AEA GRADUATE EDUCATION DIVERSITY INTERNSHIP PROGRAM (GEDI)
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. How are the seminars, travel and lodging coordinated?
The American Evaluation Association office coordinates the purchase of plane tickets and shared hotel reservations and prepays for each so that the interns need not have this out of pocket expense.

2. How many students are accepted into program each year?
Cohorts have ranged from 4 to 10 students. We anticipate a cohort of 6-8 for the 2012-2013 academic year.

3. How long is the program?
The program is 10 months long, beginning in September with an orientation training and culminating at the end of the following June, although some materials may be completed after June 30th in some cases.

4. What financial assistance does the GEDI program offer?
Major travel expenses (shared hotel and airfare) to the program-related seminars and conference are covered and a stipend of $8,000 is provided. Interns are responsible for other other travel and food costs.

5. Does my academic advisor have to be an evaluator or member of AEA?
No, your academic advisor does not have to be an evaluator or member of the American Evaluation Association (AEA). Your advisor has to be someone from your institution who is supportive of your being in the internship and can help you negotiate a way to integrate your internship work into your academic program and maybe arrange for you to get credit for your internship work.

6. What should the reference letter from my advisor include?
The reference letter from your advisor should attest to your capabilities that make you a good candidate for the program, express the advisor’s support and confidence in your being a part of this internship and her or his willingness to support you through the process.

7. I just got accepted into a graduate program and will be starting in the fall, can I still apply for the program?
No. You should wait for a subsequent year to apply. We view students in their second or third year as ideal for the internship program. Participating in the internship program at this point of your study is most flexible for coordinating coursework with internship work. Also, students are more apt to explore the possibility of transferring their internship projects to later publications or dissertation study. No matter what stage you are in your program, you and your advisor will have to work together to coordinate both your degree program and internship study. Entering the internship too early or late in your graduate study may be very taxing. Weigh out your schedule and responsibilities to see if you have enough time for the internship program. Working with your advisor, you may be able to receive academic credit for the internship, perhaps as an independent study toward your credit requirements.

8. I am an international student, may I apply for the GEDI program?
If you are studying at an institution in the United States, and reside in the United States, you may apply for the GEDI program as long as you are eligible to work for pay in the United States, outside of an academic institution, at the time of application. You will be asked to provide proof of work eligibility at the time of application. You may not apply pending approval of a work visa or if your eligibility is contingent upon acceptance into this program.

9 Do I need to have a placement site at the time of application?
No. The GEDI program has a number of pre-identified placement sites plus two open placements for which the GEDI staff will work with students to identify an appropriate site.

10. How may I learn more and apply?
The call for applications is made available in May and this year's application due date is Thursday, June 21, 2012. Access this year's call by clicking here.

If you have further questions, please do not hesitate to contact program liaison John LaVelle via email gedi@eval.org for questions about the program.