Charles B. Rangel Summer Enrichment Program

Website: Rangel Summer Enrichment Program

Description

The Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Summer Enrichment Program is a six-week summer program designed to provide undergraduate students with a deeper appreciation of current issues and trends in international affairs, a greater understanding of career opportunities in international affairs, and the enhanced knowledge and skills to pursue such careers. The Program usually selects participants (known as “Rangel Scholars”) each year from universities throughout the United States. This program encourages the application of members of minority groups historically underrepresented in the Foreign Service, women, and those with financial need. Students live at Howard University, attend classes, and participate in a variety of programs with foreign affairs professionals at Howard and at diverse locations around Washington, DC.

The Program has two major components. First, in order to enhance participants’ academic preparation to work in international affairs, the Program provides two courses and a seminar that focuses on enhancing knowledge and skills related to U.S. foreign policy, economics, and writing. In addition, in order to provide greater insight into the foreign policy-making process and international affairs careers, the Rangel Program introduces the participants to a wide range of government and non-government professionals who work on global issues and also arranges visits to various institutions involved in international affairs. The Program also helps students explore graduate school, scholarship, fellowship, internship, and professional options in international affairs.

The Program covers the costs for tuition, travel, housing, and two meals per day. It also provides a stipend of $3,300.

Eligibility
  • Applicants must be full-time undergraduate students, with at least sophomore status on the date of the application deadline.
  • Applicants must have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale at the time of application.
  • Applicants must be a U.S. citizen.

The Rangel Summer Program is open to students with a wide variety of majors, as long as they have an interest in international affairs. There is no requirement for a specific major. In the past, we have had successful participants with majors as diverse as political science and art history, economics and biology, business and English.

Student Type
  • sophomore
  • junior
  • senior
Citizen Type
  • US Citizen
Procedure

A complete online application includes the following:

  • Completed sections with background information on the applicant, including work and volunteer experiences, international experiences, and honors and awards.
  • An interest statement (in 500 words or less) that explains the applicant’s interest in international affairs and how this program will assist him/her in pursuing this interest
  • Uploaded documents, including the following: (Note: Word or PDF documents are acceptable. If you do not have PDF conversion software on your computer, please check free online services. Please ensure scanned copies can be easily read.)
  • Transcript(s) from all colleges or universities that the applicant has attended with grades, GPAs, and coursework. An official transcript is best; a student copy is acceptable if it is in the format of an official transcript.
  • Proof of full-time registration for the awarded quarter, including (choose ONE):
    • An unofficial or official transcript that shows courses listed for Spring 2021
    • Screenshots or pdf file from your student portal that show courses registered for Spring 2021
    • For study abroad programs, enclose a copy of your award/acceptation letter

Please be sure your name and college/university are listed on all materials.

  • Proof of U.S. citizenship, including (choose one)
    • Birth certificate
    • Certificate of U.S. citizenship
    • U.S. passport
      * Note: If you use a birth certificate, please note that if you are selected, you will need to send us a hard copy of a notarized birth certificate before your final acceptance. Those using passports or certificates of citizenship will have to bring originals to show at the start of the program.*Note: Social Security cards and driver’s licenses are not proof of citizenship and will not be sufficient.
  • Three letters of recommendation
    • Two from faculty members
    • One from a community leader who can comment on the applicant’s non-academic accomplishments and his/her potential as an emerging professional.
    • Additional recommendation letters will not be considered.
    • Once an applicant has added recommenders’ contacts to the application form, an automatic email will be sent to each recommender. It may take a few hours for the email to be sent to the recommender. Recommenders should check their spam folders if they’ve not received a notification.
      * Note: Students must first save the “Personal Profile” page of their application before they can save the recommendation section of the application. Applicants can return to their application at any time before the deadline to update any portion of their application.
  • Note: If selected as a Rangel Scholar, applicants will be required to send official transcripts, forms to register for university courses (provided by the Rangel Program), a medical form with immunization information (provided by the Rangel Program), and other required documents.

Selection Process

A panel of individuals with experience in foreign affairs and academia evaluates candidates’ applications. The Rangel Programs will strive to complete the selection process and make offers by the end of March 2021. Applicants will be notified of the results by email soon thereafter.

History

The Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Program is a unique partnership between Howard University and the U.S. Department of State, with strong support from the U.S. Congress. Announced in 2002 by Secretary of State Colin Powell, Congressman Charles B. Rangel and Howard University President H. Patrick Swygert, its goals are to promote greater diversity and excellence in the U.S. Foreign Service. This program was built upon the Principles of Cooperation signed between the Department of State and Howard University in December 2000. Howard University named this program to honor Congressman Rangel for his longstanding and vocal support for showing the world the diversity that is the strength of America, as well as his example of global leadership.

The program is managed by the Ralph J. Bunche International Affairs Center at Howard University and is funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of State. In the early years of the program, the U.S. Congress provided an appropriation for the program, and its early operations were supported by the Department of State and generous contributions by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the Una Chapman Cox Foundation.

Contact Information

rangelprogram@howard.edu