Spring 2026 Program Calendar

See the below dates and deadlines for this cohort of participants. Once accepted, students are invited to attend all of the below workshops. All professional development workshops and resources are designed for your success! We recommend that you attend as many of the sessions as you are able. If you cannot attend, please let us know by emailing the Washington Program at washingtonprogram@ucdavis.edu.

Click the following link to see the current program calendar in Google Calendar Format: Spring 2026 Calendar of Events.

Jump down to Program Calendar Specifics

* = Mandatory Deadline or Event

Phase 1: Getting Started (Nov 2025 - Jan 2026)

Phase 2: Securing Your Internship (Feb 2026 - Mar 2026)

Phase 3: Your Quarter in D.C. (March - June 2026)

HOUSING CONTRACT

BEFORE YOU BEGIN: Do not begin the housing contract process without first receiving a program acceptance email.

  • Deadline: Monday, November 17, 2025, at 12:00 PM (Noon). Please note that late admit students will have a different housing contract deadline which will be indicated on their acceptance letter.
  • Information: To officially secure your participation and housing, you must complete the housing contract. The process includes several steps, so allocate enough time to complete it accurately. There is no payment required at the time you sign the contract.
  • Instructions can be found at the following page: Housing Contract Instructions.

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MANDATORY WELCOME EVENT

  • Date and Time: Monday, November 17, 2025, from 6:00-7:30 PM.
  • Location: The Grove, Room 1310.
  • Information: Join us for an introduction to the Washington Program. You will meet staff members and mingle with your cohort while learning about program resources and next steps. This is a casual event.

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MANDATORY ADVISING FORMS

  • Deadline: Please complete the advising forms in the Participant Tracking System (PTS) prior to signing up for your mandatory advising appointment.
  • Information: Filling out these forms is essential, as it will help our team identify relevant internship opportunities tailored to your interests and provide you with better guidance. 

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SCHEDULE YOUR MANDATORY ADVISING SESSION

  • Information: All students are required to sign up for, and attend, an advising appointment with Washington Program Manager, Chad Higgs. Prior to signing up, You should have already:
    • Signed your housing contract.
    • Completed and signed the above mandatory advising forms. If you sign up for an appointment without completing the forms, your request will be cancelled.
  • How to Sign-up: After you have been accepted into the program, you will be able to sign up for your mandatory advising session at the following link: Mandatory Advising Meeting Sign-up.

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EARLY START RESUME AND COVER LETTER WORKSHOP

  • Dates and Times: Wednesday, November 19, 2025, 3:10-6:00 PM.
  • Location: 1360, The Grove.

  • Information: This EARLY START session covers the fundamentals of resume and cover letter writing. If you already have a resume and/or cover letter, you should come ready to make edits. If you cannot attend (or do not wish to), another session of both workshops will be held during the winter quarter (see below dates and times). 

    If you are unsure where to begin, this will be the perfect opportunity to get some ideas and get started! After attending, you should make revisions and improvements to your documents in accordance with the content covered in this workshop. All students are expected to submit edited versions of their resume and cover letter for staff review. See the below deadline for document submission. 

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CLOSURE FOR WINTER BREAK

  • Closure Dates: UC Davis Washington Program offices will be physically closed from Friday, December 12, 2025, through Sunday, January 4, 2026.
  • Remote Availability: Staff can be reached via email for Zoom appointments from Friday, December 12, 2025, through Friday, December 19, 2025. To schedule an appointment, email the Washington Program at washingtonprogram@ucdavis.edu.
  • Hard Closure: Staff will be unavailable and will not be checking email or holding appointments from Monday, December 22, 2025, through Sunday, January 4, 2026.
  • Return Date: We will return to regular hours on Monday, January 5, 2026.

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RESUME WORKSHOP

  • Dates and Times:
    • Wednesday, January 7, 2026, 4:10-6:00 PM.
    • Thursday, January 8, 2026, 4:10-6:00 PM.
  • Location: 1360, The Grove.

  • Information: This session covers the fundamentals of resume writing. If you already have a resume, you should come ready to make edits. If you are unsure where to begin, this will be the perfect opportunity to get some ideas and get started! After attending, you should make revisions and improvements to your resume.

    Students who attended the EARLY START Resume and Cover Letter Workshop in November in its entirety are not required to attend this session.

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COVER LETTER WORKSHOP

  • Dates and Times:
    • Tuesday, January 14, 2026, 4:10-6:00 PM.
    • Wednesday, January 15, 2026, 4:10-6:00 PM.
  • Location: 1360, The Grove.

  • Information: This session covers the fundamentals of cover letter writing. This will be the perfect opportunity to get some ideas and get started! After attending, you should make revisions and improvements to your cover letter. All students are expected to submit edited versions of their resume and cover letter for staff review. See the deadline for document submission.

    Students who attended the EARLY START Resume and Cover Letter Workshop in November in its entirety are not required to attend this session.

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RESUME AND COVER LETTER FIRST DRAFTS DUE

  • Deadline: Thursday, January 15, 2026, at 11:59 PM.
  • Instructions:
    • Your first resume and cover letter versions must be uploaded as Word Docs in your Participant Tracking System (PTS) dashboard.
    • Resumes should follow the format from workshop materials as closely as possible.
    • You should upload your documents as two separate, editable Word Document email attachments.
    • PTS will only accept .doc or .docx files. Please do not email the Program with your documents unless otherwise instructed.
  • Revisions: Your revised resumes and cover letters will be due within 3-4 business days from the date you receive reviewed documents from staff. You may visit the office during drop-in hours to go over your resume in person with your assigned peer advisor.

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INTERNSHIP SEARCH WORKSHOP

  • Dates and Times:
    • Wednesday, January 20, 2026, 4:10-6:00 PM.
    • Thursday, January 21, 2026, 4:10-6:00 PM.
  • Location: 1360, The Grove.
  • Information: These workshops offer tips and tricks to maximize your time when searching for internships in D.C. Topics covered include:
    • Improving your resume and cover letter.
    • Interview tips and advice.
    • Tools for your search.
    • Internship Advising Team.

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INTERVIEW SKILLS WORKSHOP

  • Dates and Times:
    • Wednesday, January 28, 2026, 4:10-6:00 PM.
    • Thursday, January 29, 2026, 4:10-6:00 PM.
  • Location: 1360, The Grove.
  • Information: Learn the "Do's" and "Don'ts" of interviews, how to reduce interview anxiety, and how to answer challenging questions.

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PROFESSIONALISM FOR INTERNS WORKSHOP

  • Dates and Times:
    • Wednesday, February 4, 2026, 4:10-6:00 PM.
    • Thursday, February 5, 2026, 4:10-6:00 PM.
  • Location: 1360, The Grove.
  • Information: This session equips you with skills to thrive in D.C.'s competitive internship environment. Key areas include Building a Professional Brand, Networking Strategies, Workplace Communication, and Professional Image.

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FIRST 10 APPS

  • Deadline: Sunday, February 15, 2026 at 11:59pm
  • Instructions: Complete the "First 10 Internship Applications" form in your Participant Tracking System (PTS) prior to the above deadline. You may fill this out as you go. All participants have access to PTS, however, if you are unable to sign in, please email the Washington Program.

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HOUSING PREFERENCE FORM

  • Final Deadline: To be announced.
  • Instructions: This form will be available on your "To-Do List" in your my.ucdc.edu account and must be completed by the deadline. Late submissions will not be accepted.

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UCDC COURSE ENROLLMENT

  • Enrollment Begins: To be announced.
  • Instructions: Registration opens for UCDC courses. Everyone must enroll in a Core Seminar and may enroll in an optional Seminar. Instructions for enrollment will be provided to you both by email and within your "To-Do List" in your my.ucdc.edu account.

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FIRST HOUSING PAYMENT

  • Deadline: Sunday, March 15, 2026.
  • Instructions: You may either pay your housing costs on MyBill or in-person at the Cashier's Office. See the following link for additional payment information including deadlines and payment amounts: Housing Payment Schedule.

    Note: If you choose to pay in person. you must submit your payment along with a Housing Payment Identifier Form so that the Cashier's Office will know to what expense they should allocate your payment. Click here for the Housing Payment Identifier Form.

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UCDC CENTER CHECK-IN

  • Date and Time: Move-in will occur on Friday, March 27 and Saturday, March 28, 2026. Specific check-in times to be announced.
  • Instructions: Please ensure your flight and transportation arrangements allow you to arrive during these times. If this is not possible, please check with program staff prior to purchasing your flight.

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MANDATORY RESIDENTIAL ACADEMIC ORIENTATION

  • Date: Saturday, March 28 and Sunday, March 29, 2026. Specific times to be announced.
  • Information: UCDC Program staff will hold a mandatory orientation for all students.

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FIRST DAY OF INTERNSHIP

  • Date: Monday, March 30, 2026.

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SECOND HOUSING PAYMENT

  • Deadline: Wednesday, April 15, 2026.
  • Instructions: You may either pay your housing costs on MyBill or in-person at the Cashier's Office. See the following link for additional payment information including deadlines and payment amounts: Housing Payment Schedule.

    Note: If you choose to pay in person. you must submit your payment along with a Housing Payment Identifier Form so that the Cashier's Office will know to what expense they should allocate your payment. Click here for the Housing Payment Identifier Form.

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FINAL HOUSING PAYMENT DEADLINE

  • Deadline: Friday, May 15, 2026.
  • Instructions: You may either pay your housing costs on MyBill or in-person at the Cashier's Office. See the following link for additional payment information including deadlines and payment amounts: Housing Payment Schedule.

    Note: If you choose to pay in person. you must submit your payment along with a Housing Payment Identifier Form so that the Cashier's Office will know to what expense they should allocate your payment. Click here for the Housing Payment Identifier Form.

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LAST DAY OF INTERNSHIP

  • Date: Friday, June 5, 2026.

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RETURN FROM DC

  • Checkout Date and Time: You must check out and leave the UC Washington Center by 1:00 PM on Saturday, June 6, 2026.
  • Instructions: Plan your departure accordingly as you will not have access to the center or its facilities after 1:00 PM sharp. You may be fined for a late departure unless you have pre-approved an extended stay and have signed a revised housing contract.

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