Next Generation Service Corps Summer Policy Academy
Next Generation Service Corps Summer Policy Academy
The NextGen Service Summer Policy Academy (SPA) is a fully funded three-week program and professional development experience for NextGen Service students interested in exploring impactful public service careers.
"I loved all of the sessions where public servants were invited in to talk about their lives and how they got to the place where they are. Incredibly engaging and I felt I always took away a new perspective or discovered a new place I might want to work in the future."
- SPA Participant
Goals of SPA
- Expose students to the myriad public service career pathways
- Motivate and position students to become influential public service leaders
- Expand students’ personal and professional networks
- Strengthen students’ understanding of how public policy is developed and enhance their ability to use it as a tool for driving positive societal change
Selected students will...
Convene in Washington, DC, for a week of career exploration and networking across the cohort and with professionals in public service. They will then travel to one of three participating “Host Schools” where they will engage in a dynamic curriculum inside and outside the classroom, explore the local area, and connect with NextGen Service peers from across the country. Each Host School will offer programming organized around a unique policy topic:
Berkeley, CA: University of California, Berkeley, The Goldman School of Public Policy
Democracy and Law Policy - Students will explore the conditions for democracy and the actions governments can take to protect, promote, and deliver on the promise of democracy for human flourishing. Specific areas of democracy policy include issues of representation and identity justice, voting and elections, speech and expression, citizenship, effective governance and administration, and institutional trust.
Minneapolis, MN: University of Minnesota, Humphrey School of Public Affairs
Global Policy - With an emphasis on roleplay and simulation, students will take a hands-on approach to grappling with some of the world’s most pressing transnational challenges. Specific focus areas may include conflict, access to water, human rights, and sustainable development.
Seattle, WA: University of Washington, Evans School of Public Policy and Governance
Social Policy - Students will be exposed to an array of nonprofit and government agencies involved in the creation and implementation of social policies that respond to pressing societal and economic issues. Specific issues of social policy include addressing poverty and inequality, social welfare programs, education policy, and criminal justice.
Receive a $1,000 stipend
Students will be awarded a $1,000 stipend; all expenses, including travel, lodging, and meals, are fully covered by the program.
How to Apply
The application for the 2026 program will open in the fall. Continue to monitor this page for updates on application timelines and requirements.