Google Policy Fellowship

About the Google Policy Fellowship program

What is the Google Policy Fellowship program?
The Google Policy Fellowship program offers students interested in Internet and technology policy the opportunity to spend the summer working on these issues at public interest organizations in either Washington, DC, San Francisco, CA, Toronto, or Ottawa, Canada. Students will work for 10 weeks over the summer of 2010.
What organizations are participating in Google Policy Fellowship program 2010?

• American Library Association
• Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic
• Cato Institute
• Center for Democracy and Technology
• The Citizen Lab
• Competitive Enterprise Institute
• Creative Commons
• Electronic Frontier Foundation
• Future of Music Coalition
• Internet Education Foundation
• Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies
• Media Access Project
• National Hispanic Media Coalition
• New America Foundation
• Progress and Freedom Foundation
• Public Knowledge
• Technology Policy Institute

Important Dates

What is the program timeline?

January 17, 2011:	Student application deadline; applications must be received by midnight Pacific time.
February 28, 2011:	Student applicants are notified of the status of their applications.
June 2011:	Students begin fellowship with host organization (start date to be determined by student and host organization); Google issues initial student stipends (see more information on stipends in the payments here).
July 2011:	Mid-term evaluations; Google issues mid-term stipends.
August 2011:	Final evaluations; Google issues final stipends.

Eligibility

Are there any age restrictions on participating?
Yes. You must be 18 years of age or older by January 1, 2011 to be eligible to participate in Google Policy Fellowship program in 2011.
Are there citizenship requirements for the Fellowship?
For the time being, we are only accepting students eligible to work in the United States, if your host organization is located in the U.S. (e.g. U.S. citizens, U.S. permanent residents, and individuals with a current U.S.student visa) and students eligible to work in Canada, if your host organization is located in Canada (e.g. Canadian citizens, Canadian permanent residents, and individuals with a current Canadian student visa). Google can not provide guidance or assistance on obtaining the necessary documentation to meet this criteria.
Who is eligible to participate as a student in Google Policy Fellowship program?
In order to participate in the program, you must be a student. Google defines a student as an individual enrolled in or accepted into an accredited institution including (but not necessarily limited to) colleges, universities, masters programs, PhD programs and undergraduate programs. Eligibility is based on enrollment in an accredited university by January 1, 2011.
You may be enrolled as a full-time or part-time student. You must also be eligible to work in the United States, if your host organization is located in the U.S. (e.g. U.S. citizens, U.S. permanent residents, and individuals with a current U.S.student visa) and students eligible to work in Canada, if your host organization is located in Canada (e.g. Canadian citizens, Canadian permanent residents, and individuals with a current Canadian student visa). Google can not provide guidance or assistance on obtaining the necessary documentation to meet this criteria.
I am a International student can I apply and participate in the program?
In order to participate in the program, you must be a student (see Google's definition of a student above). You must also be eligible to work in the United States or in Canada (see citizen requirements for fellowship above). Google can not provide guidance or assistance on obtaining the necessary documentation to meet this criteria.
I have been accepted into an accredited post-secondary school program, but have not yet begun attending. Can I still take part in the program?
As long as you are enrolled in a college or university program as of January 1st, 2011, you are eligible to participate in the program.
I graduate in the middle of the program. Can I still participate?
As long as you are enrolled in a college or university program as of January 1st, 2011, you are eligible to participate in the program.

Payments, Forms, and Other Administrative Stuff

How do payments work?
Google will provide a stipend of $7,500 USD to each Fellow for the summer.

• Accepted students in good standing with their host organization will receive a $3,500 USD stipend payable shortly after they begin the Fellowship in June 2011.
• Students who receive passing mid-term evaluations by their host organization will receive a $2,000 USD stipend shortly after the mid-term evaluation in July 2011.
• Students who receive passing final evaluations by their host organization and who have submitted their final program evaluations will receive a $2,000 USD stipend shortly after final evaluations in August 2011.
• Please note: payments will be made by prepaid debit card or checks; payments are contingent upon satisfactory evaluations by host organizations and completion of all required forms; and fellows are responsible for payment of any state or federal taxes associated with their receipt of the Fellowship stipend.

What documentation is required from students?
Students should be prepared, upon request, to provide Google or host organization with transcripts from their accredited institution as proof of enrollment or admission status. Transcripts do not need to be official (photo copy of original will be sufficient).
I would like to use the work I did for my Google Policy Fellowship to obtain course credit from my university. Is this acceptable?
Absolutely. If you need documentation from Google to provide to your school for course credit, you can contact Google. We will not provide documentation until we have received a final evaluation from your mentoring organization.

Host Organizations

What is Google's relationship with the host organizations?
Google provides the funding and administrative support for the program. Google and the host organizations are not partners or affiliates. The host organizations do not represent the views or opinions of Google and cannot bind Google legally.

More Questions

What if I have a question not answered in this FAQ?
You can reach Google Policy Fellowship team at policyfellowship@google.com .