What is the College Student Congress?

The College Student Congress is a transformative two-week summer program tailored for undergraduates, meticulously designed to cultivate essential personal character skills vital for future leaders in the realms of public policy, politics, diplomacy, and contemporary leadership. The summer program in public policy selects fifty-one rising college seniors, representing each state and the District of Columbia, to learn about the dynamics of the policy process through an experiential and immersive curriculum. Students engage with lawmakers, academics, government relations experts, policy advisors and other leaders to explore the challenges of formulating comprehensive public policy.

Immersive Public Policy Compromise Experience

A key component of the summer program is the public policy project, administered in partnership with the University of Kentucky’s Martin School of Public Policy and Administration. Through this project, participants will have the opportunity to research and develop a bipartisan solution for a policy challenge currently facing the nation. Previous topics have included healthcare, the national deficit, national security, immigration, criminal justice reform, net neutrality and others.

First, students self-identify and subdivide as leaning more or less towards conservative or liberal ideology on the four topics. Then, students proceed to create a partisan policy proposal for their given topic. This results in a conservative and liberal proposal for each of the topics. The challenge presented to participants is to negotiate, combine elements of their partisan proposals and present a single, bipartisan policy proposal on their topic.

Throughout this process, students are advised by PhD students and hear from experts in order to explore the depths of their unique topics. Students are challenged to interact with peers who hold different beliefs than they do, to civilly and openly engage in a dialogue about their differences, to learn to listen to one another and, ultimately, to come together in the spirit of cooperation in order to achieve progress for the common good. All the while, students develop and hone their leadership, negotiation, communication, and interpersonal skills.

Washington, D.C. Exposure

Additionally, students have the opportunity to travel to Washington, D.C. to see the real public policy process in action. Students meet with politicians, visit government agencies, engage in conversations with private sector players, and explore possible bridges between their academic and professional lives. Previous events in D.C. have included:

• Tour of the U.S. Capitol and U.S. Supreme Court
• Visits to Microsoft, the U.S. Department of State, Hall of States, Congressional Budget Office and other organizations
• Policy presentations to experts at the Bipartisan Policy Center
• Private meetings with the Supreme Court Clerk and other Congressional leaders
• Round-tables with lobbyists, legislators, and Capitol Hill staffers
• The Henry Clay Center’s Bourbon Barrel of Compromise Reception and Clay Policy Summit
• Private sessions with renowned journalists and reporters such as CBS News’ Robert Costa and CNN’s Pamela Brown

Connecting with Peers

In addition to the rigorous and exciting academic elements of the summer program in public policy, many students find the opportunities to participate in team-building, leadership, and social activities invaluable. Students might enjoy an educational trip to Henry Clay’s Ashland Estate or the Kentucky Derby Museum. Or a laid-back tour of Woodford Reserve Distillery or West Sixth Brewing. Moreover, students participate in a leadership workshop designed for current elected officials at the national headquarters of the Council of State Governments. Over the course of the two-week summer program, students create friendships and lasting bonds with diverse peers from across the country.

When and Where is the College Student Congress?

The 2025 College Student Congress will take place in Lexington, Kentucky, and Washington, D.C., from Monday, May 19th – Friday, May 30th, 2025. The 2025 application is currently open (available below) and will close on January 15, 2025. Applicants will be notified of decisions by early February.

The summer program in public policy is hosted on the campuses of the University of Kentucky in Lexington and American University in D.C.. Students will be housed in residential dormitories.

Who Should Apply?

The College Student Congress accepts fifty-one exceptional rising college seniors (juniors in the 2024-2025 school year) through a competitive application and selection process. One student from each state and the District of Columbia will be selected to attend the summer program. Students may represent either their home state or the state in which they attend school. Some qualities of  successful applicants are listed below, but are by no means requirements for admission.

• Record of academic excellence, as exemplified by GPA and academic honors
• Participation in relevant coursework, such as political science, public policy, economics, international studies, history, conservation, social work, etc.
• Interest in pursuing a career in public service
• Relevant internships, work or volunteer experience
• Commitment to leadership and service, as exemplified by student involvement
• Dedication to learning and participation, and the ability to interact respectfully and openly with peers
• Strong desire and motivation for attendance, as exemplified by required application essay

Why Apply?

If you firmly believe in the power of individuals possessing robust character and the requisite skills to enact meaningful change within the public policy sector, this program is tailor-made for you.

The summer program in public policy is ideal for undergraduates looking for a way to supplement their internship experience, or for those who cannot afford a more expensive program. Alumni cite the College Student Congress as transformational in their outlook, setting many on paths of leadership and service. They best describe their experiences in their own words:

“The biggest strength in this program lies in bringing together 50 students from so many different backgrounds. It challenges us to rethink how we make relationships and the notion that we can only be friends with those who hold the same opinions as ourselves.”

“It was interesting to realize that when we get to the bottom of certain issues, there are only minute differences that separate us on policies, and if we are open to talking about them we realize we’re not as polarized as we previously believed!”

“The Student Congress will always be a special week to me. Not just because I met some of my closest friends there, but because for a week, a group of people came together and raised the bar for public discourse in our country.”

What is the Cost of the Summer Program?

There is NO cost to apply for or attend the College Student Congress. The Henry Clay Center covers all program-related expenses including meals, accommodations, program fees, and airfare. We believe that every student, regardless of background or circumstance, should have an equal opportunity to participate in our program. As a result, and thanks to our generous supporters, sponsors and foundations, we are able to provide full scholarships to all students.

Frequently Asked Questions

Applications for the 2025 College Student Congress are now open, with a deadline of January 15, 2025. All applicants will be notified of their decisions by early to mid-February 2025. If you have any questions about the College Student Congress, please reach out to Abby Didawick, Director of Operations and Programs, at adidawick@henryclaycenter.org.