Guarini Institute

The Ambassadors’ Program at Saint Peter’s College consists of a Visiting Ambassadors’ Colloquium that brings ambassadors to the campus for a “diplomatic dialogue,” a High School Model UN that hosts delegates from New Jersey and Metro New York, an off-site College UN in which SPC students and those from other institutions of higher learning participate, and opportunities for SPC faculty and students to attend conferences at and utilize the resources of the United Nations.

UN Programs

High School Model UN

The Saint Peter's College High School Model United Nations (SPCSHMUN), which just recently concluded its nineteenth conference, is an annual two-day event in which high school students and their faculty advisors are invited to participate in a simulation of the real United Nations.

About 250 student delegates from 14 New Jersey high schools participated at this year's conference, debating a variety of topics, including the reform of voting procedures in the International Monetary Fund, the global security implications of fragile states, changing social institutions to improve the status of women in developing countries, the protection of ethnic and racial minorities, alleviating poverty in post-conflict situations, and the right to adequate health care. Student delegates, in their roles as official government representatives from the countries represented at the conference, debated these and other agenda topics in the various committees simulated at the conference.

College Model UN

A unique and exciting part of the political science curriculum, the Harvard Model U.N. is a component of one of the International Politics courses offered during the Fall semester. Together with delegations of students from colleges and universities in the U.S.A. and Canada, each representing a different U.N. member nation, a delegation of students from Saint Peter’s College participates in a four-day mock United Nations session, debating various topics and defending the positions of the nation it is assigned.

The Model U.N. permits the student to gain first-hand experience at the processes of conference diplomacy and negotiation that characterize international politics. Because the course selected to include the Model U.N. changes every year, interested students are able to participate more than once in this unique educational experience.

Visiting Ambassadors

The Visiting Ambassadors’ Colloquium invites United Nations ambassadors to Saint Peter’s to discuss matters of interest to the United Nations and to acquaint attendees, typically faculty, administrators and Honors students, with the ambassador’s country. The Colloquium opens with a presentation by the ambassador followed by a lively exchange of ideas by all in attendance.

NGO Activities

United Nations/Non-Governmental Organizations (UN/NGO) Membership:  Saint Peter's College has maintained NGO status at the United Nations for ten years through its Department of Public Information (DPI). In conjunction with associated NGO’s, DPI seeks to reach the world at large in order to help people better understand the aims and work of the United Nations. DPI accomplishes this goal by means of weekly NGO briefings, communication workshops, meetings and conferences.

Washington Center

The Saint Peter’s College Washington Center Internship Program offers qualified students the opportunity to work full-time as unpaid interns in programs related to their majors in Washington, D.C. Each internship is a full-time supervised work experience in the nation's capital and is supplemented by a weekly academic seminar and lectures by prominent leaders from both the public and private sectors. Internships are available for the fall, spring, or summer terms of the sophomore, junior, or senior years. Nine to fifteen credits may be earned for the experience.

To be eligible to participate, students must possess a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.75 and should have already completed a full academic year at SPC. Grades for the internship and weekly seminar are recommended by the Washington Center and the agency supervisor, and are assigned by Saint Peter's College faculty. Both the credits and grades earned are recorded on the Saint Peter’s College transcript. However, grades from the Washington Center are not calculated in the Saint Peter's College grade point average.

Costs for the Washington Center Internship Program are comparable to those for attending Saint Peter’s College, and scholarships are available. Students interested in participating in the program should contact Professor Alain Sanders in the Department of Political Science for more information about the program, and for filing and processing their application.

Guarini Series Lecture

Established in 1994 by former New Jersey Congressman Frank Guarini, the Guarini Center for Governmental Affairs aims to provide a non-partisan forum for discussion of key public policy issues among Saint Peter’s students. The Center sponsors lectures and programs throughout the academic year to raise awareness, promote critical thinking, debate and encourage careers in public service.