UCLA LPPI is a local organization with national reach, providing UCLA students with the unique opportunity to engage with leading civil rights groups, elected officials, philanthropic leaders, members of the media, and other cross-sector partners across the United States.

Fellows are placed within one of the Institute’s functional departments: Communications, Research, Leadership Programs, Mobilization, and Administration. Over the course of nine months, fellows become integrated into their department’s work, contributing to team projects while learning under the supervision and mentorship of UCLA LPPI full-time staff and affiliated faculty experts. In addition to hands-on, experiential learning, fellows participate in regular paid professional development activities that expose them to Latine policy experts, connect them to relevant academic and career resources, and provide targeted skill-building to accelerate their own leadership trajectories.

Alumni go on to shape policy-making through influential roles in both the public and private sectors, including academia, government, think tanks, and media organizations.

UCLA LPPI invites incoming and continuing UCLA students to apply for the Policy Fellowship. The program is open to both undergraduate and graduate students enrolled across UCLA schools and departments. There is no GPA requirement and students of all majors and class standing are welcome; however, students must be able to commit to:

• Working 10-20 hours per week over the Fall, Winter and Spring Quarters.
• Completing the full 9-month program from mid-September to mid-June
• Participating in Orientation in mid-September
• Participating in cohort trainings and professional development sessions throughout the year, to be scheduled during work hours
• The UCLA LPPI Policy Fellowship is open to AB540 students. Please see our FAQs for more information.

The Policy Fellowship is an on-campus job that offers a unique opportunity to support applied policy research that advances meaningful policy change in the community. In addition to mentorship and access to leading policy influencers, fellows receive competitive pay determined by their class standing.

Furthermore, graduate students who support LPPI research activities are classified as either Graduate Student Researchers (GSRs), who are eligible for fee remission, or Graduate Student Worker. To learn more about fee remission at UCLA  LPPI, click here.

The UCLA LPPI Policy Fellowship 2024-2025 is selected. Please check back in March 2025 for the 2025-2026 application process.

New fellows are selected through an application process that seeks to take into account the candidate as a whole. Our application process gives candidates the opportunity to showcase their guiding values, lived experiences, prior work history, academic strengths, leadership potential, and future goals.

To begin your application, click here. Applications and all supporting materials are due by 11:59 pm PDT on Sunday, May 5, 2024. 

In addition to the online application form, your complete application must include:

1. SHORT RESPONSES. Please address each of the below prompts in 200 words or less.
   • What about UCLA LPPI’s mission and work resonates with you the most?
   • What skills or experiences do you hope to contribute to the UCLA LPPI team as a Policy Fellow? What skills or experiences do you hope to gain?
   • How would the Policy Fellowship help you make progress toward your long-term career goals?2.
2. RESUME. A professional resume of no more than 2 pages.
3. UNOFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT. You can access your unofficial transcript via MyUCLA.
4. WRITING SAMPLE. Please include a 3-5 page writing sample, not inclusive of appendices and reference pages, from a prior research report, policy analysis or similar type of academic writing. You may submit an excerpt from a longer writing sample.

The above documents should be combined and saved as one PDF file labeled “LPPI-LastName_FirstInitial-Year.” For example: LPPI-Sanchez_J-2024. You can use a free website like smallpdf.com to combine multiple documents into one PDF file.

The online application form will prompt you to upload your combined PDF file. If you have difficulty uploading your attachment or have other application questions, contact:

Belen Flores
Project Policy Analyst, UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute
Belen@luskin.ucla.edu

What qualities do you look for in a fellow?

• Beyond our minimum eligibility requirements, we look for candidates who are passionate about advancing U.S. Latine communities and who possess:
  Strong time management and organizational skills, with the ability to prioritize multiple tasks and meet deadlines;
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including effective verbal and written communication;
• A positive attitude and adaptability within an entrepreneurial environment;
• Familiarity with U.S. government systems and interest in policymaking processes; and
• Interest in applied policy research and data analysis.

Each UCLA LPPI department prioritizes different skills and experiences that align with their areas of work. For instance, our Research department might prioritize prior research experience, command of Excel or familiarity with data analysis software. By contrast, our Communications team might prioritize strong social media and web design skills.

The sample work projects described in Question #6 gives further insight into the types of skills that each department can utilize.

I do not identify as Latine – can I still apply to the LPPI Policy Fellowship?

• You do not have to identify as Latine to be an LPPI Policy Fellow. LPPI values diversity of lived experiences, perspectives and skill sets as this diversity enhances our ability to effectively serve and advocate on behalf of U.S. Latine communities and other communities of color. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age or protected veteran status. For the complete University of California nondiscrimination and affirmative action policy, see: UC Nondiscrimination & Affirmative Action Policy.

Is the Policy Fellowship restricted to U.S. Citizens? Can I apply if I am undocumented?

• We welcome and encourage undocumented immigrant students who have AB540 eligibility or a DACA work permit, as well as legal permanent residents. If you are an undocumented immigrant student and do not meet the AB540 requirements or do not have an active DACA work permit, please contact us to explore ways we may accommodate your situation. Email us at latino@luskin.ucla.edu.
• We regret that we are unable to sponsor international work visas at this time.

Will the 2024-25 Policy Fellowship program be virtual or in-person?

• The Fellowship will be a hybrid format meaning both in-person and virtual for the 2024-25 academic year, public health conditions permitting. In the event of changing guidance from the University of California, UCLA, or the city and county of Los Angeles, however, we may need to adapt the program to a virtual format.
• Applicants should expect to be enrolled in residence at UCLA for the duration of the 2024-25 academic year and complete LPPI work projects either virtually or in-person in our offices at the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs Building. The hiring committee may grant an exception to an applicant who has been accepted into and plans to complete a quarter off-campus, such as through UCLA Study Abroad, UCDC or UC Sacramento.

What is the time commitment?

• Fellows are expected to commit 10-20 hours per week following the UCLA academic calendar. Fellows are not expected to work during winter and spring break, university holidays or other instances of office closure. Upon successful completion of the 9-month Policy Fellowship, Fellows may be invited to continue working with LPPI through the summer, the following academic year, and beyond.
• Work hours typically include such activities as: participating in one-on-one meetings with your supervisor; meeting with your project team; completing your assigned weekly tasks; staffing UCLA LPPI events, such as report webinars and forums; and participating in the Institute’s professional development trainings and networking opportunities.

What does the Fellowship experience entail? What type of projects do Fellows support?

• At hiring, Fellows are placed within one of UCLA LPPI’s functional departments (Communications, Research, Leadership Programs, Mobilization, and Administration) and are assigned a supervisor. Fellows work with their supervisors each quarter to complete a professional development plan that identifies their short- and long-term goals, specific work assignments and opportunities for growth.
• Below are examples of recent Fellow projects by department:

1. 1. Communications – Track media mentions and compile weekly press clips; update Excel databases of reporters and media contacts; create graphics on Canva and draft social media copy on HootSuite; prepare social media toolkits for UCLALPPI events; perform updates to the Insitute’swebsite on WordPress; design email marketing campaigns on MailChimp; and support the development of opinion editorials and press releases.
   2. Research – Perform literature reviews and prepare annotated bibliographies; co-author research reports and policy briefs; conduct fact-checking; format citations and ready publications for distribution; collect, code, and analyze qualitative data; support in survey design and analysis; support in interview and focus group designs; create and manage Excel databases; perform descriptive statistical analyses; create charts, graphs, and other data visualizations; and conduct analysis using Stata or R software.
   3. Leadership Programs – Develop meeting agendas and facilitate trainings; design program evaluation surveys; create and deliver presentations; update databases; perform market research and environmental scans; prepare memos and briefing materials for event speakers; support fellowship recruitment activities; and manage program calendars.
   4. Mobilization – Create and update legislative trackers; perform internet research on Latine judicial candidates and Latine gubernatorial appointments; conduct landscape scans of Latine-focused civil society organizations; perform stakeholder analysis on different policy issue areas and/or regions (e.g., health policy-focused stakeholders in California); support the planning and execution of UCLA LPPI webinars, convenings and forums

I am not a student at UCLA, can I still apply?

• At this time, the Policy Fellowship is only open to UCLA students who are enrolled for the 2024-25 academic year. Newly admitted students who plan to matriculate in the fall 2024 term are eligible. Spring 2024 graduates who will not be taking coursework next academic year are not eligible. 

How do I become an LPPI Policy Fellow?

• To apply, please visit our application here: 2024-25 LPPI Public Policy Fellowship Application. Applications are due by 11:59 pm PDT on Sunday, May 5th, 2024.

Where can I get assistance with my application?

• We will host Virtual “Office Hours” via Zoom on Friday, April 26th & Friday, May 3rd. Drop by to ask your questions! Not able to make it to Office Hours? Email our team at latino@luskin.ucla.edu.Click here to join Office Hours on Friday, April 26th from 10:00-11:00 AM.Click here to join Office Hours on Friday, May 3rd from 2:00-3:00 PM.!

I identify as an international student, am I eligible to apply for the fellowship?

• Yes, international students who are F1 or J1 visa holders are eligible to apply. Please reference this page for more information: https://internationalcenter.ucla.edu/resources/working-on-campus.

Is the Policy Fellowship opportunity for the 2024-2025 academic school year virtual or hybrid?

• Given the evolving changes of university protocols, the Policy Fellowship is projected to be in-person for the majority of the year to help enhance learning, fully participate in staff meetings, and professional development

What kind of writing sample should I submit? Are there specific recommendations?

• The writing sample should be between 3-5 pages from a prior research report, policy analysis, or similar type of academic writing. You can submit an excerpt from a longer writing sample. For this component of the application, we are really trying to look for a demonstration of your ability to form an analytical argument using available evidence. Your writing sample should be written by you alone and is recommended that it has alignment to UCLA LPPI’s mission.

Are students required to work during academic school breaks, including Summer?

• No. Students are not required to work during breaks, including the Summer but will have the option to do so if they are invited.

Are Fellows considered if they plan to spend a quarter for Study Abroad, UCDC, and/or graduating early?

• All Fellows are expected to be available to work for the entire 2024-2025 academic school year, however, exceptions can be made depending on the Department needs. We ask that during the application process, you are transparent with your situation so that we can move forward accordingly to ensure proper communication is made before entering the new school year.

I have another question that is not listed here. Who can I contact?

• Please email us at latino@luskin.ucla.edu and we will direct your question to the appropriate member of our team.
• If you have an issue submitting your application materials via our online form, please contact: Belen Flores, LPPI Project Policy Analyst, Belen@luskin.ucla.edu.