Google Policy Fellowship

About the Google Policy Fellowship program
Important Dates
Eligibility
Payments, Forms, and Other Administrative Stuff
Host Organizations
More Questions

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 or San Francisco, CA. Students will work for 10 weeks over the summer of 2008.

How many students does Google expect to accept into the fellowship program?
We anticipate that we'll accept between 10-15 students.

Is the Google Policy Fellowship program a recruiting program?
We hope the Fellowship program enables students to explore potential careers in Internet policy, law, and technology. We also hope that the experience will make Fellows more attractive to potential employers. Google may use the results of the program to help identify potential recruits, but this is not the intended purpose of the Fellowship program.

What organizations are participating in Google Policy Fellowship program 2008?

American Library Association
Cato Institute
Center for Democracy and Technology
Competitive Enterprise Institute
Electronic Frontier Foundation
Internet Education Foundation
Media Access Project
New America Foundation
Public Knowledge

Important Dates

What is the program timeline?

January 11, 2008:	Student application deadline; applications must be received by 5:00 PM Pacific time.
Interim Period:	Google and Host organizations review student applications.
March 1, 2008:	Acceptance decisions finalized. Students are notified of the status of their applications.
Interim Period:	Students learn more about their project and prepare for their fellowship.
June 2008:	Students begin fellowship with host organization (start date to be determined by student and host organization organization); Google issues initial student stipends.
July 18th, 2008:	Mid-term evaluation deadline; Google begins issuing mid-term stipends.
August 22nd, 2008:	Final evaluation deadline; Google begins issuing final stipends.

Eligibility

Are there any age restrictions on participating?
Yes. You must be 18 years of age or older by January 1, 2008 to be eligible to participate in Google Policy Fellowship program in 2008.

Are there citizenship requirements for the Fellowship?
For the time being, we are only accepting students eligible to work in the United States (e.g. U.S. citizens, U.S. permanent residents, and individuals with a current student visa).

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, 2008.

You may be enrolled as a full-time or part-time student. You must also be eligible to work in the United States (e.g. U.S. citizens, U.S. permanent residents, and individuals with a current student visa).

Who is not eligible to participate as a student in Google Policy Fellowship program?
Google employees, interns, contractors, or family members are ineligible to participate. For purposes of the Google Policy Fellowship Program, Google will define "family member" to include a husband, wife, domestic partner, son, daughter, mother, father, sister, or brother. Host organizations taking part in the Google Policy Fellowship program and Google Inc. may add additional stipulations regarding which students may participate in the program under their auspices.

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, 2008, 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, 2008, you are eligible to participate in the program.

How much time is required to participate as a student in Google Policy Fellowship program?
The Student Fellow will be expected to work on a full-time basis, approximately 40 hours/week, during the Fellowship term. The duration of the fellowship is 10 weeks.

Payments, Forms, and Other Administrative Stuff

How do payments work?
Google will provide a stipend of $7,000 USD to each Fellow for the summer.

Accepted students in good standing with their host organization will receive a $3,000 USD stipend payable shortly after they begin the Fellowship in June 2008.
Students who receive passing mid-term evaluations by their host organization will receive a $2,000 USD stipend shortly after the mid-term evaluation deadline, July 18, 2008.
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 the final evaluation deadline, August 22, 2008.
Please note that Google cannot issue any payments until a completed and signed W-9 Form is submitted to Google.
Students are responsible for payment of any state of federal taxes associated with their receipt of the Fellowship stipend.

What documentation is required from students?
We will need the following documentation from students:

For students based in the United States, we will need a completed and signed IRS form W9.
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.