Summary
The US onAir Network will be working with volunteers from Oklahoma universities, colleges, and nonprofit organizations to oversee the curation and moderation of posts, aircasts (online discussions), and in person events for the Oklahoma onAir Hub … related to federal, state, and local elections and government.
Our first outreach will be to University of Oklahoma partly because of its proximity to the state capital. We have identified many of University of Oklahoma’s civic engagement, academic, internship and research programs related to making democracy and civic responsibility a focus of higher learning on their campus … for students, faculty, staff, and local community. This post, over time, will have similar information on other collaborating organizations in the state.
Contact ben.murphy@onair.cc for more information on how to involve your organization.
About
University of Oklahoma’s onAir chapter will initially focus on training interested undergrad and graduate students on how to curate Oklahoma onAir content especially submitting Top News articles, events, videos, and information and moderating forums in each post they curate.
Student curators will also work with state senate and house committee chairs to produce aircasts on issues being discussed and bills being proposed in their committees.
During election season, students with other other organizations like the League of Women Voters, will coordinate and produce aircasted debates with candidates.
University of Oklahoma
Source: About OU
Founded in 1890, the University of Oklahoma is a public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma just 20 mins. south of Oklahoma City. OU’s Norman undergraduate population is slightly more than 20,000, giving students a major university experience in a private college atmosphere. With three campuses in Oklahoma, OU also offers study abroad opportunities at several locations and OU campuses overseas.
Civic Engagement Programs
Source: Civic Engagement Fellows
Civic Engagement Fellows
Each academic year, two to three undergraduate students are selected to pursue the Carl Albert Center’s efforts on-campus related to civic education and political engagement. Fellows earn a $1600 stipend for the academic year ($800 per semester deposited into the student’s bursar account). Hours per week vary, with some light weeks and some heavy weeks (i.e. the week of an election). In addition to ongoing efforts to register students to vote, Civic Engagement Fellows pursue civic engagement projects of their own. Past individual projects have included, among others, high school student voter registration, developing a Norman Youth Council, and developing programs to engage women in politics.
The Center pursues these and related activities as a member of the National Campaign for Civic and Political Engagement. The National Campaign is a consortium of 21 institutions pursuing projects in civic engagement. It is staffed by the Institute of Politics in the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
Student Government
Source: Student Government Association
The Student Government Association (SGA) continues the legacy of excellence at the University of Oklahoma. SGA serves and advocates for the student body in order to continue improving the student experience. The SGA is bound by the rules as outlined in our Code Annotated (SGACA) and the SGA Constitution:
Internships
Source: Department of Political Science
Internship and Fellowship Opportunities
The Department of Political Science, in partnership with the Carl Albert Center, offers students several opportunities to participate in engaging programs that enhance the theoretical lessons of the classroom. Between Ewing Fellowships served in Washington, D.C., community-oriented Capitol and Community Scholars, and the Carl Albert Undergraduate Research Fellows there are ample ways to gain real-world experience.
Want to intern for a different organization? No problem. If you find an internship and would like to coordinate academic credit, please fill out and submit the following application to our Internship Coordinator, Professor Ann-Marie Szymanski at ams@ou.edu.
Political Science Programs
Source: Department website
Undergraduate Programs
The Department of Political Science is the academic home to over 350 undergraduate students on the Norman campus. The department offers three majors: Political Science, Political Science: Elections and Campaign Management, and Public & Nonprofit Administration. Students that choose political science can take courses in American politics, public policy, public administration, comparative politics, international relations or political theory. The Elections and Campaign Management concentration provides a concentrated education in campaigns and voter behavior. Students that choose public affairs and administration will focus their coursework in public policy and public administration.
The department is known for its outstanding students, including many national scholars. Our students are actively engaged in university life, and many are campus leaders involved in Student Congress, the P SC Club and other student organizations. Undergraduates go on to excellent law schools and graduate programs; work in Washington, D.C.; state legislatures and agencies; nonprofits; federal law enforcement; the diplomatic corps; and political consulting.
Graduate Programs
The University of Oklahoma has a number of graduate programs designed to equip our students with the knowledge, skills and passion to pursue meaningful careers in political science, public policy, government and public service. The Political Science Department houses three nationally recognized degree programs.
Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science
The University of Oklahoma is the only higher educational institution, public or private, in the state of Oklahoma to offer a doctoral degree in political science. This full-time program accepts students with and without a master’s degree. Graduate students will find a rigorous research-based program offering a range of political science field specializations. Graduates are well-prepared for both teaching and research careers in political science as well as the public and private sector.
Master of Public Administration
For almost 50 years, we have had the privilege of awarding our Masters of Public Administration (MPA), the premier degree program for careers in the public and nonprofit sector. This program is designed for individuals who seek to build skills in management, policy analysis, nonprofit leadership and advocacy. Our program is designed for both working professionals and full-time students located in Oklahoma City, Tulsa and Norman area, offering the most flexibility in course scheduling and career paths.
Master of Arts in Political Science
We also house a master’s degree in political science, a two-year, research-based program. Many M.A. students pursue this degree to enhance their knowledge base and skill set in teaching or with the expectation of going on to a doctoral program.
With such a diverse set of high-quality graduate programs, the University of Oklahoma is a great place for individuals who are looking for graduate programs in government and public service. We are proud to say that many of our alumni have gone on to fantastic careers, and we look forward to helping you pursue your goals as well. Boomer Sooner!
Research Initiatives
Source: Vice President for Research and Partnerships
The Office of the Vice President for Research and Partnerships (OVPRP) has a robust vision and plan for the Norman and Tulsa campuses as explained in the Research Strategic Verticals (PDF). OU, as a flagship public institution, is focused on societal impact through research and creative activity. OU is uniquely positioned to bring disparate academic disciplines, from the core STEM fields to the humanities and fine arts, together to foster creative, comprehensive solutions to global challenges. In our vision for research and creative activity, researchers move beyond and across traditional academic boundaries, collaborating across disciplines and globally with other universities, policymakers, economists, and business leaders to create solutions for a better world. Our goal is to transcend academic disciplines and bring all of OU’s institutional strengths together to tackle global challenges and accelerate the delivery of practical solutions that impact society in direct and tangible ways.
In addition, our Office of Research Services works closely with faculty to enhance success in attracting external funding through support of the development of grant applications, management of contracts, and compliance with regulations. The Office of Innovations and Corporate Partnerships (OICP) enhances OU’s ability to engage strategically with private sector companies interested in research and educational partnerships and growing private sector sponsored research at all three of OU’s campuses. OICP also manages intellectual property and commercialization of technologies in order to facilitate corporate and private sector engagement and enhanced licensing of OU technologies.
