This December, School of Public Policy undergraduate seniors presented their semester-long capstone projects to not only their fellow students, but public policy professionals currently making an impact in the policy world. By working directly with professional clients, students conduct research and see the real-world applications.
Four teams presented their findings and recommendations for external organizations they partnered with. The students worked in teams on problems and issues presented by their outside clients, with guidance from faculty and interaction with policy professionals. Each team worked with the client to address a particular problem and produce a mutually agreed upon deliverables.
This fall, projects included a presentation on implementing agile management in the public sector with the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA); a survey of organizations from Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania on solar energy siting done on behalf of the American Farmland Trust; a study on the use of public comments during the Defense Acquisition Regulation Systems (DFARS) process prepared for the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA); and a review of source of income (SOI) anti-discrimination practices on three jurisdictions for the Stewards of Affordable Housing for the Future (SAHF).
Through experiential learning opportunities like the capstone project, students showcase knowledge gained throughout the course of their studies. These hands-on projects advance students' understanding of the analytical, leadership, communication and problem solving skills necessary to address today's policy problems while allowing them to gain professional level experience to support their success after graduation.