. Include a cover page that explains the nature and context of each work sample. In your cover page, identify the following: What did you do in each work sample? What was your contribution to it, if it was the product of a team effort? What skills did you employ in producing this product? To what extent, if any, does this work sample demonstrate progress toward specific goals in your IDP? (Be as specific as possible.) We are aware that some of the information you are exposed to at your internship is confidential. You must clear any information with your internship supervisor first, as the internship supervisor may not want specific information or work distributed outside the office. If you cannot get approval to remove work samples from your office, please create a page to explain the reason for not being able to provide work samples.

10. Work Sample from the Academic Course, with Cover Page
Due: 12/9 (In the Portfolio)
Include a cover page that explains the nature and context of the work sample. In your cover page, identify the following: What did you do in your work sample? What was your contribution to it, if it was the product of a team effort? To what extent does this work sample demonstrate accomplishment of objectives listed in your Academic Course syllabus? (Be as specific as possible.) To what extent, if any, does this work sample demonstrate progress toward specific goals in your IDP? (Be as specific as possible.)

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Portfolio Assignment Due Dates at a Glance

Date 9/9 Assignment Internship Agreement Form due Rsum and Cover Letter due (along with the job announcement you selected from Resources on MyTWC) Individual Development Plan 10/7 Early Grade Request Form due 10/21 Internship Supervisors Midterm Assessment due Informational Interview due Method Of Submission Hand-deliver, Email, Fax Via MyTWC Other Comments Located on MyTWC. Your Academic Program Advisor will provide feedback. Your Academic Program Advisor will review your progress during site visits. Submit the form if you need an early grade. Submit two copies. Your Academic Program Advisor will provide feedback and a grade. Your Academic Program Advisor will provide feedback on any assignments that you are required to submit in your portfolio. Submit two copies.

9/23

Completed in class. Upload to MyTWC Hand-deliver, Email, Fax Hand-deliver, E-mail, Fax Via MyTWC

11/4

11/18

Assignment Draft Deadline

Via MyTWC

Internship Supervisors Final Assessment due 12/9 Portfolio due (Including Civic Engagement Group Project Prezi/PowerPoint, Capstone Reflection, and Work Samples with Cover Page)

Hand-deliver, E-mail, Fax

Via MyTWC

Submit one electronic copy to MyTWC.

**All forms are available at http://www.twc.edu/welcome-accepted-students/forms or on MyTWC: http://mytwc.twc.edu.

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Leadership and Civic Engagement Forum Activities at a Glance

Date Activity The Washington Center Orientation Activities Location The Residential and Academic Facility at NOMA, Auditorium (1005 3rd St, NE) The Residential and Academic Facility at NOMA (1005 3rd St, NE) Time

8/29

9:00am-5:00pm

8/30 9/2 9/3 9/9

Program Orientation

TBD

No programming federal holiday (Labor Day) First Day of Internship Program Event: Please contact your internship site supervisor for location, start time, and dress code in advance. Good luck!!! TBD National Association of Home Builders (1201 15th St, NW The Residential and Academic Facility at NOMA, Auditorium TBD TBD TBD

9/16

Career Boot Camp

TBD

9/23 9/30 10/7 10/14 10/21

The Alan K. Simpson-Norman Y. Mineta Leaders Series Program Event: Program Event:

TBD TBD TBD

No programming federal holiday (Columbus Day) Mandatory programming has been moved to Friday, October 25th. Please report to your internship. Global Citizenship Day The Residential and Academic Facility at NOMA The Residential and Academic Facility at NOMA TBD The Residential and Academic Facility at NOMA, Auditorium TBD 9:30am-1:00pm

10/25 International Festival 10/28 Program Event: The Alan K. Simpson-Norman Y. Mineta Leaders Series Program Event:

4:00pm Start Time TBD

11/4

TBD

11/11

TBD

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Date 11/18 11/25 12/2 12/9 12/13 12/14

Activity The Alan K. Simpson-Norman Y. Mineta Leaders Series Program Event: Program Event: Commencement Last Day of Internship Check-Out

Location The Residential and Academic Facility at NOMA, Auditorium TBD TBD The Residential and Academic Facility at NOMA, Auditorium

Time TBD TBD TBD TBD Congratulations!

**Please be advised that dates, times, location and speakers are subject to change. Please refer to the Events Calendar in MyTWC for the most up to date information and details.

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Assignment Submission and Grading Policies

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Assignment Submission Guidelines

Submit assignments as a MS Word document via MyTWC. Assignments are due by midnight on the due date, unless otherwise stated by your Academic Program Advisor. Extension requests must be submitted in writing at least 48 hours before the due date. Assignments are to be written in 12-point font. All assignments must be single spaced unless notified otherwise by your Academic Program Advisor. Proper grammar, punctuation, spelling and citations are required. Proofread carefully. If you submit your assignment at least one week prior to the due date, you are eligible to receive feedback from your Academic Program Advisor before final submission. Submissions of assignments must be timely and complete. After five unexcused days, assignments will be no longer accepted and you will earn a Fail for that assignment..

Grading Policies
The Washington Center does not award academic credit. You will be evaluated on a Pass/Fail system by your Academic Program Advisor, and you will be given letter grades by both your Academic Course Faculty and Internship Supervisor.

Final Grade from your Internship Supervisor

Your internship supervisor will complete two written evaluations of your progress at the internship. The first is the Midterm Assessment and the second is the Final Assessment. Please give your supervisor the evaluation form no less than one week before the evaluation is due. Both forms can be printed from the following website: http://www.twc.edu/welcome-accepted-students/forms or MyTWC: http://mytwc.twc.edu. The purpose of these evaluations is to: Give your supervisor opportunities to provide written feedback on your work performance, specifically addressing progress achieved and areas for further improvement; Ensure you are developing in the areas of communication, professional awareness, information and time management, and critical thinking. * Please email/fax Evaluations when possible.

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Final Grade from your TWC Academic Program Advisor

The Academic Program Advisor evaluates your work on a variety of written materials, most importantly, the assignments submitted throughout the semester, the Portfolio, as well as your attendance, participation, initiative, professionalism, and behavior (both observed and documented). Your Academic Program Advisor will evaluate each of the assignments based on a comprehensive rubric that identifies specific assessment criteria. You can access all of the rubrics on our website: http://www.twc.edu/welcome-accepted-students/rubrics or on MyTWC: http://mytwc.twc.edu. You will be awarded a Pass or Fail on the merit of your assignments, Portfolio, attendance, participation, initiative, professionalism, and behavior (both observed and documented).

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Academic Misconduct
The Washington Center holds itself and its students to a high level of academic integrity. To that end, we take seriously any cases of academic misconduct as identified below. Academic Misconduct includes but is not limited to the following definitions: Cheatingany dishonesty or purposeful deception in fulfilling academic requirements including but not limited to: Representing anothers work as your own, including tests, portfolios, or other academic requirements; Possession, use, distribution, or sale of unauthorized materials or technology in an academic setting; Obtaining unauthorized access to, or manipulating/changing, anothers computer files or programs. Complicity in Academic Misconductintentionally or knowingly helping, or attempting to help another commit an act of academic dishonesty. Fabrication and Falsificationthe unauthorized alteration or invention of any information or citation in an academic exercise, including forgery, or the misuse of non-transferable documents or instruments. Plagiarismthe use of paraphrase or direct quotation of the published or unpublished work of another person without giving full and clear acknowledgement. It also includes the unacknowledged use of materials prepared by another person or agency engaged in the selling of term papers or other academic materials. If you have any questions about how and when to cite sources, please contact your Academic Program Advisor. Academic Program Advisors may impose grade penalties for academic misconduct and/or refer or file a judicial complaint.

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Site Visit and Attendance Policy

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Internship Site Visit

At roughly the mid-point of the semester or sooner, your Academic Program Advisor will conduct a site visit that will consist of a meeting between you, your internship supervisor and Academic Program Advisor. The purpose of this site visit is: To determine if there is a good balance between learning and contributing; To determine if your Individual Development Plan goals are realistic, based upon your workload and other job responsibilities; To determine if you are clear about the expectations and policies, evaluations, feedback mechanisms, and other organizational matters; To determine if you have any concerns about your internship experience; To determine what opportunities there will be for you during the internship to gain perspective about the organization and the culture of Washington, D.C.; To determine if you are clear about how you will be evaluated by the internship supervisor and whether there is sufficient contact between the supervisor and you to ensure a fair and valid evaluation to occur; To provide encouragement and support, as well as help you gain self-confidence; To give you an opportunity in a formal setting to receive the undivided attention of the internship supervisor and to discuss your initial progress and future expectations. This site visit can last anywhere from 30 minutes to one hour. Your progress at the internship and progress you are making towards meeting your Individual Development Plan goals will be discussed. You or your supervisor is welcome to raise other issues at that time. Please schedule your site visit with your supervisor and your Academic Program Advisor within the first two weeks of your internship. If there is more than one intern at your internship site, please collaborate to schedule site visits one after another.

Attendance Policy
You are expected to report to your internship daily unless it is a holiday or you have your TWC Academic Program Advisors approval AND internship supervisors approval. Attendance and punctuality will count toward your grade. You are required to attend all TWC programming, including the Simpson-Mineta Leaders Series, all program specific events, and any meetings arranged by your Academic Program Advisor. Your attendance at each of these events will count toward your grade. To receive credit for your attendance, make sure to sign in on time at all events. Absences must be approved by your Academic Program Advisor prior to the event. Security checks are in place for many buildings in Washington, and the Metro is often encumbered by unexpected delays. Make sure to add an extra 15-30 minutes in your transportation plan to avoid tardy arrivals. During the Simpson-Mineta Leaders Series, out of courtesy and respect, students who arrive after the start of the speakers presentation will be turned away.

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Contacts and Calendar Management

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MyTWC: Assignments and Calendar Management

MyTWC is the on-line tool used by TWC staff and students. It can be accessed on the following link: http://mytwc.twc.edu. Your username is your primary email address. You would have to create a new password the first time you enter the page. If you do not know your password, click on Forgot your Password? and the system will send you instructions on how to create a new password. MyTWC serves as a valuable resource throughout the semester. It includes a calendar of events, announcements, portfolio management, assignment review, documents and links to useful information related to your TWC experience.

Staying in touch
Feel free to contact your Academic Program Advisor with questions, concerns, or thoughts. If your Academic Program Advisor is in the office, your communication will be responded to within 24 hours. Please e-mail or call to arrange an appointment to ensure that your Academic Program Advisor is available to meet with you. Check MyTWC every day. Additionally, we use the main email address provided on your original application materials as well. If your contact information has changed, please contact our Enrollment Department to change your record and then notify your Academic Program Advisor. You can email enrollment@twc.edu. When you send a fax (to 202-238-7700), make sure to add a cover sheet stating your Academic Program Advisors name.

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Appendix: Assignment Guidelines

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I. Individual Development Plan

The Individual Development Plan is structured to help you in identifying your goals for the semester. As an introduction to your document, you should write one or two brief paragraphs which describes your future plans and incorporates your SWOT analysis (that was completed in a workshop in the beginning of the semester). The IDP focuses on your Academic and Professional Achievement, Civic Engagement, and Leadership goals for the semester. The goals should be related to specific objectives you want to accomplish. You should identify one to two (12) goals in each area, then create two to three (2-3) specific action steps you will take to achieve each of the goals. You should have a total of three to six (3-6) goals in outline form. Below is an example of the expected format for your IDP. Academic and Professional Goal: Develop a concise elevator pitch that I can use at my companys convention to convey my interest in corporate law and government policy to top level executives who will be present. Action Step: Conduct independent research on policy issues (specifically corporate tax reform, housing and government spending reform, and insurance reform) three times a week. Collect three articles from the NYT, Wall Street Journal, and Washington Post. Action Step: Practice delivering my elevator pitch with peers at least once a week and incorporate feedback. Action Step: Use the polished pitch with two professionals in advance of the convention.

Three Areas of Goal Setting

Academic & Professional Development During this term you will have the opportunity to make connections between what you are learning in the classroom and your professional experiences. Consider which concepts you must learn and/or professional skills you need to acquire to successfully move forward with your professional aspirations when formulating one to two goals to help you develop both professionally and academically. Civic Engagement This term you will have the opportunity to identify an issue you care about and then work to make a positive difference in public life at the local, national or global level. You can achieve this through your civic engagement project and/or through your internship. By doing so, you will build your knowledge, skills and abilities to solve community problems. Identify one to two goals related to your ability to make a difference in public life. Leadership Leadership skills are identified by employers as a clear differentiator of potential hires. Leadership can occur at all levels and all facets of lifeyou can be the lead mediator in your apartment, the lead intern on a project or the lead in a group project in class. You will have the opportunity to witness first-hand how leaders motivate, enable and/or inspire others to achieve a common goal as well as identify and test out your own leadership abilities. Identify a leadership skill or area that you want to improve upon this semester and formulate one or two goals that will facilitate growth in this area.

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II. Informational Interview

After the interview, write a reflection of your informational interview. Your reflection must address: Who you interviewed (including the interviewees name, title and organization) and why you chose this person; How the interview has helped guide your future career or academic choices; How the interviewees process of understanding leadership impact your own definition and development of leadership; How you prepared for this interview and how you would evaluate your performance. Please write a narrative essay of 2-3 pages. Allow the following questions to guide your thought process as you reflect on the impressions you gained from the interview: Was there anything particularly surprising about the individuals professional career path? What were some of the most interesting things you learned from the interview? What are the most important leadership skills for your interviewees field? Discuss the interviewees leadership style and process of shaping said leadership style. Then, discuss what skills you need to develop to take on the same leadership role. How does what you learned about your field of interest or a profession support or conflict with your Individual Development Plan or your own professional development plan? Did the interview confirm or challenge your career aspirations?

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Appendix: Framework for 21 Century Global Skills

st

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Framework for 21st Century Global Skills: An Overview

The Postgraduate Professional Development Program will focus on the 21st Century Themes of Global Awareness and Civic Literacy as well as 21st Century Skills: Learning and Innovation Skills and Life and Career Skills. For a more detailed description, please review the Partnership for 21st Century Skills, 21st Century Skills, Education & Competitiveness: A Resource and Policy Guide at http://www.p21.org/storage/documents/21st_century_skills_education_and_competitiveness_guide.pdf. The PPDP Program will focus on specific thematic areas and relevant skills. The themes and skills adapted for the PPDP Program are outlined below.

21st Century Themes: Global Awareness and Civic Literacy

Global Awareness Understanding other nations and cultures Learning from and working collaboratively with individuals representing diverse cultures, regions, and lifestyles in a spirit of mutual respect and open dialogue in personal, work, and community contacts Civic Literacy Participating in civic life through knowing how to stay informed and understanding governmental processes Exercising the rights and obligations of citizenship at local state, and global levels Understanding the local and global implications of civic decisions

21st Century Skills: Learning and Innovation Skills, Life and Career Skills, Leadership and Responsibility
Learning and Innovation Skills 1. Creativity and Innovation Think creatively Work creatively with others Implement innovations 2. Critical Thinking and Problem Solving Reason effectively Use systems thinking Make judgments and decisions Solve problems 3. Communication and Collaboration Communicate clearly Collaborate with others Life and Career Skills 1. Flexibility and Adaptability Work effectively in a climate of ambiguity and changing priorities Incorporate feedback effectively Understand, negotiate and balance diverse views and beliefs to reach workable solutions, particularly in multi-cultural environments 2. Initiative and Self-Direction
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 Manage goals and time Work independently Be self-directed learners 3. Social and Cross-Cultural Skills Interact effectively with others Work effectively in diverse teams 4. Productivity and Accountability Manage Projects Produce Results 5. Leadership and Responsibility Guide and Lead Others Be Responsible to Others

29 The Washington Center Program Syllabus