ESU Backup Insider

East Stroudsburg University student Mary Anne Batiz is one of 11 students from universities within the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education are participating this Fall in The Harrisburg Internship Semester (THIS), a program that offers invaluable firsthand experience in state government. Batiz, a senior majoring in criminal justice and sociology from Bethlehem, Pa., is interning in the office of state Rep. Jordan Harris, the House Democratic Caucus Whip.

Students enrolled in the program earn 15 credits toward any major as they work at the state Capitol, an experience that can be a springboard into employment or public service. Students also receive a $3,500 stipend to assist with living expenses while they reside in the Harrisburg region.

“A critical part of the State System’s mission is to prepare students to be leaders in their communities and the Commonwealth,” State System Chancellor Dan Greenstein said. “Students who participate in THIS receive an unforgettable experience, making a direct contribution to workings of state government. I hope in the course of this semester these 10 students have the opportunity to learn how in the future they can contribute to Pennsylvania’s success.”

Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education oversees 14 four-year public universities educating more than 90,000 students. The State System offers more than 2,300 degrees and certificates in more than 530 academic areas. The State System universities are Bloomsburg, California, Cheyney, Clarion, East Stroudsburg, Edinboro, Indiana, Kutztown, Lock Haven, Mansfield, Millersville, Shippensburg, Slippery Rock and West Chester Universities of Pennsylvania.