Summary
The US onAir Network will be working with volunteers from Iowa universities, colleges, and nonprofit organizations to oversee the curation and moderation of posts, aircasts (online discussions), and in person events for the Iowa onAir Hub … related to federal, state, and local elections and government.
Our first outreach will be to University of Iowa partly because of its proximity to the state capital. We have identified many of University of Iowa’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
The University of Iowa’s onAir chapter will initially focus on training interested undergrad and graduate students on how to curate IowaonAir 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 Iowa
Source: About Iowa
The University of Iowa is one of America’s premier public research universities.
Founded in 1847, it is the state’s oldest institution of higher education and is located alongside the picturesque Iowa River in Iowa City.
A member of the Association of American Universities since 1909 and the Big Ten Conference since 1899, the University of Iowa is home to one of the most acclaimed academic medical centers in the country, as well as globally recognized leadership in the study and craft of writing. Iowa is known for excellence in both the arts and sciences, offering world-class undergraduate, graduate, and professional academic programs in a wide variety of fields.
Our Values
In planning, setting priorities, and carrying out every aspect of its mission, the University of Iowa is guided by these seven interdependent commitments:
- Community
We recognize that people make our institution what it is. We are committed to fostering an open and welcoming environment where all can collaborate and support each other. - Diversity
We achieve excellence through recruiting, retaining, and advancing a diverse community, building an inclusive and accessible campus in which each of our unique social identities are valued, and ensuring our policies and practices are equitable and eliminate disparities. - Excellence
We are committed to the highest quality of teaching and learning, research and discovery, and service and outreach. We expect the best effort from ourselves and our colleagues as we continually seek to improve. - Integrity
We understand the importance of doing what is right, even when it is not easy or popular. We strive to align our words and our actions, and value the highest academic, personal, and professional ethical standards. - Learning
We believe learning permeates all that we do. Growth and development are essential to university life regardless of role, responsibility, or discipline. - Respect
We recognize the innate value of each individual. We treat people in a way that acknowledges their perspectives and experiences, fostering trust and understanding. - Responsibility
We strive to be dependable, trustworthy, and accountable. Through our words and actions, we endeavor to be faithful stewards of the legacies and resources entrusted to us.
Civic Engagement Programs
Source: Leadership, Service, and Civic Engagement
Office of Leadership, Service, & Civic Engagement
The Office of Leadership, Service, & Civic Engagement helps students develop lifelong leadership skills, offers incredible experiential service learning, and provides civic engagement opportunities to students both on and off campus.
Student Government
Source: Undergraduate Student Government
USG Mission Statement
The University of Iowa Undergraduate Student Government (USG) exists to represent, serve, and empower all University of Iowa undergraduate students. As a valued member of University Shared Governance, we offer input and guidance to staff, faculty, and administrators on issues that matter to students and act as the official student voice to the Board of Regents, the State of Iowa, and local and federal legislators. We also allocate the Student Activity Fee to organizations, services, and initiatives on campus that serve students. USG listens to the diverse needs, concerns, and perspectives of the student body and constantly strives to respond with solutions that foster a better community for student living and learning.
USG Values
Advocacy
USG works to amplify the student voice to University of Iowa staff, faculty, and administrators, as well as the Board of Regents, the State of Iowa, and the nation. We strive to acknowledge and honor the diverse needs, concerns, and perspectives of students as we advocate for the collective good of the student body.
Collaboration
USG values the multitude of individuals and organizations that contribute to the well-being of our diverse university community. We believe that building relationships and coalitions among these stakeholders – including local, state, and national partners – furthers our collective mission.
Community
USG is dedicated to a sense of community by: developing relationships, listening and responding to student concerns, sharing information and resources, and creating opportunities to contribute to the Hawkeye community.
Impact
USG is committed to producing quality results for students in a timely manner. We strive to foster a results-oriented organizational culture that ensures we effectively respond to the needs of all students.
Equity
USG will use its privilege as a representative body to create change that benefits and empowers all students. We recognize the historic and current marginalization and oppression of many identities within our university community and across the world, and we will strive to include those identities through active engagement. The pursuit of justice and equity must always guide our work.
Innovation
USG will approach issues in thoughtful and innovative ways, and we will build on the progress of past student leaders. We will advocate for evidence-based, sustainable solutions to student issues.
Integrity
All of USG’s work should be accomplished in the most honest, transparent, and ethical manner possible.
Internships
Source: Political Science Department
The University of Iowa’s Pomerantz Career Center is a valuable resource for information about internships available to UI students.
Academic Programs
Source: Political Science Department website
Undergraduate Programs
A degree in political science or international relations from the University of Iowa is your start to an enjoyable and rewarding career that makes a difference in people’s lives. Our degrees open doors to exciting opportunities in a wide range of fields, including politics, government administration, public health, nonprofit management, law, communications, education, sustainability, human rights, and much more. We work with you from day one to develop the skills and make the connections to launch your career. After your last class, you’ll join a group of successful graduates (nearly 98% of graduates who land good jobs within a few months of earning their degree!), with opportunities to stay involved in our active community of alumi.
Explore the Advantages
Political science and international relations majors at Iowa can pursue honors, take an experiential learning course, and conduct research. Our academic advisors provide regular assistance with course selection and connect students with beneficial resources, including specialized guidance for students preparing for law school. The Department of Political Science and its alumni are dedicated to supporting student success by providing internship opportunities, alumni mentorship, career workshops, and scholarships.
As a major in our program, you’ll have access to the ICON for Political Science and International Relations Majors featuring new opportunities every week. Our student support community and organizations such as the Undergraduate Political Science Association and the Political Matters Living Learning Community (LLC) are great ways to meet students with shared interests.
Graduate Programs
The Department of Political Science’s doctoral program is designed to prepare students for careers in research and teaching. Some of our PhDs emphasize the former and some the latter, but in either case they will get a thorough grounding in research methods. It is this grounding that permits teachers to be critical consumers of the research they read and permits researchers to undertake significant theoretical and empirical work of their own. Because the Iowa faculty and graduate student body are not large, there is ample opportunity to collaborate with individual faculty members in research endeavors. In addition, students spend some time as apprentice teachers in our large undergraduate classes. Our new PhDs are well prepared for the professional world that awaits.
Research Initiatives
Source: Political Science Department
Political Science is a diverse discipline that encompasses the study of governments, political institutions, processes and behavior, public policy and more. Political Scientists identify themselves with one or more of the discipline’s “subfields,” which describe very broad sets of common interests. The subfields of Political Science include:
Disciplines
- American PoliticsPolitical practices, institutions and behaviors in the United States.
- International RelationsPolitical relationships and interactions between different countries, including conflict studies, foreign policy formation, international political economy, as well as international governmental and non-governmental organizations.
- Comparative PoliticsComparisons of political systems within and across states.
- Political TheoryTheoretical perspectives for understanding politics, including fundamental concepts such as power, democracy and rights.
- Political MethodologyDeveloping and evaluating the techniques scholars use to generate new findings. Includes statistical, qualitative, formal mathematical, and other methods.
The Iowa faculty includes renowned experts in each of the subfields noted above. Their investigations lead to important findings shared through prolific publication in scholarly journals, books, and other outlets. They serve on professional boards of national and international significance. As a group, the political science faculty is among the most highly ranked in the University. They are also noted for their research collaborations: with each other, with the members of the department’s doctoral program, and with undergraduate majors. Iowa’s Ph.D. students become strong job candidates because they become active researchers early in their programs. In addition, the department encourages undergraduate majors to conduct research or to work with a faculty member on his or her own research, gaining valuable analytical skills through practical application.
