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The Policy Program is a student-run think-tank allowing students to create advocacy groups on a specific policy area. Groups conduct research and produce professional quality products (policy papers, model legislation, and op-eds) on their issue. Past groups have presented their ideas to key decision makers, including Cabinet Secretaries and US Senators, and have seen their ideas implemented on a range of issues. The program allows you to take your ideas and knowledge beyond the walls of the IOP by making substantive contributions to the most pressing policy issues of the day.

Student members of the IOP's Policy Group program have released a new policy report on electing women at the state-level, “Women in Politics.”  You can read the report here.

Current groups include:

 
African Policy Group: Tired of hearing just the problems with Africa? Then help to be part of the solution. Join the African Policy Group as we work with Dr. Calestous Juma in researching and writing policy on improving infrastructure in West Africa through technology, improved government efficiency, and NGO's. No background in Africa is required and all are welcome. Please contact Victor Ojukwu, Ablorde Ashigbi, or Gloria Cheche for more information.

Education Policy Group: The education policy group has focused on two issues: civic education on a national level and charter schools in Massachusetts.  In the field of civic education, the group has written recommendations on how best to reinvigorate civic education through federal institutional support. In our work on charter schools, we've explored the question of the state's cap on charter schools, as well as the viability of different types of charters.  We're always open to new ideas and would love to have you on board! Please contact Jonathan Gould to learn more.

Energy Policy Group: The Energy Policy Group is developing and writing recommendations for comprehensive national electricity policy reform targeting federal lawmakers, agencies, and regulators. Subgroups are designing large scale financial mechanisms (carbon tax/cap and auction), structuring incentives for research and innovation, fixing the wholesale and retail energy trading markets, bringing the electric grid into the 21st century, and encouraging energy efficiency and conservation. We are in the writing phase of our policy paper, so please contact Sarah Esty to get involved.

Health Care Policy Group: The Health Care Policy Group is focused on developing a comprehensive legislative policy proposal involving the recent changes in children’s health care and following the election mandate of developing a universal health care plan. After studying the benefits and drawbacks of hybrid universal health care systems in Massachusetts, California, and Iowa, we are now turning our focus to the implications of SCHIP, state mandates for children’s health, school nutrition regulations and much more. For more information, please contact Lisa Rotenstein or Brad Paraszczak.

Student Voting Rights Policy Group: Ballot requests, registrations, looking for envelopes, photocopying ID: this was voting on November 4, 2008. The question for you is this: what do you want voting to look like in 2012? Come join us for an extraordinary semester as we write the policy that could transform college students' election experience. We aim to review state policies, produce case studies, and ultimately write model legislation to make the case for why, and how, states can help college students get to the polls. Best of all: when our work is done, we get to present to the annual conference of the National Association of Secretaries of State. But it can't happen without you. Are you intrigued, enthusiastic, already an advocate, just curious? Put us down on your application, and join! Contact Alice Gissinger anytime.

Tobacco Control Policy Group: In this day and age, everyone knows about the threats of tobacco. Yet 30% of college students are smokers, and over 10% of all college students today will eventually die from smoking related illnesses.  The Tobacco Control Policy Group focuses on exploring the varying tobacco control laws and tobacco taxation by state, and is working on writing a policy paper along with model legislation exploring the possibility of creating a federally mandated state tobacco tax floor. Advised by Professor Allan Brandt, dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, the Tobacco Control Group is a small, close student group advocating a hugely significant public health issue. Email Chris Chen and Mackenzie Lowry with questions!


Contact the Policy Program Chairs for More Information!!!
Chris Chen and Brad Paraszczak