Intern Program

Freshman interns pose at the fall 2019 retreat

If you’re looking to become more involved on campus, learn more about your student association, or advocate for issues with UW Administration, Madison City Council, or the WI State Legislature, you should consider applying for an internship with the Associated Students of Madison (ASM). An internship with ASM is one of our main avenues for leadership development in the organization.

About the Program

The ASM internship program is predominantly made up of freshmen or sophomores who are navigating campus for the first time and we keep our program small (10 – 12 students) so that we can provide support and resources to future ASM leaders. ASM internships are available each semester with varying focuses, depending on your interests. Interns can choose to work with a faculty member and register for up to 3 credits of independent study in that faculty member’s department.

Interns work closely with the ASM committee chairs and ASM staff to accomplish UW-Madison advocacy goals and work on issues to improve student life on campus. ASM combines the passion and drive of college students with political expertise, grassroots organizing methods, and professionalism to address and react to student concerns and issues. In addition to playing a major role in shaping the University, interns also build problem-solving skills, meet new people, and get hands-on experience working for issues that matter to them.


Past intern projects have included:

  • getting College Library to be open 24 hours/day
  • negotiating a contract for student bus passes with the City of Madison
  • securing a 24-hour study day between the last day of classes and first day of exams
  • planning, helping to finance, and governing the new Student Activity Center on campus

Expectations for Interns

To participate successfully in the program, students must:

  • Meet weekly with an Intern Coordinator, a student who has successfully completed the internship program
  • Attend a weekly ASM committee meeting
  • Attend a weekly intern class in the Student Activity Center on Fridays, 2:00 – 3:15PM
  • Spend 3 hours/week in the ASM office, working on their project, preparing for meetings, and getting advice from ASM staff and student leaders
  • Work 3-6 hours/week on their project: lobbying politicians, organizing other students, attending meetings
  • Attend a weekend training session at the start of the semester

Apply for the Intern Program

Does this sound like a good fit for you? We will start recruiting for the Fall 2024 program in the late summer. You can submit an application at any time to be considered. If you have questions, or if you would like to set up a meeting to learn more about our program, please contact:

Kelly Krein, kelly.krein@wisc.edu, (608) 265-6426.

Apply Now!