- Are there fees associated for my organization to participate in the Policy Clinic?
- No. However, if a project requires students to travel, the client organization is expected to cover those costs. We can explore other sources of funds if necessary, and encourage you to contact us and discuss the possibilities.
- Can I submit more than one proposal?
- Yes, organizations are welcome to submit multiple proposals.
- What information needs to be included in the proposal?
- The proposal form asks:
1. Organization name
2. Client contact information
3. Project title
4. Project description
5. Anticipated activities
6. Experiential learning opportunities
7. Anticipated deliverables
8. Ideas about how your proposed project relates to the themes of equity and inclusion, sustainability and governance
Each section is required for us to review your proposal. Proposals should be submitted via our Qualtrics form linked here. - How competitive is the proposal process?
- Yes. On average, we receive 25-30 proposals per year, and select between 6-7 projects.
- What factors determine the success of proposals?
Students are looking for projects that relate to their interests, satisfy their desire to gain new and valuable experiences on the cutting edge of environmental policy and management issues, and are likely to make a real impact. As EPM instructors and staff, we agree with all of that! We also want to see that clients are thinking creatively about how these projects can support learning, opportunities to build relationships with great partners, and strong evidence that clients can take the time necessary to fully engage with the students.
Each year, the final list of projects is partly a result of the set of interests reflected in the cohort (generally ~30 students), and a desire to have diverse clients in terms of problem area and organization type.
- How many hours per week does a client dedicate to working with the Policy Clinic?
- Clients on average spend 2-3 hours per week on the Policy Clinic project. This may include meeting with the student group, reviewing work products or responding to emails.
- How many hours per week do the students dedicate to working on their Policy Clinic project?
- Students have three hours per week of class time dedicated to working in their project groups, along with a one-hour lecture that often involves activities in support of their collaborative works and project working time. Out of the classroom, students are expected to spend at least 4 hours per week working on their project.
- What are students doing outside of client interactions?
- Students receive in-class instruction on a range of professional and project management skills. Students also have regular check-in meetings with the instructor.
- How long does the Clinic last?
- The Policy Clinic includes 30 weeks of class meetings across three academic quarters. The fall quarter (10 weeks) is dedicated to reviewing and selecting projects, assembling groups, and drafting scopes of work. The Formal work on projects (20 weeks) begins the first week of class in January, and ends the first week of June. Students have a one-week spring break in March.
- Are there any geographical restrictions for organizations who want to submit a proposal?
- No, we work with organizations both in and outside of California. In-person opportunities are valued and encouraged where possible, but our starting assumption is that the project work is done virtually, with regular Zoom meetings with clients. Clients should consider time zone constraints in their planning.
