Be a Policy Clinic Project Client

Policy Clinic Project Solicitations for January-June 2025

EPM seeks client partners for policy analyses or environmental management group projects. Proposals for the 2025 Policy Clinic will open in July 2024.

About the Clinic:

Environmental Policy and Management (EPM) Policy Clinic student teams conduct policy analyses or environmental management related projects for client partners. A student team, usually 4-5 students, will spend five months (winter and spring quarters) working on a client project, providing substantive deliverables in June, including reports or policy briefs.  Projects may be on a wide range of topics and disciplines. The student teams are overseen by Instructor Abre' Conner and report to a client project coordinator or supervisor at the partnering organization. 

The EPM program has developed the Policy Clinic as an integral part of the curriculum, giving students experience working on a project team project to address a current policy issue or natural resources management need. This helps prepare our students to develop the essential skills to solve multifaceted, multidisciplinary environmental issues before they enter the workforce. The Policy Clinic is also an opportunity for external partners to build a working relationship with the EPM program. 

Application Process:

The project proposal form for the 2025 Policy Clinic is closed and will reopen July 2024. For more information about the timeline, please see below.

Projects ideally would:
  • Have clear applications to applied policy or management issues 
  • Be 4-5 months in duration (20 weeks in total)
  • Be a multi-disciplinary project addressing an emerging environmental or natural resources issue
  • Be clearly defined and prioritized by the client
  • Have a high-level client coordinator
You will need the following information for your proposal:
  • Organization name
  • Organization website
  • Client contact information 
  • Short project description
  • Anticipated activities (e.g. policy and economic research, creation of surveys, data analysis) 
  • Anticipated deliverable(s) 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)

Timeline

July-September
 Solicitations go out to external partners for project proposals.
October

Students and Policy Clinic instructor review potential projects. Informational interviews will be set up with the clients based on student interest and programmatic suitability. The purpose of holding informational interviews is to allow the client to come speak about their vision for the proposed project. It also gives students the opportunity to ask clarifying questions before project selections are finalized. 

After informational interviews, students will rank their preferred projects. The total number of projects selected depends on the number of students enrolled for the course. The program matches students to projects based on their preference and associated skills.
November
 Instructor will meet with each client to finalize project details.  More information about what to expect as a client will be provided by the program. Students will work with their clients to set up regular meeting times and draft a scope of work.
January
 Policy Clinic will begin.
March

Spring break. Mid-point survey will be sent to clients. The Clinic Instructor and Program Director will schedule meetings with each client to get feedback.
June

Students will present at the UC Davis Environmental Policy Symposium. A final survey will be sent to clients.

 

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