KIP Spring 2027 - Campus Freedom Intern - The American Council of Trustees and Alumni

Job Description

Job Description

The Koch Internship Program (KIP) is a paid experiential learning program run by Stand Together Fellowships that offers professional development, leadership training, and meaningful work experience at non-profits tackling some of our nation's most pressing policy challenges all over the United States. Early-career professionals including undergraduate/graduate/law students and recent graduates are encouraged to apply. Eligible candidates will be geographically located in and authorized to work in the United States through the duration of the program. Successful candidates will interview with both our non-profit partner organizations and Stand Together Fellowships staff, so we strongly encourage you to begin the admissions process early!

The American Council of Trustees and Alumni (ACTA) is an independent, nonprofit organization committed to academic freedom, academic excellence, and accountability at America’s colleges and universities. Launched in 1995, we are the only organization that works with trustees, alumni, donors, policymakers, and education leaders across the United States to support liberal arts education, uphold high academic standards, safeguard the free exchange of ideas on campus, and ensure that the next generation receives a high-quality college education at an affordable price.

The Campus Freedom Intern advances ACTA’s mission of higher education reform by supporting efforts to help higher education leaders and the public understand the importance of free expression and view point diversity in the academy; research best-practices, surveys, and other reports on issues related to academic freedom; and effect positive change to improve the conditions for free expression and viewpoint diversity on American campuses.

The CampusFreedom Intern will report to ACTA’s Paul & Karen Levy Fellow in Campus Freedom. This is envisioned as a Washington, DC-based position but a hybrid arrangement is possible.

The CampusFreedom Intern must approach these tasks as an entrepreneurial enterprise, requiring an understanding of and proactive approach to ACTA’s program activities. He or she is expected to be personable, dynamic, well organized, highly motivated, and principled. The highest degree of personal responsibility, accountability, and honesty is expected.

Specifically, the Campus Freedom intern will:

• Assist the CFI team with analyzing academic policies regarding free speech, academic freedom, and diversity of thought on college and university campuses. 
• Provide research support for reports on specific topics related to the policy recommendations in the ACTA Gold Standard and other issues related to campus freedom. 
• Assist the CFI team in updating universities on the website using the ACTA Gold Standard for Freedom of Expression™.
• Provide research and writing support for the Paul & Karen Levy Fellow in Campus Freedom.
• Assist with letters and statements responding to campus freedom issues as they arise.
• Monitor higher ed news and keep the CFI team informed of developments pertaining to our work. 

Stand Together Fellowships pays participants a stipend of either $7,500 for full-time participants working approximately 32 hours per week at the partner organization, or $5,500 for part-time participants working approximately 24 hours per week at the partner organization. Attending the entirety of the online and on-site KIP programming is required for both full and part-time participants. 

Stand Together Fellowships believes that diversity in experiences, perspectives, knowledge and ideas fuels creativity, broadens knowledge, and helps drive success. Our admissions office treats all program participants and applicants with honesty, dignity, respect and sensitivity. We welcome all qualified applicants regardless of color, race, religion, religious creed, sex, gender or gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship, ethnicity, ancestry, age, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy (including medical needs which may arise from pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), military and veteran status, genetic information, marital or familial status, political affiliation, or any other legally recognized protected basis under federal, state or local laws, regulations or ordinances. 

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.