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GRADUATE POLICY & ADVOCACY INTERN

JOB TITLE: Graduate Policy & Advocacy Intern

STATUS: Part-time, non-exempt 
LOCATION: Hybrid, St. Paul, MN 
REPORTS TO: Executive Director 
SALARY RANGE: $20-25 an hour 
HOURS: 16 hours/week 

Applications close: October 18, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. 

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Advocacy Graduate Intern is responsible for supporting the programmatic and policy changing efforts of Students United’s Advocacy team. This work will include legislative bill tracking, MinnState System policy work, comparative state and national policy analysis, issue-based lobbying, and more. The Advocacy Graduate Intern will also serve as a student experience expert and an additional student voice in policy making spaces at the state, federal, and MinnState System levels. This is an off-campus position where interns are required to be in the office or have in-person collaboration time at least once a week. 

HIRING TIMELINE:

  • October 18: Applications Close 

  • October 19 – 20: Hiring committee reviews applications and notify selected candidates for an interview  

  • October 22 – 23: In-Person Interviews for selected candidates 

  • October 26: Extend offer of the role  

  • November 10: Target start date  

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES:

  1. Team Collaboration 

    • Attend weekly full staff meetings, Advocacy Team meetings, and others as needed 

    • Attend major Students United conferences and events 

    • Communicate actively with staff and student organization members through written, verbal, and in person methods 

  2. Legislative Bill Tracking 

    • Regularly review Higher Education House and Senate Committee agendas for bill introductions important to Students United 

    • Use Fast Democracy to track legislative actions connected to Students United’s advocacy agenda 

    • Provide weekly briefs on bill movement or changes to the Advocacy Team 

  3. MinnState System Policy Work 

    • Assist in coordinating the System Policy Advisory Committee (SPAC) 

    • Manage the Students United MinnState Councils and Committees calendar with reminders for SPAC attendees 

    • Ensure SPAC students are attending their assigned meetings and submitting their notes from each meeting 

    • Review notes from SPAC students to identify and report policy themes to the Advocacy Team 

  4. Comparative State and National Policy Analysis 

    • When needed, explore other state’s legislative solutions to issues facing MinnState students 

    • Perform cross state analysis on success of legislative action, implementation, and similarities or differences to Minnesota’s political context that may influence legislative success in our state 

  5. Issue-Based Lobbying 

    • Attend Higher Education Committee Meetings at the House and Senate with Students United Advocacy Team staff  

    • Attend meetings with legislators related to Students United policy issues 

    • Attend coalition meetings related to Students United policy issues 

  6. Student Experience Expert 

    • Share personal student experience in legislative and MinnState System policymaking spaces when relevant 

    • Support in identifying students to testify in House and Senate hearings for relevant legislative bills 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE

  • Actively enrolled student in a graduate program  

  • Ability to commit 2 years to this role 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

  • Undergraduate degree or coursework in political science, social science, public relations, education, or otherwise advocacy-related fields 

  • Knowledge of the MinnState System  

  • Knowledge of Students United 

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS: 

  • $30 Cell Phone Allowance/month   

  • $30 Parking Allowance /month  

  • Access to professional development funds    

  • Flexible Hybrid Work Schedule 

ABOUT STUDENTS UNITED:

Led by Minnesota State University students, Students United is the inclusive voice for all future, current, and former students. We actively work to represent and support Minnesota State University students and advocate at a system, local, state, and federal level for higher education policies that make a positive impact for our students and communities. 
 

Students United is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion or creed, citizenship, disability, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital and/or family status, age, public assistance status, or veteran status. A criminal background is not an automatic disqualifier for employment at Students United. We encourage people from historically excluded identities and communities to apply, even if you do not meet every qualification. We welcome inquiries into our work culture.  

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