Policy Clinic FAQ

  • Are there fees associated for my organization to participate in the Policy Clinic?
  • There is no expectation of funding for organizations to participate in the Policy Clinic. However, if a project requires students to travel to be on-site, the client organization is expected to cover the cost of travel. This scenario usually requires an agreement to be executed with the client organization and the university. 
  • 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. Contact information
    3. Project title
    4. Project description
    5. Anticipated activities
    6. Anticipated deliverables
    7. In-kind support (data, etc)
    8. Equity & inclusion considerations relevant to your proposed project

    Each section is required, we are unable to consider incomplete project proposals. Proposals should be submitted via our Qualtrics form linked here.
  • How competitive is the proposal process? 
  • The proposal process is fairly competitive. On average, we receive 25-30 proposal per year, and select between 6-7 projects to be a part of the Clinic.
  • How does the selection process work?
  • You can see more information about the selection timeline here.
  • How many hours per week does a client dedicate to working with the Policy Clinic?
  • Clients on average spend 1-2 hours per week on the Policy Clinic project. This may be meeting with their student group, reviewing materials or responding to emails.
  • How many hours per week do the students dedicate to working on their Policy Clinic project?
  • Students have class time dedicated to lectures 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 skills, environmental justice and greenwashing, relationship and strategic mapping, power dynamics and structures that impact group dynamics, and time to prepare presentations for the Symposium held in June. Students also have 1:1 and group meetings with the instructor for regular check-ins. 
  • How long does the Clinic last?
  • The total Policy Clinic runs for 20 weeks. The Clinic begins the first week of class in January, and ends the first week of June. Students will have spring break sometime in March. Additionally, there will be prep work that begins in October prior to the Clinic officially beginning in January. 
  • Are there any geographical restrictions for organizations who want to submit a proposal?
  • No, we work with organizations both in and outside of California. The work is all conducted remotely, with site visits organized on a case-by-case basis.