Experiential learning is a cornerstone of the School of Public Policy, and our alumni and community are key to making it thrive.
As part of the MPP degree, graduate students step out of the classroom and apply their knowledge and skills to real-world challenges. Each student completes a year-long project in collaboration with an external client. Students work with a partnering organization to identify a pressing policy issue, scope and design a project, and conduct research and analysis to deliver actionable recommendations. By partnering with the School, alumni and their organizations benefit from high-quality analysis and recommendations that support their missions while shaping a transformative learning experience for students.
Project partners include federal, state and local governments and agencies, nonprofits of all sizes and issue-areas, and international and private sector organizations.
Why Partner with Us?
The project course program is where classroom learning meets real-world problem solving. By partnering with our Master of Public Policy students, organizations gain fresh perspectives, rigorous analysis and actionable recommendations, while helping prepare the next generation of public policy leaders. For our students, the project course is a signature experiential learning opportunity—one that equips them with hands-on experience tackling meaningful challenges in partnership with professionals in the field.
Benefits for Partners
Our students bring a strong foundation in policy analysis and a commitment to public service. They are well-equipped to take on projects that require rigorous research, careful evaluation and practical recommendations.
Examples of past projects include:
- Policy analysis and research syntheses
- Process and program evaluations (formative and summative)
- Performance measure development and evaluation design
- Cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness analyses
- Feasibility studies for program creation, expansion or replication
- Strategic assessments and planning support
- Governance and organizational reviews
- Fundraising and resource assessments
Partners gain fresh insights, in-depth analysis and recommendations that can directly inform strategy and decision-making. Typical final deliverables of the project include a thorough technical paper, a policy brief/memo and a slide deck that students present to project partners and stakeholders at the end of the spring semester (April / May). There is scope for customizing deliverables based on client needs and preferences, as the primary goal of the project is to serve the partner client.
Partner Commitments and Requirements
Once a student is matched with a partner, they will work together to define the project scope and deliverables. In October, students, faculty and partners formalize a scope of work that outlines goals, resources, deliverables and a timeline.
Throughout the academic year, students stay in regular communication with their partners to ensure alignment and progress. Partners are expected to provide a client point of contact with whom the student will be in regular contact through the course of the project. Given the learning objectives of the course, we also expect clients to provide semi-regular feedback to the students.
Get Involved
We invite alumni and their organizations to join us. Together, we can create learning experiences that matter for students, for alum’s organizations and for the future of public policy. Potential partners are considered on an ongoing basis to ensure alignment of project needs, student interests and faculty guidance. Alumni and organizations can share their interest in participating as a project partner by filling out the brief form below.