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History of the GPSI Student Association

The GPSI program has been providing graduate students  internships in state government since 1974. Six years ago,  GPSI students felt that there was need for changes in the  GPSI program.Six years ago, the GPSI  Student Association  was formed.The students met together in  the PAC  cafeteria  before thier seminar classes. These  informal  meetings were  an opportunity to discuss fresh ideas.

Azhena Abraham (MPA, Certification in Labor Relations) was a  member of the first “meetings.” She met with IEPA Interns  Raegan Hennemann and Brian Casey, the faculty advisor,  Hillary Frost Kumpf and other GPSI students. The topics  discussed were the use of the professional development funds  and the job titles the interns had with their agencies.

In 2001- 2002, Azhena was a GPSI at the Illinois State Police.  Her title, “GPSI Intern,” was one of the topics discussed in the  meetings. The GPSIs wanted to have a professional title to go  along with the professional position in which they were placed.  They hypothesized that an applicable title would look better in  a resume and better suit the professional positions they held.  Another topic was the impediments for spending the $300.00  professional development funds. The funds were not being  approved for items that were needed by the students. 

The  diligent GPSIs met in the PAC cafeteria a half an hour  before  their 7:00PM GPSI seminar class to discuss these and  other  topics. The GPSIs eventually voiced their concerns to  the new GPSI program director, Kim Hayden, and  the changes were made. The professional  development  requests were processed and fulfulled and the GPSI  titles at  the agencies were eventually changed from “GPSI  Intern” to  job titles that permanent employees in similar position had; the  GPSI-SA was born.

Although the titles changed, the naming was not retroactive.  On Azhena’s resume, she is still not able to put the applicable  job title that she and the other GPSIs fought for. Azhena  wants to remind the current GPSI students that “they had  better not put “GPSI Intern” on their Resumes!”

The GPSI-SA continues to advocate on behalf of the students  and work for the success of its interns and the GPSI program.