FBI Summer Honors Program

Check out http://www.fbijobs.gov/231.asp for more information about the FBI Summer Honors Program. This is a great opportunity for those of you interested in the FBI or careers in security. Note that there are opportunities within this program at DC, but also other locations across the US.

The deadline is SEPTEMBER 30, 2008 for Summer 2009, so start your application today! Graduating students are also eligible for this summer opportunity.

Also check out the National Security Internship program, which also has a 9/30 deadline. http://www.edventurepartners.com/national_security_internship/default.asp

The FBI Honors Internship Program offers undergraduate and graduate school students an exciting insider's view of FBI operations and provides an opportunity to explore the many career opportunities within the Bureau. The Honors Internship Program brings students to work at FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C., and will begin on June 8, 2009 and end on August 14, 2009. FBI Honors Interns can look forward to ten extremely rewarding and interesting weeks. You'll be working side-by-side with Special Agents and Professional Staff personnel on important cases and management issues. You'll feel like you're a part of the Bureau...because you are.

Honors Interns are assigned to an FBI Headquarters division based on their academic discipline, potential contribution to the division, and the needs of the FBI. For instance, Honors Interns whose discipline is in the physical sciences may be assigned to the FBI's Laboratory Division in nearby Quantico, Virginia. Honors Interns whose discipline is in information technology may be assigned to the FBI's Cyber Division or one of the FBI's IT divisions. All Honors Interns are under the supervision of the head (i.e., Assistant Director) of their assigned division.

By the end of your internship, you will have a thorough understanding of the inner workings of the FBI and a deep feeling of satisfaction that the work you have done has helped the lives of ordinary citizens. You will also learn about the many career opportunities at the FBI. No matter what career path you eventually choose, serving as an FBI Honors Intern will be an experience you will never forget, and one that will benefit you in all of your future endeavors.

2009 UNITED NATIONS NATIONAL COMPETITIVE RECRUITMENT EXAMINATION

For U.S. citizens seeking junior professional posts.

EXAMINATION CRITERIA (all must be met)

1. Be no more than 32 years old as of December 31, 2009 (UN requirement).

2. Have at least an undergraduate degree (advanced degree is an advantage but is not required) in one of the following occupational fields or related areas:

• Administration
• Economics
• Finance
• Information Technology
• Public Information
• Social Affairs
• Statistics

3. Be fluent in English and/or French, the two working languages of the Secretariat. Knowledge of additional official languages of the UN (Arabic, Chinese, Russian, Spanish) is a definite advantage.


NOTE: The exam may be limited to the 40 most qualified Americans per occupational group.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: October 31, 2008

Detailed information and application forms may be obtained at:
www.un.org/Depts/OHRM/examin/ncrepage.htm

Examination will be held on February 24, 2009, in New York City and San Francisco.

Travel expenses to and from exam site will NOT be paid by the UN or U.S. Government.

Democracy 2.0 Entrepreneur Grant Summit, July 18-21, 2008

Mobilize.org is proud to announce the application launch for its Democracy 2.0 Entrepreneur Grant Summit, Money in Politics, to be held July 18-21, 2008, in Denver, Colorado. In partnership with The Sunlight Foundation and Common Cause, Mobilize.org is seeking innovative projects focused towards clean election practices at the local, state, and national level. Participation is free thanks to the great support from our funders and partner organizations.

Mobilize.org is focusing efforts on empowering members of the Millennial Generation to develop innovative clean elections practices, emphasizing the creation of public finance reforms at the local and state level. These types of reforms are intended to give voters more control over the government by making politicians accountable to voters rather than wealthy campaign contributors. Our Money in Politics Grant Summit presents members of the Millennial Generation with the opportunity to identify a need for clean elections practices, and through the use of interactive key pad voting technology and peer to peer dialogue, develop an idea or solution that would address that need, and present a proposal for funding at the summit in Denver in July 2008.

Our grant summit winners will each receive a grant, between $3,000 and $5,000 and more importantly, will receive the support of Mobilize.org and our extensive partner network to champion their proposal and create systemic and long lasting change in the way elections are run.

Money In Politics is an issue that has universal relevance. Almost wherever we look, we can see public policy that affects ordinary and disadvantaged people the most being sidelined by elite groups, including special interests and the wealthiest individuals. The Democracy 2.0 Entrepreneur Grant Summits are centered on the idea that all individuals can make a difference and that for real lasting change we need everyone to be part of and create the solution. Every issue is affected by this inequality of power through money in politics. We hope that our Democracy 2.0 Issue Brief “Money in Politics” at http://www.mobilize.org/catalogFiles/12DCfil46.pdf will help Millennials understand how this issue is part of the solution to every issue they care about.

Please also review the attached Grant Summit Rules and Application form (deadline is June 15^th).

You'll find all relevant information related to the Summit at: http://www.mobilize.org/index.php?tray=content&cid=11DC92&tid=11DCtop8.

If you are interested in applying, or have any questions, please email Summit@mobilize.org or call 202.736.5703.

New Bill Would Provide Grad Student Scholarships for Service

By Alyssa Rosenberg

Lawmakers introduced a bill on Thursday to create a scholarship program for graduate students in fields related to mission-critical operations, offering them help with tuition and living expenses in exchange for three to five years of government service.

"What we're dealing with is a crisis of capacity -- the government's capacity to continue providing the services that Americans depend upon," said Rep. David Price, D-N.C., who co-chairs the Congressional Service Caucus, and introduced the legislation along with Rep. Christopher Shays, R-Conn. "In the face of a dwindling professional workforce, we must act now to recruit the scientists, engineers and other high-level experts who make our government work."

The Roosevelt Scholars Act would provide eligible graduate students up to $60,000 for as many as five years of graduate study. The students would be required to complete at least one federal internship and to act as ambassadors for federal service on their campuses by serving as information resources for interested students and career programs.

Max Stier, president and CEO of the nonprofit Partnership for Public Service, said he thought the bill integrated many of the elements necessary both to promote public service and make it accessible to promising college graduates. The Partnership proposed a graduate student scholarship program in July 2007, and provided Price and Shays with research assistance and suggestions while writing the legislation.

"Here the effort is to create a brand that will rival the Rhodes and Marshall and other scholarships that are out there," said Stier, comparing the program, if enacted, to the Reserve Officers Training Corps. "It leverages the talent so they are helpful before they complete their degrees."

Shays said he couldn't "think of a better investment the federal government could make than in training and invigorating its future leaders."

In addition to assisting students, the bill would allow agencies to make noncompetitive two-year appointments of Roosevelt Scholars who complete their academic programs, and to convert them to career positions if they are successful in their initial appointments.

Stier said awarding the scholarships could help agencies plan their hiring strategies several years in advance.

"It kind of helps government think more strategically about where those talent needs are going to be," he said.

Announcing: The Federal Service Student Ambassadors

Great news! We have an exciting new opportunity for students interested in federal service—and we need your help getting the word out.

The program:

The Federal Service Student Ambassadors program is designed to increase interest in federal service on campuses via a corps of passionate student advocates who will actively promote public service following their completion of a federal internship.

Who is eligible?

Any student interning with a federal agency in Washington, DC this summer (2008) who will be returning to their campus for the 2008-2009 school year is eligible to apply.

Bonus for students:

This is a paid, year-long position, with a stipend of $2,200 and an added $300 stipend for expenses and materials.

Bonus for you:

If a student from your school is selected, we will train the student to do campus outreach promoting federal service. The student will be expected to work with their Career Services office or other similar office to help with events, build federal agency relationships and generally coordinate efforts.

What we need from you:

Spread the word! We’re currently recruiting our inaugural class of Ambassadors, and we need your help reaching out to students that will be serving as federal agency interns this summer. Please post this announcement and send out information to your student, faculty, staff and administrator contacts across all disciplines.

Click here to find a sample email to send out to students. Feel free to use this or create your own language. Students can download applications here or at http://www.makingthedifference.org/index.shtml

For more information, please contact:
Caroline Pettit at ambassadors@ourpublicservice.org or 202-775-6956.

MPA-MPP You Tube Public Policy Challenge

As all MPA & MPP students are aware, this presidential election is proving to be historic. Whoever wins will need to listen to others for advice and suggestions. You can contribute your voice by creating a video as part of the ‘MPA-MPP You Tube Public Policy Challenge’.

Your school is a member of the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration. Therefore you’re eligible to participate and win. (click below for details) You have 90 seconds to offer your solution on video. Your approach should be non-partisan. You should use evidence and analysis to bolster the persuasive power of your policy proposal. The overarching idea is for you showcase your MPA/MPP skills and knowledge in your video entry.

Last year’s videos were viewed over 20,000 times. Below you can see the top 3 winning videos and the MPA MPP channel on You Tube. If you are already on You Tube you can subscribe to the MPA MPP channel here: (http://www.youtube.com/user/MPAMPP) and see several new videos with distinguished and recent MPA/MPP alums) If you’re not yet on You Tube, its easy to join and free. www.youtube.com/signup.

With Public Service in Mind,

Scott Talan, MPA
Director Marketing

CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS

http://www.naspaa.org/youtubechallenge

2008 NASPAA Annual Conference - Call for Panel/Paper Submissions

October 16 – 18, 2008, Francis Marion Hotel, Charleston, SC


NASPAA Meets the Future
Ellen Schall, Chair of the Conference Program, has sent out the Call for Panels/Papers for the 2008 NASPAA Annual Conference being held in Charleston, SC, October 16-18. The deadline for submission is April 11.

Our theme for this conference is "NASPAA Meets the Future", and there are three tracks that are the focus of this conference.

• Topical - What are schools or programs doing related to certain issue areas?
• Curricular - What are schools and programs doing in terms o reaching new audiences, using new pedagogies or instructional modalities, and teaching across sectoral boundaries?
• Structural - What challenges or opportunities face particular types of institutions, (e.g., public or small programs, joint programs, or comprehensive schools)? In what ways do changes in the higher education "marketplace" require new development, fundraising, and recruiting strategies?

To submit a panel/paper proposal, email: wagner.officeofthedean@nyu.edu with a copy to NASPAA at jlewis@naspaa.org. Be sure to include “NASPAA 2008 Conference Submission” in the title of the email.

For more details, please go to: http://www.naspaa.org/principals/conference/conference.asp.

Join us for the first Ohio Women in Government Career Panel!

SPRING LUNCHEON

When: Thursday April 3, 2008 from noon – 1:00 pm
Where: Ohio Arts Council’s Riffe Gallery (77 S. High St.)
Cost: $10 for members*; $15 for non-members
RSVP: Nancy Reger – (614) 233-4154 or nreger@morpc.org

On April 3, we are thrilled that three distinguished members of OWIG will be sharing stories and information with us about their career paths, juggling family life and work, and answering your questions. Our panelists will be:

Dawn Tyler Lee - Assistant Vice President for Government Relations at The Ohio State University
Dawn Tyler Lee works closely with local elected and appointed officials, community leaders and nonprofit organizations to facilitate community and university partnerships. Previous employment experiences include working as the Board Liaison for the Columbus Board of Education, a Legislative Aide to Columbus City Council Member Charleta Tavares and Housing Policy Director for the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio. Dawn is a past recipient of the Business First 40 Under 40 Award and is also a graduate of the African-American Leadership Academy and United Way Project Diversity Leadership Program. Dawn’s service to her community includes serving on the boards of the Buckeye Ranch, Incorporated (secretary); Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA); and the Columbus Metropolitan Club. She served as past Board President of New Directions Career Center and a former trustee of Columbus Housing Partnership.

Kara Allison - Government and Community Relations Practice Leader at Hull & Associates, Inc.
Kara Allison leads Hull & Associates, Inc.’s Government and Community Relations Practice where she specializes in state and federal environmental policy and legislative issues, media strategy, and crisis communications. Kara has more than 12 years experience in public and media relations. She is an Associate in the firm, an accredited member of the Public Relations Society of America and a registered lobbyist in Ohio and Indiana. Kara is a former media relations coordinator for the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. She is the author of several environmental articles and papers, has presented at local and national environmental and public relations conferences, and serves on a variety of professional boards and committees on behalf of Hull. Among other accomplishments, Kara received the 2001 George B. Garrett Professionalism Award, Ohio EPA’s highest award for professional excellence.

Hollie Hinton – Director, Governor’s Office for Women’s Initiatives and Outreach
Hollie R. Hinton, an Ohio native raised in Chillicothe, was named the first director of Governor Ted Strickland’s Office for Women’s Initiatives and Outreach, which promotes public policy that advances the status of women and girls in the areas of economic development, health, education and personal safety. Her professional background includes managing public affairs in reproductive health, event coordinating and political fundraising at local, state and national levels. Her personal background provides her a unique perspective on underserved populations, having been raised in a care home for disabled veterans that her mother owned and operated, and volunteering and studying overseas.

*If you are not a member you can join OWIG, for $45 ($25 student/young professional). Our members are women working in and around all levels of government, including elected officials, lobbyists, agency support staff, etc., who benefit personally and professionally from networking with and having access to those who interpret, influence and carry out public policy. Checks for membership and/or the luncheon can be made payable to OWIG and sent to:

1601 W. Fifth Avenue, Suite 200
Columbus, Ohio 43212

2008 Samuel DuBois Cook Summer Academy Seeks Staff

The Ohio State University Office of Minority Affairs Young Scholars Program seeks mature, goal oriented, and self motivated individuals to staff its 2008 Samuel DuBois Cook Summer Academy July 6 – August 2 on The Ohio State University’s Columbus campus. The aim of the academy is to prepare Young Scholars Program participants for the college transition.

Scheduled interviews will be held Wednesday and Thursday, April 23-24. Applicants will be contacted about exact times and locations for interviews as they vary by position. To be considered for employment, applicants must submit resumes with their applications.

Full position descriptions and applications are available at the Young Scholars Program website: http://oma.osu.edu/ysp/main.html. Available positions include: Scholar Mentor, Resident Advisor, Program Evaluator, Lead Office Assistant, Office Assistant, Public Relations Assistant, Transportation Lead, Transportation Assistant, Writing Instructor, Calculus Instructor, Advanced Algebra Instructor, Physics Instructor, Chemistry Instructor, Psychology Instructor, Data Analysis Instructor, OSU Survey Instructor, and Career Exploration Instructor.

Paper applications are also available at the Frank Hale Black Cultural Center. ALL applications—online and paper—are due by April 11. Paper applications may be submitted to the Young Scholars Program office at 025 Mount Hall, 1050 Carmack Road, Columbus, Ohio 43210.

The Future of the News

Interested in learning about the future of print journalism? How does online publishing change our relationship to the news? Are RSS feeds and abbreviated headlines leaving Americans less informed about global issues? The Digital Union presents “The Future of the News,” a panel discussion with correspondents from the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, and the Director of the Kiplinger Program in Public Affairs Journalism at OSU. We hope to see you there.

Federal Career Fair

As you may be aware, the federal government is expecting the retirement of nearly 50 percent of its 1.9 million person civilian workforce over the next 4 - 7 years. Last year Ohio State served as a pilot institution in dealing with this expected shortfall of highly trained and educated civil servants by working with Partnership for Public Service and the Office of Personnel Management. We were quite pleased at having almost 1,800 students attend the Federal Career Fair.

We do not, of course, believe that we should give preference to federal employment over opportunities in the private sector. However, many federal positions have relatively high starting salaries, and even the entry level positions involve considerable responsibility.

Consequently, we hope that you will attend the OSU Federal Career Fair on Wednesday, April 2, 2008, in the Huntington Club of the Ohio Stadium. The fair will run from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., and over 50 agencies have committed staff to provide extensive information and to conduct interviews for seniors and graduates who match their current hiring needs.

The Federal Career Fair website is located at: http://esue.ohio-state.edu/federalcareer/ and it contains much information that might be useful. Please urge fellow students and colleagues to attend.

Publication Opportunity

Greetings from the Cornell Institute for Public Affairs!

The Current, the academic journal of the Cornell Institute for Public Affairs (CIPA), is seeking submissions for its Spring 2008 edition.
Graduate students are invited to submit original research with themes related to politics, public policy, and public administration in national and global contexts.

Guidelines for submission can be viewed at:
http://www.cipa.cornell.edu/cip_thecurrentsubmission.html. The deadline for submissions to the Spring 2008 edition is April 4th. If you have any questions please contact thecurrent@cornell.edu.

Best,

Amanda LaBelle, Editor-in-Chief
Denise M. Ziobro, Managing Editor

--
As the academic journal of the Cornell Institute for Public Affairs (CIPA), The Current provides a platform for public policy discourse through the work of CIPA fellows and their mentors, with contributions from the public affairs community.

Dalmas A. Taylor Memorial Summer Minority Policy Fellowship

>>Dalmas A. Taylor Memorial Summer Minority Policy Fellowship**
>>
>>The purpose of this award is to honor the memory of Dalmas Taylor, who
>>passed away during his term as President of SPSSI. Dr. Taylor had been
>>involved for many years with SPSSI. In addition, he was instrumental
>>in establishing the Minority Fellowship at the American Psychological
>>Association and in increasing the APA's attention to inclusion of
>>people of color. This fellowship is administered in conjunction with
>>APA's Minority Fellowship Office, and provides an opportunity for a
>>graduate student of color to work on public policy issues in
>>Washington, DC.
>>
>>**ELIGIBILITY**
>>
>>Applicants must be a graduate student in good standing who is a member
>>of an ethnic minority group (including, but not limited to, African
>>American, Alaskan Native, American Indian, Asian American, Hispanic,
>>and Pacific Islander) and/or has demonstrated a commitment to a career
>>in psychology or a related field with a focus on ethnic minority
>>issues.
>>
>>**AWARDS AND CRITERIA**
>>
>>The summer stipend will be $3000 plus housing and travel funds. We
>>will also assist the successful candidate in finding housing in Washington.
>>
>>**The application should include:**
>>
>>**1.** A cover page stating your name, institution, address, telephone
>>number, fax number (if applicable), and email address.
>>
>>**2**. A 3-page statement with detailed information that includes:
>>(**a**) reason for your interest in this fellowship
>>(**b**) your previous and current research experiences
>>(**c**) indication of your interest in ethnic minority psychological
>>issues
>>(**d**) statement of how this fellowship would contribute to your
>>career goals
>>
>>**3.** Two letters of recommendation
>>
>>**4.** Current curriculum vitae
>>
>>**HOW TO APPLY**
>>
>>**APPLY ONLINE NOW!
>>>>arentID=482>
>>
>>Online submissions are the preferred method. Please limit the number
>>and size of files uploaded when applying online. *** *At the time you
>>submit the application, please also send an email to Central Office at
>>awards@spssi.org
>><mailto:linking%20pages%20within%20CitySoft?subject=Taylor%20application>.
>>As the subject of the email write "Taylor application". In the body of
>>the email include the information from your cover page.
>>
>>**DEADLINE**
>>Applications must reach SPSSI Central Office by **March 31, 2008.**
>>Announcements will be made by May 1st, 2008.

Ohio Public Issues Negotiation Initiative Workshop

Sponsored by
The Ohio Commission on Dispute Resolution

May 12th, 2008
Riffe Center 77 S. High Street, 31st Floor Columbus, Ohio

1 PM - 2:30 Public Issues Negotiation in Ohio
This workshop will discuss the principles of collaboration and consensus building used to reach agreement in community, faith-based, energy, public policy, land use, natural resource, public health, social policy issues and transportation settings. Participants will learn about the skills and training required for employment in multiparty mediation in public policy, environmental, labor-management and other settings.

2:30 - 4:00 Ohio Public Issues Negotiation Initiative Orientation
The Ohio Public Issues Negotiation Initiative (OPINI) is designed to expand and diversify the availability of facilitation and consensus building service providers in Ohio. The initiative will offer education, training, observation and opportunities to work with mediators and facilitators in “real-time” multi-party stakeholder negotiations. The orientation session is open to those interested in learning more about the Ohio Public Issues Negotiation Initiative. Individuals from underrepresented communities are encouraged to attend.

Upon acceptance to and completion of this program, individuals will be qualified for application to the Ohio Commission on Dispute Resolution’s Public Disputes Roster. This roster serves as a resource of public policy dispute resolution practitioners available to state and local governments and non-governmental agencies.

Please visit OPINI’s website at www.disputeresolution.ohio.gov/opini.htm to download the announcement and application materials.

Who Should Attend?

Individuals with a background and/or experience in dispute resolution, public policy, governmental relations, community affairs.

Professionals who are interested in third party (neutral) service provision (mediation and facilitation). Emerging and mid-career professionals are welcome!

Registration
Space is limited! Registration will be taken on a first come, first served basis.
This workshop is free for registered individuals.

The May 12th program registration deadline is April 21st
To register, please call 614/752-9595.

Additional information about the OPINI is available at
www.DisputeResolution.ohio.gov/opini.htm

Ohio Commission on Dispute Resolution
77 S. High Street, 24th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
614-752-9595

Bright Spots for Workers in a Shaky Economy

The Baltimore Sun
By Hanah Cho

Whether the economy is in a recession right now or not, workers are starting to feel wary about job security and professional prospects.

But there is a sliver of good news.

Several industries are resistant to the woes of a slowing economy, according to John A. Challenger, chief executive of Challenger, Gray & Christmas, a Chicago outplacement firm.

The credit crunch and a slumping housing market have brought depressing job news from manufacturing, retail, construction and the real estate sectors.

However, Challenger says the job market in the areas of security, energy, environment, healthcare and education are strong because of "major long-term forces going in our economy, whether it's demographics or globalization."

Let's take a look at the strengths of these sectors:

• Security:

• In the post 9/11 world, there's growing demand for protecting the country's ports, borders and other infrastructure, Challenger says.
• For instance, the Department of Homeland Security is expected to hire more than 15,000 customs and border protection officers and border patrol agents as well as another 22,000 airport screeners in the next three years, according to a 2007 report by the Partnership for Public Service.
• Challenger says information technology expertise in the areas of anti-hacking and computer security is also hot.

• Energy:

• Population growth in China, India and elsewhere is fueling increasing demand for alternative sources of energy, Challenger says.
• With interest in wind, solar and ethanol as well as nuclear power, Challenger says job demands can grow in this area.

• Environment sector:

• With corporate America going green and concerns about global warming, Challenger says so-called "green-collar" jobs will be created.
• They include environmental engineers, corporate sustainability managers and solar panel technicians.

• Healthcare:

• As baby boomers age, the demand for health-related occupations are increasing as well. Personal and home care aides as well as medical assistants, physical therapist assistants and pharmacy technicians are expected to be among the fastest-growing jobs in the next 10 years, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

• Education:

• Challenger says a wave of retirements of kindergarten-through-12th grade teachers and increasing student enrollment are creating vacancies.
• And as more people consider education as lifelong learning that extends beyond high school or college diplomas, Challenger says workers will request training and development on the corporate level.

C’mon and Be a Bureaucrat

NEWSWEEK
By Tony Dokoupil

With close to a hundred undergraduates looking on, federal recruiter Jesse Tampio took the stage recently at Bates College in Lewiston, Maine, and set about busting the "myths" of government work. "People say that the government is this huge bureaucracy," said Tampio, 31, a State Department lawyer and volunteer pitchman. "But it's a useful skill to learn how to navigate it." The hour-long PowerPoint presentation also addressed Uncle Sam's reputation for poor pay and cronyism, while selling the upsides of federal service—like proximity to power. One slide featured a photo of federal workers hobnobbing at a chili cook-off. As Tampio said: "You're on the inside rather than on the outside yelling in."

The session is part of the government's push for talent, an intensifying effort to recruit a new generation of civil servants amid the biggest hiring crisis in U.S. government history. More federal employees are expected to retire in 2008 than in any previous year, and 2009 could be even worse, according to the Office of Personnel Management. By 2012, more than 50 percent of the current work force, including 90 percent of senior management and a third of all scientists and economists, will be gone—leaving a quarter million jobs in their wake.

As the retirement wave hits, many agencies are flashing unprecedented signing bonuses and scholarships to attract new talent. The Department of Defense is doling out bonuses of $5,000 or more to would-be intelligence analysts, while the Nuclear Regulatory Commission is courting young scientists with funding for second or third degrees. But despite these enticements, the United States is struggling to woo a generation of young people who see a more productive and lucrative future for themselves in the private sector. "Kennedy's message is no longer the right one," says Max Stier, president of the nonprofit Partnership for Public Service, which organized the Bates event with government cooperation. "It's not about what you can do for government. We need to convey what government can do for you."

OPM's military-style recruiting campaign includes job fairs at more than 600 universities and prime-time national advertising. The first-ever commercials for civil-service work feature young Feds waxing grandly about their jobs before a voice-over exclaims: "Wow! That's impressive. Who do you work for?" If the OPM's efforts fail—since 2006, the government has made more than 100,000 hires to keep pace with retirements—private contractors are poised to pick up the slack. But the repercussions could go beyond privatization if the government fails to replenish its ranks. "When it comes to problems like climate change and disaster relief, if government is not involved, it will not happen," says David Ellwood, dean of Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, who adds that "it's absolutely vital to get spectacular people into government."

At the center of the government's talent troubles is a salary gap. "Why would you want to work for government when you can earn more and get more done working for a government contractor?" asks John Cassidy, 29, who plans to take a job in the federal-projects branch of the consulting firm Deloitte & Touche after graduating from the Kennedy School this spring. The firm offers nearly twice the salary and a full year of school reimbursement money. By law, the government's best counteroffer is loan forgiveness (a maximum of $10,000 annually for up to six years) and a salary of about $50,000 for any job taken by a master's degree recipient without government experience. "The fact is you can earn two or three times as much in a consulting job, and that's not even counting the higher investment-banking jobs," says Ellwood.

There's also an aura of incompetence around government work. The days of desks' disappearing into the distance may be over, but there are still 35-page job listings, 14-page applications and dreary job titles. Matt Volner was a "building management specialist" at the General Services Administration from October 2006 to October 2007. "I couldn't tell you what that means," says Volner, 24, a 2006 Cornell graduate, who has since quit government work to become an actor in New York. "The whole year was a Kafkaesque nightmare in which my job was to find out what my job was."

The roots of the government's image issues run deep. President Ronald Reagan framed the federal worker as a handy scapegoat for society's ills in 1981 with the words "Government is not the solution"; since then, almost every presidential hopeful has run on some version of "Washington is broken." When an interest group wants to torpedo a government initiative, it simply invokes the "bureaucrat" as an emblem of ineptitude. "We saw a slight change during the 'West Wing' era," says Pat McGinnis, president of the Washington-based nonprofit Council for Excellence in Government. "But otherwise it's just been nonstop portrayals of the bungling bureaucrat. It takes a toll."

Back at Bates, a more positive message seems to be getting through. "I want to be part of the change sweeping the government," says Becky Rubenstein, a senior psych major who wants to work in public health. Maybe all hope is not lost for Uncle Sam: after Rubenstein spent a summer as an intern at a Boston nonprofit that struggled with funding, government chili might sound good.

A Useful Job Hunting Lesson?

Panel Talks on Federal Job Opportunities

The Gettysburgian
By Casey Chwiecko

The Center for Career Development, as part of their desire to involve more students in their activities, hosted a panel discussion by alumni and others about getting a job in the federal government.

This is part of their new 'campaign' to show students all the Center has to offer, which they are achieving through more digest posts, having a prominent place on the Current Students page of the website, and other methods of advertising. Another part is a newly formed relationship between the Center and the Gettysburgian's Features section to cover their events. This is the first of such events.

Bowen Auditorium held a full house last Wednesday as a panel of seven past or present federal employees spoke about their different positions. Five of these were Gettysburg alumni.

George Selim, who works for Homeland Security, opened the discussion with a speech on behalf of the Partnership for Public Service, which partnered with Gettysburg's Career Center.

He stressed five points in getting any job, but especially one in the federal government, saying that risk, preparation, setting goals, being fully focused and finding a mentor all helped him a lot in his search for a job. He told students not to be afraid to take a chance and to always, always be proactive about their job search.

Selim added that networking was absolutely critical and that students should never underestimate the importance of reading and writing. Gettysburg alum, who spoke after him, unanimously agreed that Gettysburg College had prepared them very well on this aspect. Lance Graef, a '64 graduate and one of the panelists, adding that being able to listen is also a critical skill in the job force.

Wrapping up, Selim mentioned the importance of setting goals, figuring out exactly what 'cause' you want to support and reminded students that nothing in life is easy. You need to try to get what you want.

Neil Ryder, class of '82, is the Director of Internal Review within the Department of Justice. He, like Selim and the other panelists, stressed just how critical networking can be. He added that there are three main reasons, in his opinion, to get a job with the federal government.

First, the government needs good leaders. Second, it is a more flexible and competitive employer and third, the government needs top people to be able to best serve people. Ryder added caution, however, that it is not the perfect employer because of the bureaucratic slowness and the cost of living in the D.C. area.

Ed Williams, class of '81, and Marc Savine, both work for the FBI. The two stressed that there are lots of opportunities in the FBI besides just the FBI Agent job, which is highly competitive.

Positions in the FBI, according to Savine who works to make contact with colleges, are very diverse. Support positions are just as important to the daily workings of the Bureau and also allow for easier transfer to being an agent, if that is what someone really wants to do.

Dr. Thomas DeLoe, class of '86, works for the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention within the Department of Health and Human Services. He seconded Selim's message of taking risks. Just try things, he asserted, but added that you are never going to get rich in a federal job. Despite this, he added that it is very motivating because you are actively helping people and the country.

Lance Graef no longer works in the public sector but spent his early years there, starting as a volunteer for the Peace Corps in Somalia. It was his job with the government, however, that opened the doors to him to get his dream job with a couple called Nathan Associates, a very prestigious economic consulting firm.

Over the years, he has been to 90 countries and been sent to a third of those for his job. Modestly, he said that all he ever did was accept "interesting assignments".

The last member of the panel was Keith Talbert, an '85 graduate, who is now a Criminal Investigator in New York City under the Department of Justice. He spoke about his job and then said that the thing about a job with the government, as Ryder and Deloe both mentioned before, was that you could really make a difference in people's lives.

He added that there are so many jobs available with the federal government that there literally has to be a match of some sort with every person out there. Talbert said he would not do any of it differently because it was so challenging. His final advice was to cultivate communication skills, talk to people and always think critically.

After each of the panelists had spoken, there was a Question and Answer period in which a few students asked general questions about topics such as women in the government and opportunities for foreign students.

The panelists laughed and said there were many chances for women but admitted that non-citizens were not allowed to work at any level of the government. Graef added, however, that most federal jobs have a counterpart job within the private sector.

Following this the panel wrapped up with a question and answer opportunity.

Keeping America's Promise Rally with Barack Obama

Keeping America's Promise Rally with Barack Obama

The Ohio State University
St. John Arena (Building 076)
410 Woody Hayes Dr.
Columbus, OH 43210
Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Doors Open: 8:30 a.m.
Program Begins: 10:00 a.m.

Seating at the rally is limited, and admission is on a first come, first-served basis. Your ticket will only guarantee you preferred viewing if you arrive in time to be admitted. Please arrive early.

Feel free to call the campaign at 866-675-2008 for more information.

The event is free and open to the public. Tickets are not required, but an RSVP is strongly encouraged.

RSVP Now:
http://oh.barackobama.com/Columbus

For security reasons, do not bring backpacks or bags. Please limit personal items. No signs or banners are permitted.

Don’t forget, you do not have to wait until March 4^th to vote! You can vote NOW at the Franklin County Board of Elections. Here is the location:

Franklin County Board of Elections
280 East Broad Street, Room 100
Columbus, OH 43215

In order to vote, you will need to have either the last four digits of your Social Security number or another form of ID, such as an Ohio driver's license or a utility bill with your current address.

Obama Foreign Policy Team Town Hall Meeting at OSU

Members of Presidential Candidate U.S. Sen. Barack Obama's foreign policy team, including Dr. Susan Rice, former Navy Sec. Richard Danzig, former Air Force Gen. Scott Gration and Dennis McDonough will be holding a town hall meeting where they will discuss Senator Obama's plan to restore American leadership on the world stage and decrease the risk of terrorism by attacking global poverty, upholding the rule of law and rebuilding international cooperation.

The town hall meeting will take place on Monday, February 25th at the Moritz College of Law Auditorium at 3pm. The event is free and open to the public. We hope that you are able to attend as well as invite students, faculty, and colleagues to attend as well.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact Obama for America at (614) 421-2008.

A Forum with Kal Penn

Students for Barack Obama and the OSU Law School Democrats Present: a forum with Kal Penn. Come hear why this actor/producer left Hollywood to campaign for Barack Obama.



The event will take place in Moritz Law School Room 344 on Thursday, February 20th @ 12:00PM.

Dr. Kathy Sullivan Visits the Glenn School

Dr. Kathy Sullivan, the director of the Battelle Center for Mathematics and Science Education Policy, will be presenting this Friday, February 22. She will introduce us to the Battelle Center and its current and future research agenda.

As usual, we will meet in 110 Page Hall at 12:00PM.

EGOV 2008: Final Call for Papers

Turin, Italy, 1-5 September 2008

URL: http://www.uni-koblenz.de/FB4/Institutes/IWVI/AGVInf/Conferences/EGOV08

The international EGOV conference series gives annual state of the art overviews in e-Government and e-Governance research, implementation and application. Thereby, the conferences provide important guidance for research and development in this fast-moving domain of study.

The annual EGOV conferences bring together leading researchers and professionals from all over the globe and from many disciplines. Over the years, the interest has increased tremendously. The 2007 conference attracted some 140 participants from more than 30 countries all over the world including developing countries, with 37 contributions in outstanding research, 31 contributions in ongoing research, 5 projects contributions and

6 workshops. Also, 20 PhD papers were accepted and presented at the doctoral colloquium preceding the conference. Hence the EGOV Conferences have proven once again its capacity to serve as a platform for academics and professionals and as an important ground for networking in the community.

The EGOV Conference Series hosts four distinct formats of contributions:

Scientific papers (distinguished between completed research and ongoing research); project presentations, and workshops. These formats encourage scientific rigor and discussions of state of the art in the study domain, but also welcome innovative research work in progress, and studies of practical e-Government projects and systems implementation.

The conference also includes a PhD student colloquium providing doctoral students with an international forum for presenting their work, networking opportunities and cross-disciplinary inspiration.

Over the years, organizational and user-related issues long discussed among researchers have finally gained influence on practice. Conversely, e-Government practice has influenced and inspired e-Government research. A wide range of topics has received scholarly attention over the years. In recent years, the assessment of e-Government efforts, the prospects of e-Government as a research discipline, and the role of information and communication technology for development rank among the top topics on the research agenda.

The seventh series of EGOV conferences, hence, includes, but is not limited to the following topics around e-Government, e-Governance, e-Participation, and other fields of application in the public sector:

* Research directions and foundations

* Research methods, method integration and techniques

* Transforming Government

* Strategies and frameworks, motivators, and contexts

* Domain-specific innovation and governance models

* ICT4D

* Transnational government

* Comparative analyses of current practices

* Assessment, evaluation and benefit models for ICT investments

* Economics and economic impacts

* Trust, data privacy and security

* Complexity management

* Mobile Government research and applications

* Innovative concepts and implementations (technical and organizational)

* Information preservation

* Information quality

* Integration and interoperation

* Domain-specific social networking cases and solutions

* Applications of semantic technologies, and lessons learned

* Emergency and disaster response

* Exemplars and cases of innovation

* Education, training courses, and curricula

Submissions may qualify as follows:

* Completed research papers

* Ongoing research, projects, and general development issues

* Workshops and panels on pertinent issues

* PhD colloquium submissions

We seek for innovative and rigorous contributions. Online submission is open. Deadline for papers is 29th February 2008.

For further details see

http://www.uni-koblenz.de/FB4/Institutes/IWVI/AGVInf/Conferences/EGOV08

Become A United States Diplomat!

Bush Aims To Hire More Diplomats

Foreign Service Would Gain 1,100 Positions

By Matthew Lee

Associated Press
Monday, February 4, 2008

President Bush wants to hire nearly 1,100 new diplomats to address severe staffing shortages and put the State Department on track to meet an ambitious call to double its size over the next decade, according to administration officials.

The additional positions are part of Bush's budget for fiscal 2009, which he will submit to Congress today, according to documents described by officials. The spending request is subject to congressional approval.

Bush's proposal envisions adding 1,076 jobs at the State Department and diplomatic missions overseas in what officials believe would be one of the largest one-year boosts to the ranks of the foreign service.

The department is facing a critical shortage of diplomats, and many embassies are operating at 70 percent of their desired staffing levels. Last fall, the department said 10 percent of vacant positions would have to remain unfilled this year because of a lack of personnel.

The plan includes 450 jobs to free up current diplomats for intensive language and national security training; 350 posts for a new Civilian Stabilization Program, which would work to improve conditions in post-conflict zones; 200 diplomatic security agents; and 50 political advisers for military commands.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has lobbied hard for the new hires, making several appearances before a White House budget appeals committee to fight efforts to trim the proposal, officials said.

The additions mirror a recommendation made last week by an advisory committee she appointed in 2006 to study how to proceed with the project.

The department's last major hiring drive occurred between 2001 and 2004, when then-Secretary of State Colin Powell launched the Diplomatic Readiness Initiative, which boosted staffing by 1,158 positions over those three years.

How To Register
Register here for the Foreign Service Officer Test and start on a path to becoming one of over 700 U.S. Diplomats to be hired beginning in October 2009.

If you need additional inspiration, please visit careers.state.gov to hear Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice explain to you how to affect global change and impact people’s lives.

Winter Quarter Doctoral Colloquium

Join Debra Jasper and Betsy Hubbard for a discussion on how digital media are changing elections and affecting public organizations.

Time and Location: Friday, February 15th, at noon in 110B Page Hall.

Jean Francois Rischard: "The Innovation Imperative: People, Companies, Countries, Planet"

On Thursday, March 6, the Executive MBA program welcomes Jean-Francois Rischard to Columbus and he will be our featured speaker the evening of Thursday March 6, 2008. He is the author of “High Noon: 20 Global Problems, 20 Years to Solve them” in which he expresses his personal views on the future and analyzes the major forces of change that are changing the world. His topic for the evening will be: "The Innovation Imperative: People, Companies, Countries, Planet."

Jean-Francois Rischard is a frequent speaker at international conferences and business gatherings in Europe, the United States, and Asia speaking on such topics as:

• The most pressing global issues; the urgent need for innovation and new approaches to global problem-solving.
• The new rules and inner workings of the new world economy; lessons from the world's most successful knowledge-based economies.
• The need to adopt innovative, unorthodox ways of doing things.
• The major worldwide trends that will change the world over the next twenty years and their implications for business leadership, strategy, and risk management.
• Oil market prospects; dangerous climate change; ecological footprint issues. The future of Europe; the coming changes in the world's geopolitical setup; Middle-East prospects.

There are 10 seats that have been made available to the John Glenn School of Public Affairs. Registration for the event is required.

The pre-presentation reception is from 5:00-5:45PM. Rischard will present from 5:45-7:00PM. Again, the date is Thursday, March 6, 2008.

The event will be held at the Blackwell Inn, 2110 Tuttle Park, Columbus, OH. www.theblackwell.com

Please confirm your seat by registering at the link below. Space is limited.
http://fisher.osu.edu/jeanfrancoisrischard

Questions? Contact Mara McKee at 614-688-5840 or mckee_136@fisher.osu.edu

Organizations of Interest to Students Interested in Research Positions

The following list was put together by Dr. Jim Landers and includes many agencies and organizations that are of interest to students looking for research positions. Those marked with an asterisk denote agencies that have job clearinghouses. Also, many other websites will have open positions advertised on their website.

ORGANIZATIONS

(1) National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL)*

http://www.ncsl.org

National Association of Legislative Fiscal Offices (NALFO)

http://www.ncsl.org/programs/fiscal/nalfo/index.htm

National Legislative Program Evaluation Society (NLPES)

http://www.ncsl.org/programs/nlpes/

(2) National Organization of State Budget Officers (NASBO)

http://www.nasbo.org/

(3) Council of State Governments (CSG)

http://www.csg.org/

(4) Federation of Tax Administrators (FTA) *

http://www.taxadmin.org

Annual Revenue Estimating and Tax Research Conference

http://www.taxadmin.org/fta/meet/

National Governors Association*

http://www.nga.org/portal/site/nga

STATE AGENCIES

California Legislative Analyst’s Office

http://www.lao.ca.gov/laoapp/main.aspx

District of Columbia Office of the Chief Financial Officer

http://www.cfo.dc.gov/cfo/site/default.asp

Florida Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability

http://www.oppaga.state.fl.us/about.html

Illinois Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability

http://www.ilga.gov/commission/cgfa2006/home.aspx

Indiana General Assembly – Legislative Services Agency

http://www.in.gov/legislative/

Iowa Legislative Fiscal Bureau

http://staffweb.legis.state.ia.us/lfb/

Iowa Department of Revenue

http://www.state.ia.us/tax/taxlaw/taxlaw.html

Kentucky Legislative Research Commission

http://www.lrc.state.ky.us/Org_Adm/LRC/aboutlrc.htm

Kentucky Office of State Budget Director

http://www.osbd.ky.gov/default.htm

Michigan Auditor General

http://audgen.michigan.gov/

Minnesota Department of Revenue, Research Division

http://www.taxes.state.mn.us/taxes/legal_policy/research_reports/research_reports.shtml

Minnesota Legislative Auditor

http://www.auditor.leg.state.mn.us/

North Carolina Legislative Fiscal Research Division

http://www.ncleg.net/fiscalresearch/

Ohio Department of Taxation, Tax Analysis Division

http://tax.ohio.gov/channels/other/research.stm

Ohio Legislative Service Commission

http://www.lsc.state.oh.us/

Oregon Department of Revenue

http://egov.oregon.gov/DOR/

Oregon Legislative Fiscal Office

http://www.leg.state.or.us/comm/lfo/home.htm

Washington Joint Legislative Audit Committee

http://www.leg.wa.gov/jlarc/

Wisconsin Legislative Fiscal Bureau

http://www.legis.state.wi.us/lfb/

Bush Aims To Hire More Diplomats

Foreign Service Would Gain 1,100 Positions
By Matthew Lee
Associated Press
Monday, February 4, 2008; Page A05


President Bush wants to hire nearly 1,100 new diplomats to address severe staffing shortages and put the State Department on track to meet an ambitious call to double its size over the next decade, according to administration officials.

The additional positions are part of Bush's budget for fiscal 2009, which he will submit to Congress today, according to documents described by officials. The spending request is subject to congressional approval.

Bush's proposal envisions adding 1,076 jobs at the State Department and diplomatic missions overseas in what officials believe would be one of the largest one-year boosts to the ranks of the foreign service.

The department is facing a critical shortage of diplomats, and many embassies are operating at 70 percent of their desired staffing levels. Last fall, the department said 10 percent of vacant positions would have to remain unfilled this year because of a lack of personnel.

The plan includes 450 jobs to free up current diplomats for intensive language and national security training; 350 posts for a new Civilian Stabilization Program, which would work to improve conditions in post-conflict zones; 200 diplomatic security agents; and 50 political advisers for military commands.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has lobbied hard for the new hires, making several appearances before a White House budget appeals committee to fight efforts to trim the proposal, officials said.

The additions mirror a recommendation made last week by an advisory committee she appointed in 2006 to study how to proceed with the project.

The department's last major hiring drive occurred between 2001 and 2004, when then-Secretary of State Colin Powell launched the Diplomatic Readiness Initiative, which boosted staffing by 1,158 positions over those three years.

2008 Economic Communicators Contest

With a generous grant from the Market-Based Management Institute, the Association of Private Enterprise Education announces the second annual:

2008 Economic Communicators Contest

First Prize: $10,000

Second Prize: $5,000

Third Prize: $2,500

Judged by, among other people, Walter Williams.

Watch past winning videos!

The rules are simple: If you believe you are effective at communicating economic concepts we're looking for you! Contestants must submit:

1. A video clip of your teaching or speaking that is at least 5 minutes but no more than 20 minutes. You can submit a recording of a public lecture or simply a recording you make at home. The topic should be either an original idea incorporating economic concepts, or a great explanation of an existing idea in economics. The clip can be an excerpt of a longer talk.

2. An accompanying written work (published or unpublished) of 5,000 words or less. This can be an essay, chapter excerpt, or even PowerPoint slides. Anything that conveys your ability to persuasively communicate in written form.

This contest is open to anyone (e.g., assistant professors, graduate students, high school teachers) who does not have tenure at a college or university. Submissions will be considered by a panel of judges from APEE and the MBM Institute. The top three finalists will be invited to each make a 15-minute presentation during a plenary session at the 2008 APEE annual meeting, scheduled for April 6-8 in Las Vegas, Nevada, where they will be judged by a distinguished panel of communicators. Airfare and hotel accommodations will be provided, and finalists must be in attendance and agree to have their performances broadcast to win the cash prizes.

Our past winners had exciting ways of describing economic principles. The semi-finalists can be viewed on the MBM Institute's website (www.mbminstitute.org).

ADDITIONAL DETAILS

• NEW DEADLINE: All entries must be received by February 22, 2008.
• Written materials and presentations must be in English.
• Judges will assign a weight of 25% to the written portion and 75% to the video portion.
• If possible, please upload video clips to a website such as YouTube.com. If sending video tapes or DVDs, please send three copies of each, which will become the property of APEE. Please do not send videos as e-mail attachments. Computer clips on CDs must be viewable with Windows Media Player or Apple QuickTime and DVDs must be viewable on most DVD players. If contestants upload their clip to a website, please note the precise internet link in the contest entry. Officers and employees of APEE and the MBM Institute are ineligible.

QUESTIONS?
Contact APEE Past-President Ed Stringham or Lea Krohn, Research Program Manager at the MBM Institute. Entries can be either e-mailed to Lea (if video is on the web) or mailed to:

Market-Based Management Institute
P.O. Box 8250
Wichita, KS 67208

Grants from the Critical Difference for Women Program

Coca-Cola Critical Difference for Women Graduate Studies Grants for Projects on Women, Gender, and Gender Equity

Open to all Ohio State University Ph.D. Candidates & Students Completing Theses or Projects for a Terminal Masters Degree or the MFA

We will award up to 10 graduate studies grants this year. The number of grants depends on availability of funds and grants may not exceed $1,000 for a 12-month period. Requests for smaller amounts will be highly competitive; in some cases, partial funding for a proposal may be possible.

Instructions for applying and application forms can be obtained by going to:

http://womens-studies.osu.edu/resources/grants/cokephd.cfm. The Cover Sheet and Preliminary Budget Sheet can be downloaded by clicking on each of them at the end of the instructions. If you are unable to download the necessary forms, they can be obtained from the Department of Women’s Studies.

Contact Linda O’Brien at obrien.32@osu.edu or call 292-1021.

Deadline: All materials must be received no later than April 7, 2008

Award decisions will be made public by June 1, 2008.

The term of the grant is for 12 months, beginning July 1, 2008 and ending June 30, 2009.

Governor trims $733 million in state spending

Thursday, January 31, 2008 12:35 AM
By Mark Niquette and Catherine Candisky
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Gov. Ted Strickland wielded his budget ax today in response to a souring economy, announcing agency-by-agency spending cuts to prevent a budget shortfall expected during the next 17 months.

His plan totals $733 million in cost savings and program reductions. If more are needed, Strickland said he would dip into the state’s rainy day” fund, which currently totals around $1 billion.

The governor also announced he will expand state-regulated gambling, such as Keno and similar Ohio Lottery games limited to adult settings like bars, which will raise $73 million during the next 18 months.

The General Assembly recently banned gaming devices similar to slot machines, but Strickland noted that his proposal would allow only state-regulated gambling through the Ohio Lottery Commission with proceeds supporting primary and secondary education.

Among the most visible cuts announced were the the closing of two mental health facilities, in Dayton and Cambridge.

Statewide, staff reductions will total between 1,500 and 2,700 workers. The cuts will come from positions not filled, buyouts, early retirements and layoffs.

Strickland said he doesn’t know how many involuntary layoffs may be needed but said “I would think it would be reasonable to think several hundred.”

The governor also issued new restrictions on hiring, travel, printing and equipment purchases.

“I believe today’s decision is the most common-sense approach,” Strickland said. “The budget reductions I’m ordering today represent real sacrifice.”

Strickland is protecting funding to primary and secondary schools, as well as colleges and universities so a tuition freeze can remain in effect. He also is pressing ahead with a planned expansion in children’s health care and restoration of dental benefits to adult Medicaid recipients. Other programs for the poor as well as a cutback in seniors’ property taxes also is safe.

The state will move forward with plans to expand the children’s health insurance program to cover children in families earning up to 250 percent of the federal poverty level, $42,925 a year for a family of three. Dental benefits to adult Medicaid recipients also will be restored later this year.

Planned Medicaid rate increases to hospitals remain on hold, but community providers, including doctors, will receive a planned increase, Strickland said.

The governor also will ask lawmakers to eliminate a 3 percent pay raise to homecare providers under the Department of Aging’s PASSPORT and Choices programs, which was scheduled for July 1.

Last week, Strickland announced new projections showing that the state faces a shortfall when the current two-year budget expires on June 30, 2009, ranging from $733 million to $1.9 billion depending on whether the economy shows low growth, zero growth or falls into a recession.

The governor is forced to make cuts because he so far doesn’t want to raise taxes or stop tax cuts enacted in 2005 – which are reducing state revenues each year as they are phased in by 2011.

The Ohio Constitution requires the state to end a biennium witha balanced budget.

Nonprofit Career Fair and Career Fair Preparation Workshop

The 2008 Nonprofit Career Fair will be held on Wednesday, February 20, from 9am-noon in the meeting rooms on the 2^nd floor of the RPAC. Over 40 nonprofit organizations will be in attendance recruiting for internships, entry level positions and volunteers. This event is open to any Ohio State University student and is absolutely free. For more information, please go to the fair’s website at http://www.asccareerservices.osu.edu/nonprofit.cfm.

In conjunction with the Nonprofit Career Fair the Career Services Office will be holding a Career Fair Preparation workshop on Tuesday, February 12, from 6-7pm in the Science and Engineering Library, room 090. During this workshop, students can learn how to prepare for a career fair, execute their plan at the fair itself, and properly complete career fair follow-up.

If you have any questions about these events, please contact Randy Dineen at dineen.2@osu.edu.

The Glenn School presents Jim Landers

This Friday (February 1), we will be hosting, in collaboration with CURA,

Jim Landers, Ph.D.

Senior Fiscal Analyst, Office of Fiscal and Management Analysis, Indiana Legislative Services Agency.

"Estimates of the Price Elasticity of Demand for Casino Gambling and the Potential Effects of Casino Tax Hikes"

Time: 12:00 - 1:30 PM

Location: Room 130 Page Hall (LEC- Leadership Education Center).

Jim is a graduate of our doctoral program. Anand Desai has a copy of his paper. Please let him know if you would like me to send it to you (desai.1@osu.edu).

M. Jarvin Emerson Student Paper Competition

The Mid-Continent Regional Science Association hosts the annual M. Jarvin Emerson Student Paper Competition with the winners presenting to the membership during the conference in June. This competition offers an excellent opportunity for students to have their work evaluated and recognized by professionals in the discipline and it also allows those attending the conference to gain insights into cutting edge research underway.

We are now soliciting entries for the 2008 MCRSA conference to be held June 5-7 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. We ask your help in identifying high quality papers written by undergraduates or graduate students. The papers can be on any topic(s) related to regional science but should meet acceptable research standards with documentation and other professional standards. Please see the attached information and/or the MCRSA web site (http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/mcrsa/student_paper_competition.htm) for complete details. MCRSA conference information is also available on the web site: http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/mcrsa/.

Winners will receive $150 and the M. Jarvin Emerson Award. The winning paper will also be published in the Association's journal, The Journal of Regional Analysis & Policy. Second place winners will receive $100. All papers accepted for presentation at the conference as part of the competition will have registration and membership fees waived. Papers must be submitted electronically by e-mail. An additional copy must be mailed or faxed with a copy of the student’s ID and the publication agreement form available on the MCRSA web site. Please have students send their submissions to:

Gisele Hamm, Manager
MAPPING the Future of Your Community
Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs
524 Stipes Hall
Western Illinois University
1 University Circle
Macomb, IL 61455
GF-Hamm@wiu.edu