As the General Assembly gathers for its spring session, the Virginia Capitol Semester program has reached a new high. This year, 68 students are working inside legislative offices across the Virginia Capitol. This is the largest group in the program’s history and a clear sign of growing interest in public service learning.
The program is run by the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University. It allows students to take part in the lawmaking process while the legislature is in session. Instead of learning only from textbooks, students work directly with lawmakers and staff as real policy debates unfold.
This spring, interns are placed in 64 offices across state government. These include 19 offices in the Senate and 44 offices in the House of Delegates. For the first time, the program has also placed two interns in the office of the lieutenant governor. This expansion marks an important step for the program and gives students a wider view of how state leadership works.
Each student in the program receives a stipend of $1,250. Together, this adds up to an $85,000 investment in student learning and public service. The funding helps make the program open to students from different backgrounds. It also supports full-time work during a demanding legislative session.
Nearly all students in the Spring 2026 group are enrolled at Virginia Commonwealth University. One student from Appalachian State University is also taking part. This mix shows that the program is gaining attention beyond its home campus.
Most of the students are in the later years of their college studies. Juniors make up just over 60 percent of the group. Seniors account for nearly 34 percent. The average grade point average for the cohort is 3.45, showing strong academic performance across the board.
Political science and criminal justice are the most common fields of study among the interns. However, the group also includes students from many other majors. These include homeland security, emergency preparedness, international studies, urban and regional studies, computer science, and public relations. These fields often connect closely with state policy work, especially as technology and public safety issues grow in importance.
Students in the program come from more than 40 communities across Virginia and the wider Mid-Atlantic region. Participants represent areas such as Richmond, Hampton Roads, Northern Virginia, Central Virginia, and Southwest Virginia. This wide geographic spread brings many local views into the Capitol.
The group also reflects the diversity of a large public university. Students come from many racial and ethnic backgrounds. Women make up nearly two-thirds of the interns this spring. Program leaders say this diversity strengthens discussions and helps offices better understand the people they serve.
Capitol Semester interns work full time during the General Assembly session. Their duties vary by office but often include research on proposed laws, helping respond to messages from residents, and supporting committee meetings. Many students also attend hearings and floor sessions to watch lawmakers debate and vote on bills.
By working inside the Capitol, students see how ideas become laws. They learn how offices balance policy goals, public needs, and time limits. This real-world experience helps students build skills that are hard to gain in a classroom setting.
Program administrators say the record-sized Spring 2026 group shows steady student interest in learning through service. They also note that early exposure to government work can guide students toward careers in public service, law, policy analysis, and community leadership.
As the session moves forward, the students will continue to play active roles behind the scenes. Their work supports lawmakers while giving the next generation a close look at how state government functions. The record-breaking semester highlights the growing value of hands-on education in shaping future leaders.
