Some say it is impossible to make government more efficient and less expensive. We believe otherwise . The E-Government program is a unique opportunity for the nation's best graduate students from a variety of programs to become part of the revolution in electronic government. Spend this coming summer working for public agencies and associations on electronic government and service transformation projects.

BACKGROUND

The E-Government program recruited its inaugural class in 2006 and is the only national internship of its type. The program recognizes that governments across America face a long term funding crisis of far-reaching and, seemingly, unending dimensions. Policy-level decision makers have the choice of cutting programs or raising revenues through fees, assessments, and taxes. The former effort is nasty; the latter is politically very unpopular. There is another approach to the problem: Leverage the promise of electronic government and its potential to reduce costs, expand access, and improve service.

Electronic government can deliver "found money" from base budgets by pursuing new ways of doing the public's business that remove the labor, facilities, and materiel costs that are embedded in the physical delivery model of government that has been with us since the 19th Century. Add in the fact that there is a New Wired Majority of Americans who are regularly online and the opportunity is all the more compelling.

The program was developed in partnership with the Center for Digital Government. It is hosted by the Hatfield School of Government at Portland State University.

TARGETED MAJORS

This program is available to current graduate students majoring in public affairs, public policy, and public administration. Applicants are encouraged from other pertinent majors: business administration (epecially marketing), computer science and systems management, industrial engineering or process management, public relations and communications, graphic arts and communication design, change management and organizational development, and consulting.

LOCATION OF PLACEMENTS

Placements are anticipated with sponsors in Oregon and, possibly, other Western States.