The Washington Center

for Internships and Academic Seminars

Institutional Affiliation
Guide 2009

1333 16th N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036-2205 | Phone 202.238.7900 | Fax 202.238.7700 | info@twc.edu
 Table of Contents

03
B a ck g r o u nd

04
W hy I n s t i t u t i o n s A f f i l i at e w i t h Th e W a s h i ng t o n C en t e r
A c a d e m i c Q u a l i t y a t T h e W a s h i n g t o n Ce n t e r

05
Th e W a s h i ng t o n C en t e r A d v an t a g e

06
H o w a n I n s t i t u t i o n Af f i l i a t e s w i t h T h e W a s h i n g t o n C e n t e r
H o w C o l l e g es a nd U n i v er si t i e s H a nd l e A f f i l i a t i o n
T h e C a m p us Li a i s o n

07
C r e d i t A r r a n ge m e nt s
I n t e r n sh i p P r og r a m

08
S u g g e s t i o n s f o r Ad d i t i o n a l C r e d i t s

09
A c a d e m i c Se m i n a r s

10
Bi l l i n g a n d F e e A r r a n g e m e n t s

12
F i na n c i a l A s si st a nc e
F o r M o r e I n f o r m at i o n

For current program and housing information, please refer to The Washington Center Viewbook for 2008

The Washington Center actively strives for equal access to its programs for all regardless of race, religion, national
origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, physical challenge, or veteran status. All Washington Center programs
attempt to include a rich diversity of students in order to enhance the educational experience for all its participants.
 03 The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars

Background

The mission of The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars is to provide an integrated academic
and work experience to prepare college students and professionals for lives of achievement and civic engagement.
An independent nonprofit educational organization that enables students to earn college credit for full-time internship-
centered academic terms and short-term academic seminars, it is selected by more colleges and universities as their
Washington partner than any other organization. Since its founding in 1975 by William and Sheila Burke of the
University of Massachusetts at Amherst, The Washington Center has provided more than 40,000 students, in all
majors, with professional career experiences and course work.

Students are placed, according to their interests, in substantive, supervised internships in the government, for-profit
or nonprofit sectors as well as in international organizations. They also participate in one of a dozen thematically-
organized programs (for example, The Political Leadership Program, the Science and Policy Program, or the
Advocacy, Service and Arts Program); they take an academic course, chosen from among 35 to 50 offered; and they
attend and take part in a range of events within the Leadership Forum, including the President’s Lecture Series,
Public Policy Dialogues on Capital Hill, Embassy Visits Program, briefings, tours, workshops and other special
activities.

The Washington Center also offers summer programs combining short-term seminars in Washington, D.C. with
internships and academic courses abroad. Students may participate in one of three ten-week programs in
predominantly English-speaking settings: London, England; Oxford, England, and Sydney, Australia. For students
proficient in French, we offer a program in Quebec City, Canada.

In addition to its semester- or term-long internship program, The Washington Center offers a variety of one- and two-
week-long academic seminars that expose students to national and world issues through interaction
with policy-makers and leaders in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. Every four years, special academic
seminars are also offered on-site at both the Democratic and Republican National Conventions.

The Washington Center offers cost-effective, high-quality educational services designed to extend and complement
other on- and off-campus programs of higher education institutions. More than 1,000 colleges and universities, large
and small, public and private, have taken advantage of these services. The Washington Center's 70 full-time
professional staff members provide students with services customarily available on their campus as well as
educational experiences that utilize the wealth of resources in the nation's capital and other locations.

Funding is derived primarily from program and housing fees paid by institutions, students or scholarship-providing
entities. This past year, we raised and distributed to our students approximately $5 million in financial assistance. On
average, about 75 percent of Washington Center students receive some form of financial assistance.

Business offices are currently located at 1333 16th Street, N.W., just five blocks north of the White House and one
block north of Scott Circle. Our administrative headquarters building is a turn-of-the-century mansion acquired in
2006 with the generous assistance of the Goldman Sachs Foundation. Our Academic Center, containing five well-
equipped classrooms, is adjacent. Student housing facilities are located in professional-style apartment buildings,
most of them in suburban Maryland and the Arlington and Alexandria areas of Northern Virginia.
 04 The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars

Why Inst itutions Aff iliate w ith The Washingt on C enter

Institutions work with The Washington Center in order to provide their students affordable, high- quality, internship-
centered academic terms in the nation’s capital and abroad. Colleges and universities can mount such programs
through us with a fraction of the expense and liability – and with far more assurance of quality – than they would have
were they to try establishing a program on their own. The scale of The Washington Center alone gives it unparalleled
access to numbers and types of possible placement sites, speakers, and other academic resources.

Institutions affiliate (as opposed to merely sending students) in order to establish specific guidelines for their
students' participation in Washington Center programs. Through an affiliation agreement, the institution outlines
arrangements for billing, awarding of credit and application procedures for either the internship program or academic
seminars, or both. Thus, when a student applies to a program, The Washington Center is able to follow the
guidelines previously set by the student's college or university. There is no charge for affiliation, and terms of
affiliation may be changed at any time. The agreement merely enables our staff to represent the institution’s policies
to students accurately and facilitates the credit-granting and billing arrangements for students who apply.

At non-affiliated institutions, students lack these guidelines for participation. Each student must individually resolve
issues regarding credit, fees and faculty sponsorship without official support or endorsement from the institution.
Often this process can be confusing and time-consuming, and it can discourage students from participating.

Liaisons, faculty and students at affiliated institutions enjoy some distinctive benefits. Provided that they meet The
Washington Center's admission criteria, students recommended for admission by affiliated institutions are given
preference for acceptance, and they receive priority consideration for financial assistance. Faculty are given priority
in the selection of faculty leaders for the academic seminars (and if chosen receive free housing and a stipend).
Liaisons may be selected to serve on The Washington Center's national Liaison Advisory Board.

Finally, affiliation is an institutional asset. It can help attract and retain academically talented, motivated students. It
helps position the institution as one connected to the larger world and supportive of public service and other forms
of civic engagement. For these reasons, affiliated colleges and universities often include their Washington Center
program in their admissions catalogs and recruitment materials, course listings, alumni newsletters and other
publications, as well as on their websites. Feature articles about student experiences in Washington offer compelling
examples of the educational opportunities open to students at those institutions.

Academic Quality at The Washington Center

The Washington Center recognizes that institutions awarding academic credit for student participation in its programs
expect, at a minimum, the same level of quality that the institution provides its students on campus. To ensure the
quality of offerings and to meet accreditation standards, the senior vice presidents of The Washington Center keep
abreast of campus requirements and expectations. We work closely with campus liaisons. Also, The Washington
Center adheres to academic policies and standards developed by its national Liaison Advisory Board, a group
composed of faculty and administrators from affiliated campuses. Additional advice on academic matters is provided
by the Council of Presidents, composed of the presidents of some of our leading institutions. A complete membership
list of Washington Center advisory boards is available by request, as is a list of academic program staff and their
academic degrees.

Whenever feasible, The Washington Center encourages faculty involvement from affiliated institutions. This includes
occasional visits to observe the participation of students and evaluation by staff, participation in academic seminars,
or service as a member of the Liaison Advisory Board.
 05 The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars

The Washi ngt on C enter Advantage

There are numerous reasons The Washington Center has become the nation's leading - and largest - provider of
internship-centered academic terms. In the interest of brevity a bulleted summary of some key ones follows:

 a 33- yea r r eco rd of, and national recognition for, providing quality experiential education programs
 an al um ni ba se of m or e th an 40 ,00 0
 a distinguished, diverse, and engaged bo ard of di re ctor s
 distinguished l i ais on and pr esi dent i al advi sor y boa rds that review the standards of Washington Center
programming
 a strong staff of 7 0 ded icat ed pr ofe ssio nal s
 a comprehensive i nsti t ut io nal re la ti ons pro gr am with over 1,000 colleges and universities nationwide and
abroad
 a successful record of out rea ch t o di ver se g rou ps and in di vid ual s
 fi nan cia l a ssi stan ce from a wide variety of states, corporations, foundations, placement agencies and individual
contributors, providing approximately $5 million in financial assistance awards yearly
 in ter nsh ip s avai l abl e t o al l stu dent s at participating institutions, regardless of major; students may choose our
domestic program based in Washington, D.C. or instead may choose one of our i nte rn abr oad p rog ra ms in
London, England; Oxford, England; Sydney, Australia, or Quebec City, Canada.
 cre di t a war ded th rou gh t he st ude nt' s hom e i nst i tut i on, not by a third party or institution
 no need for student to enroll in a p ote nti al l y com pet i ng i nst it ut i on
 students' el i gi bi li t y f or fi nan cia l a id and o the r consi der at io ns such as election to honor societies and leadership
awards unaf f ecte d, as they remain enrolled on the home campus
 some or all of tuition i ncom e r et ai ned by hom e i nst i tu ti on
 cont ro l of academ i c cr it er i a and gr adi ng retained by home institution
 super vi sed h ousi ng g uar ant eed for all Washington Center program participants
 oppor t uni t ies for i nst i tut i onal ad vancem ent efforts tied to civic engagement, public service and other
institutional priorities or programs served through affiliation
 reputation as an "ho nor s" internship program
 provision of a st r ong p eer gr oup for students (the mean grade point average of participants exceeds 3.3)
 contact with over 4, 000 pot ent i al pl acem ent si tes annually
 supervised internships that provide subst ant ive , r esp onsi bl e assignments that are tailored to students'
individual interests; these are full-time "f i r st- pr of essi onal " exper i ences of the type students increasingly seek
 a professional staff of program managers with graduate degrees qualified to counsel, supervise and evaluate interns
 academic requirements for admission that include a comprehensive application and essays for care ful
consi der at i on and pl acem ent
 speci al at te nti on to ear ly -de adl in e requests for highly competitive placements including those that require
security clearances
 th e Lead er shi p For um consisting of Public Policy Dialogues on Capitol Hill, the President’s Lecture Series,
Embassy Visits Program, and small group activities - all of which complement the internship and academic
course and introduce students to prominent leaders from the U.S. and other countries.
 a por t fo li o sys tem of l ear ni ng that provides documentation and analysis of the student's experience and can
be customized to suit campus requirements; comprehensive midterm and final evaluations also provided
 shor t- t er m academ i c sem i nar s that focus on contemporary issues and leadership (e.g., Inside
Washington '08)
 secure, convenient, pr of essi ona l- st yle housi ng , mostly in Northern Virginia and suburban Maryland, with easy
access to shopping and Washington's Metro subway system
 fu rni she d apa rt m ent s with fully-equipped kitchens, cable television and other amenities
 full-time student services professionals and a resident assistant staff with regular duty and on-call service hours
 association with a geogr aph ica ll y di ver se gro up from both public and private institutions in the U.S., and with
international students from Canada, Mexico, China, Korea and other parts of the world
 regularly scheduled soci al and cul tur al act i vit i es organized by student services staff
 06 The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars

How an Institution Affiliates with The Washington Center

The president or chief academic officer of the institution sends a completed Institutional Affiliation Agreement (If a
copy is needed, please call The Washington Center's Office of Institutional Relations at 202-238-7948, or download
one from the website at http://www.twc.edu/schools/docs_forms.shtml). Alternatively, the president or chief academic
officer may send a letter to the president of The Washington Center. If a letter is used as the agreement instrument, it
should address the following:

1. the name of the designated campus liaison

2. the institutional contact who should receive the invoice for program and housing fees for
both internship and seminar participants

3. the number and type of credits that will be awarded for successful completion of programs

A formal contract may also be submitted if the institution requires it for billing purposes. Again, the purpose of these
written agreements is to provide basic guidelines for student participation that respect the academic standards and
financial resources of each institution. Billing, credit and liaison arrangements may be modified by the college or
university at any time by notifying The Washington Center.

How Colleges and Universities Handle Affiliation

The affiliation is a no-cost, revocable agreement that simply establishes a campus liaison, credit guidelines, and
billing procedures for student participation in Washington Center programs. Arrangements vary considerably among
affiliated colleges and universities. The following sections suggest typical arrangements, as well as variations.
Questions or drafts of agreements may be addressed to Joseph Johnston, Ph.D., Senior Vice President of The
Washington Center, at 202-238-7948 or joseph.johnston@twc.edu.

The Campus Liai son

The campus liaison plays a central role in an institution's participation with The Washington Center. The
liaison is responsible for distributing materials to publicize and promote Washington Center programs to students.
The liaison will also approve all applicants by signing their applications. In evaluating students, the liaison may grant
credit directly or work with faculty in different departments. Washington Center liaisons have positions such as
professor of political science, assistant to the provost, director of the honors program, associate dean of arts and
science, director of internships or cooperative education, or director of career services. The liaison should be
accessible to all students regardless of major and should be familiar with independent study options. All
internship applications and seminar registration forms must bear the liaison's signature. The Washington Center's
evaluations of participating students are sent directly to the campus liaison. Depending on the size and organization
of the institution, more than one liaison—or a primary liaison and one or more other co-liaisons or designated
contacts—may be appropriate. The Washington Center should be informed when more than one individual is
designated.

When the liaison is part of an academic department, participation tends to be highest among students in that
department. If the liaison is in an office such as Career Services, access to students in all majors may be greater,
but granting credit may be more difficult. When deciding who will serve as liaison, please take into consideration the
ability to publicize and administer an off-campus program, accessibility to students, options for granting credit, and
especially enthusiasm for experiential education activities. The identification of a liaison rests with the institution and
may be changed at any time by notifying The Washington Center.
 07 The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars

Credit Arrangements

The Washington Center has academic requirements for student participation in our programs and provides
evaluations of student performance, but students’ home institutions enroll them and provide academic credit.
The Washington Center provides specialized, professional staff to place, supervise, and evaluate students. It also
provides substantial documentation of student performance in the form of student portfolios, evaluations and grade
recommendations from site supervisors, program advisors and course instructors. The institution, however, retains full
academic control, including the prerogative to determine prerequisites, the amount and type of credits to be awarded,
the types of grades (pass/fail or letter grades)to be awarded, and reporting requirements. The affiliation agreement
should specify credit arrangements (major, elective, etc.) and eligibility requirements for both the internship and
academic seminar programs.

The descriptions found below detailing how an institution may award credit apply to our domestic internship progams.
For information on how credit might be structured for our intern abroad programs, email internabroad@twc.edu.

Inter nshi p P rogram

Typically, colleges and universities award 12 to 15 credit hours for successful completion of a fifteen-week semester
and 9 to 12 credit hours for a ten-week quarter or term. Numerous institutions award credit through a single course
number. All components of The Washington Center program – four-and-a-half-day internship, academic course, and
Leadership Forum (see below) – are together assigned a block of academic credit, and this credit assigned one grade
(or graded on a pass –fail basis)

Other institutions award credit through multiple courses, which may be of different types (major, elective, etc.) and for
which students may be awarded different grades. They distinguish in doing so among the following components, often
assigning them the recommended amounts of credit indicated:

1. The fu ll - ti m e ( m ini m um 35 hour s per w eek) i nt er nshi p: 6-12 credits recommended, depending
upon the length of the term (10 weeks in the summer term or 15 weeks in the fall or spring semester)
and any additional campus requirements. Evaluation is based upon submission of student
portfolio documents, agency supervisor evaluations (midterm and final), and evaluations by the
student's Washington Center program advisor (midterm and final). The student's agency
supervisor recommends a grade, and The Washington Center program advisor gives an overall
evaluation of the student's work (based in large part on the portfolio) and recommends a final
internship grade.

2. The Washi ngt on C ent er even in g cour se r eq uir ed of al l i nt er ns: 3 credits. This course, taught by
a qualified instructor with an appropriate – in all but a few instances terminal -- degree, and university
teaching experience, requires a combination of regular attendance, active class participation, written
work (research paper, essays, examinations), and class projects. Students are given a list of courses
prior to arrival and indicate their choice of courses. Classes meet up to 3 hours each week. Classes
are held in The Washington Center’s Academic Center or other convenient locations, including
nearby university campuses.

3. The Lead ers hip For um ( a r equi r ed h alf - day o f a cadem i c pr ogr am mi ng) : 1-3 credits. This includes
student attendance at the Public Policy Dialogues on Capitol Hill, President’s Lecture Series,
Embassy Visits Program, site visits, tours, panel discussions, briefings, and other activities. The
purpose of the Leadership Forum is to help all students better understand the world of the nation's
capital - its peoples and institutions, its political processes, the issues debated and the policies forged
 08 The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars

there - and the potential impact of these on the students' future lives as professionals and citizens.
Since evaluation of Leadership Forum activities is included as part of the student's internship
portfolio, some schools fold this evaluation into the total number of credits for the internship program
(see number 1 above).

Suggestions for Additional Credits

For any institution sending students to The Washington Center during the academic year, the main goal should be to
put together a package of credits equal to at least the number of credits that will allow the students to retain full-time
status and thus receive full financial aid and other considerations. To accomplish this, some institutions “layer” an
additional requirement on top of those of The Washington Center.

Examples of institutional requirements that might earn students additional credit include:

1. Re sear ch pa per : 3-6 credits, depending upon length, research required and other academic
considerations. The research paper is graded by a designated individual at the student's home
institution. Institutions that require a long paper may require their students to take The Washington
Center's regularly-offered Research and Writing Seminar course in place of, or in addition to, the
usual required internship course.

2. Aca dem ic jou rn al: 3 credits. This is usually a structured writing assignment that involves regular
submissions according to a predetermined schedule and submission at the end of the internship to
the appropriate institutional contact.

3. Ca se st udy: 1-3 credits. This is an in-depth examination of an organization and its response to a
problem, crisis, or organizational change. Students may be required to conduct informational
interviews or examine original documentation in order to complete the analysis.

Sample 1 Sample 2

Internship 6 credit hours Internship 9 credit hours

Course 3 credit hours Course 3 credit hours

Leadership Forum 3 credit hours Journal or

Research Paper 3 credit hours

Total 12 semester credit hours Total 15 semester credit hours

Quarter and Summer Term credits can be adjusted accordingly.

 09 The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars

Academic S emi nars

The Washington Center’s academic seminars are short-term participatory learning programs that involve major
speakers, site visits, small group discussion sessions, workshops, and other planned activities allowing students to
explore specific topics under the guidance of qualified faculty. Some programs have additional components, such as
fieldwork assignments and mentor-for-a-day activities. Students are required to attend and participate in seminar
sessions, complete reading assignments, complete a structured academic journal, and prepare an essay.

Currently, The Washington Center offers academic seminars each January, and in May and/or August.

For a number of years, The Washington Center has been presenting seminars entitled “Inside Washington” that focus
on politics, the presidency, the Congress, and the media. During presidential election years, we usually offer a series
of seminars that focus on the presidential race, followed by programs on-site at the Democratic and Republican
National Conventions and culminating with a special January program on the presidential inauguration. Enrollments
in the January Seminars and Convention Programs are separate. International seminars, including a recent series of
summer offerings entitled Camp David III, expose participants to Arab-Israeli peace negotiations and the broader
issue of conflict resolution.

For the 2009 seminar schedule, please visit our website at http://www.twc.edu/students/seminars.shtml.

Most institutions award academic credit for successful completion of an academic seminar as follows:

One-week seminar: 1-2 credits

Two-week seminar: 2-4 credits

Academic credit is awarded by most institutions based on the evaluation provided by The Washington Center, as well
as the student's completion of any additional requirements that the institution deems appropriate (e.g. a research
paper). Students from semester schools sometimes register for these credits in the fall or spring semester preceding
or following the academic seminar. The Washington Center does not require students to enroll for academic credit
for our academic seminars. However, with the considerable work involved, credit is appropriate and an option most
students would appreciate.
 10 The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars

Billing and Fee Arrangements

There are three costs to consider in determining fee arrangements for students participating in Washington Center
programs:

1. Tuition or administrative fees charged by the college or university

2. Washington Center program fees
3. Washington Center housing fees

B i l l i n g a nd Fe e A r r an g e m e n ts at P r i v a t e I n s t i t u t i o n s

Most private institutions pay The Washington Center's program fees while charging the student regular college or
university tuition for the term or semester. At some institutions, where tuition far exceeds The Washington Center's
program fees, the institution pays both the program and housing fees.

The examples that follow do not take into account any financial assistance the student may receive from The
Washington Center, and reflect the costs associated with our domestic internship programs (contact
internabroad@twc.edu for fees associated with our intern abroad programs):

Private College or University Tuition: $11,800 per semester

Washington Center 2008 semester program fee: $ 5,995

Washington Center 2008 semester housing fee: $ 4,395

E x a mp l e 1 :

The private institution charges the student for x credit hours of tuition and forwards the program fee
to The Washington Center. The institution retains the balance—in this case, $5,805. The institution
also collects the $4,395 housing fee from the student and forwards it to The Washington Center.

E x a mp l e 2 :

The private institution collects tuition and forwards both the program fee and the housing fee to
The Washington Center, retaining the difference of $1,410. (In this case, the student doesn't pay
for housing, because the tuition covers both program and housing costs.)

E x a mp l e 3 :

The private institution charges the student for x credit hours of tuition and forwards the program
fee only to The Washington Center. The institution retains the balance—in this case, $ 5,805. The
Washington Center bills the student separately for the housing costs.
 11 The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars

Bi lling and Fee A rrangements a t Public Institutions

Public institutions (where tuition is typically lower than Washington Center fees) utilize a number of different options.

The examples that follow do not take into account any financial assistance the student may receive from The
Washington Center, and reflect the costs associated with our domestic internship programs (contact
internabroad@twc.edu for fees associated with our intern abroad programs):

Public College or University Tuition: $3,100 per semester

Washington Center 2008 semester program fee: $5,995

Washington Center 2008 semester housing fee: $4,395

E x a mp le 1 :

The public institution charges regular tuition and pays The Washington Center program fee,
making up the difference with institutional funds, in this case $2,895. The full program fee is
then forwarded to The Washington Center and either the students are billed separately for
housing or, as the billing agent, the institution collects the tuition and Washington Center housing
and forwards the program and housing fees to The Washington Center.

In this case, the student pays $3,100 to the institution, the institution pays $5,995 to The
Washington Center. Either the student is then billed directly for housing, or the institution collects
the housing fee and forwards it to The Washington Center.

E x a mp le 2 :

The public institution charges regular tuition, then forwards it to The Washington Center in partial
payment of the student’s program fee, The rest of the program fee, in this case $2,895, is paid by the
student, as is the fee for Washington Center housing.

In this case, the student pays $3,100 to the institution, and the institution pays $3,100 to The
Washington Center. Either The Washington Center bills the student directly for the remainder of the
program and housing fees or the institution, as the billing agent, collects this additional amount from
the student and sends it to The Washington Center.

E x a mp le 3 :

The public institution waives tuition, possibly after taking out appropriate fees, and allows the student
to pay The Washington Center directly for program and housing fees.

In this case the student pays the $5,995 plus Washington Center housing costs to the institution,
which forwards that amount to The Washington Center.

As you decide which of these or other possible models best fits your institution, please keep in mind the financial
assistance ramifications of who is billed - the student or the institution. Students on financial assistance may benefit
from the arrangement in which the institution is billed, because a better record of the full expenses incurred is
available to the financial aid office.

I n s ti t u t io n s a r e r e m i n d e d t h a t W a s h in g to n C e n te r s u mm e r t e r m f e e s , f e e s fo r t h e q u a r te r s , a n d fe e s f o r th e a c a d e mi c
sem i nar s ar e al l l owe r than th e sem est er fe es set out ab ove (they are all listed in the 2009 viewbook and on the
website, www.twc.edu).
 12 The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars

Financial Assistance

Since students are receiving credit from their home institutions, students enrolled in Washington Center programs
should also be able to maintain federal and state financial aid that they receive during any semester or term spent
at their home institution. St udent s w ho ar e eli gi bl e t o r ecei ve fi nanc ial a id shoul d co nsul t t hei r scho ol' s of fi ce of
fi n a n c i a l a i d t o c o n s i d e r w h e t h e r t h e c o s ts o f a n i n te rn s h ip i n W a s h i n g t o n w o u l d q u a l if y t h e m f o r h i g h e r l e v e l s o f
fi n a n c i a l a s s i s ta n c e . A l s o , s t u d e n t s w h o r e c e i v e fe d e r a l w o r k / s tu d y f u n d s m a y b e e l i g i b le to c o n t i n u e t h a t a s s i s t a n c e
i f t h e y r e c e i v e m a t c h i n g f u n d i n g f r o m T h e Wa s h i n g t o n C e n t e r , a s i t i s a n o n p r o f i t o r g a n i z a t i o n .

The Washington Center offers financial assistance for students who meet certain eligibility requirements. Financial
assistance awards are applied towards Washington Center housing and may come from a variety of sources that
include regional scholarship funds, grants, financial assistance from the internship placement, etc. These awards
toward housing are not cumulative; only the highest award from any one source will be granted, and it is contingent
upon successful completion, with a “C” or higher, of all components of The Washington Center program including the
internship, the portfolio and the academic course. Students will lose their financial assistance if they are expelled
from a Washington Center program for any serious violation of The Washington Center's Code of Student Conduct.

Financial assistance policies and awards are subject to change without notice. The Washington Center makes every
effort, however, to keep liaisons and prospective students apprised of current policies and awards.

Occasionally, academic seminars funded by a corporate sponsor may offer full or partial scholarships for program
and/or housing fees. Generally, however, financial assistance is not available for these shorter-term programs.

Financial assistance opportunities may be available through arrangements between The Washington Center and
government agencies or other funding sources. In situations in which a student is guaranteed a housing award, and
one of these sources is providing the student scholarship, that funding goes first to The Washington Center up to the
amount of the guaranteed award. Any amount over that is applied next to the balance of the
student's Washington Center bill. If any amount remains at that point, it is given to the student usually in two equal
installments: one after the midterm and one after the end of the term once it has been determined that the student
has successfully completed the program with a grade of "C" or higher.

Liaisons and interested students should contact The Washington Center's Institutional Relations office for more
information about available financial assistance opportunities.

When calculating student costs for the internship program, please keep in mind that there may be a savings through
reduced cost of student books (about $300-400 per semester) and by a recommended waiver of general college or
university fees (usually $100-500 per semester). Also, given sufficient notice, financial aid offices may qualify
students for higher levels of financial aid because of higher housing costs in Washington. There is a $60 application
fee and a $300 non-refundable housing reservation fee. Students should expect living expenses (for food, Metro,
laundry, etc.) of approximately $150 a week.

T h e W a s h i n g t o n C e n t e r i s p l e a s e d to a s s i s t in t e r e s t e d i n s t i tu t i o n s i n r a i s i n g a d d i ti o n a l s c h o l a r s h i p f u n d s s p e c i fi c a l l y
fo r th e ir s t u d e n ts t h r o u g h d e v e l o p me n t a n d a l u m n i o f fi c e s , u n iv e rs i t y f o u n d a ti o n s , s t a t e o r r e g i o n a l c o r p o ra t i o n s , a n d
o t h e r r e s o u r c e s . F o r mo r e in f o r m a ti o n , p le a s e c o n t a c t t h e O ff i c e o f I n s t it u t i o n a l R e la ti o n s .

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