The Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy

1. The Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy Presentation to the Business & Finance Forum May 2009 Susan M. Collins Joan & Sanford Weill Dean Professor of Public Policy & Economics

2. The Ford School’s Mission: To offer outstanding education for leadership in public policy analysis and public management and to excel in social science research that illuminates public issues and promotes better public policy.

3. Great Time to be a Policy School! • Aftermath of presidential campaigns & Obama election: Renewed excitement about and commitment to the importance of public service; • But People Still Ask: What does a school of public policy do, anyway? • Brings inter-disciplinary tools of social science to bear on important public issues. • Trains students for careers in public, private & non-profit sectors.

4. Ford School: Brief History • 1914: Institute for Public Administration established • One of the first programs of its kind; train professionals for public service, primarily in state and local government. • mid-1960s, Institute of Public Policy Studies (IPPS) • Masters Program re-oriented: rigorous quantitative analysis of economic, political, and organizational questions; Add focus on national and international issues. • 1995: School of Public Policy established • 1999: School named for Gerald R. Ford !!GROWTH!! • 1999-2009: Many Successes, but also new challenges

5. Still Small BUT:Dramatic Growth in Size & Complexity since 1999 • Educational programs: (130 to 350+ students) • PhD (est. 2002) 50 students; • Undergraduate (est. 2007) 100+ students • 60% increase in Masters students (130 to 200+); • Doubled Faculty • 2/3 have joint appointments with other UM units • Greatly expanded Staff • 3 research centers (NPC, CLOSUP, IPC); • New (UM) Ethics Center; Launching Diversity Center • Budget more than tripled • Space: Move into Weill Hall (2007)

6. Who Are We Now? Faculty • 37 tenure, tenure-track & research faculty (20 FTE; 2/3 have joint appointments) • economics, political science, sociology, math, information, law, business, social work, history, education, natural resources, the Institute for Social Research, pediatrics, and urban planning. • 15 + others typically teach for us, incl: • 2 visiting faculty from Renmin University in China • Towsley Policy Maker(s) in Residence • John Hieftje, Mayor of Ann Arbor

7. Who Are We Now? Degree Programs and Curriculum • Master of Public Policy (MPP) Primary Degree • Master of Public Administration (MPA) • 14 formal Dual Masters Degrees with other U-M schools and departments, several individualized dual degrees • PhD in Public Policy and Social Science (with Economics or Political Science or Sociology) • BA in Public Policy • Graduate Certificate in Science, Technology, and Public Policy

8. Who Are We Now?Expanding Outreach & Events • Public Events enhance our curriculum, raise visibility, connect students & faculty to current policy, engage the broader community • High Profile Citigroup Lectures • Marian Wright Edelman • Paul Krugman, Jeff Sachs, Chuck Hagel • Topical panels • Future for Michigan, Charter Schools, etc. • Partner throughout campus

9. Multi-Disciplinary & Inter-Connected • Multiple disciplines function as a single ‘department’ – must work together • Most faculty have allegiances to multiple units • Need to work effectively with many ‘unit & department cultures’ • Opportunities for collaboration & interaction for students, faculty, staff, the Dean

10. Budget: • Revenues • 2000-09 growth in tuition, research funding & gift/endowment income helped offset state revenue cuts • Currently MPP tuition the main resource engine – re-energizing research funding and development strategy in difficult climate • Expenditures • Faculty retentions remain a challenge • Exploring ways to allocate resources more efficiently and reduce expenses

11. Some Indicators of Success • Faculty: • Distinguished & Engaged; Award winners, incl. 3 Distinguished UM Professors • retention issues for >25% of governing faculty • Applications: • 120+ PhD applications for 6-8 slots/yr • 30% rise in MPP applications, quality rising • 120+ & growing BA applications • US News Ranking: (peer reviews) • #3 Public Policy Analysis; #7 Overall • Raised $51 Million since 2000 for building & programs (minimal prior development activity)

12. 5-Year Goals – Enhancing Success • Visibility: Increase the perceived stature of the Ford School as one of the very best public policy schools, in terms of both research and academic programs. • Diversity: Establish the Ford School as a center of excellence related to diversity and public policy, and enhance the diversity of our community. • International: Expand the cross-national and global dimensions of Ford School activities, including research and educational programs . • Financial Strength: Develop new sources of funding and increase the usage of multi-year budget planning to allocate resources strategically • esp. difficult given very challenging financial environment.

13. Strategy for Achieving Goals • Focus INSIDE the Building: people, systems & programs • Adjust to past growth, nurture community • Update & Enhance Systems: Strategic Tools • Curriculum Review • Broader Strategic Assessment: • Balance ‘Full Service’ & ‘Signature Specialties’ • Balance Academic Research & Policy Engagement • Enhance Visibility & Our Resource Engines • New Center: Public Policy in Diverse Societies • Craft & Leverage International Programs • The Process is part of the Point!

14. Strategy for Achieving Goals: Curriculum Review Best Public Policy Educational Program (over a decade since last curriculum review) • Objectives: • clarify educational goals • Identify strengths & weaknesses • Involve faculty, staff, students, alumni, employers • Craft & Implement Curricular Revisions

15. MPP Curriculum Review (cont) • 1st year focus: core requirements & practical engagement opportunities • Faculty identify/discuss learning objectives • Survey faculty, students, alumni; focus group discussions for employers • Strengthen cross-disciplinary understanding • 2nd year focus: electives & international dimensions (& dual degrees)

16. What Do We Think Makes Us Distinctive as a Policy School? From Faculty Survey & 1st Retreat Discussion • Grounding in top notch social science research • Analytic focus of our programs • Multi-disciplinary & Linked to UM (breadth & excellence) • Collegial & Diverse Community

17. New Center on Public Policy in Diverse Societies • Only Research Center on Diversity issues based in a Policy School • Will also develop educational programs • Diversity defined broadly to include race, ethnicity, gender, religion, culture,… • Intended to leverage long-standing commitment at the Ford School & UM • (NPC) National Poverty Ctr., (CLOSUP) Ctr. on Local, State & Urban Issues, (IPC) International Policy Ctr. • Partner with NCID

18. Many of our Strengths are also Challenges: • Flexibility Vs. Managing Change • Balance: External (UM) Links Vs. Internal Collegiality & Culture • Balance: Small Size Vs. “Full Service” Aspirations • Excellent Faculty Vs. Retention Challenges

19. Perspectives on Staffing a Small But Complex School: (1) • Our Staff must be Jills & Jacks of All Trades • Interesting positions but challenging to fill • Limited opportunities for promotion within the school may imply more staff transitions & disruptions • Our small size enables us to be more flexible in some ways (less hierarchy, easier to ‘turn the ship’) • Fewer strategic thinkers to manage change, less depth for delegating such activities • May need more outside support and/or longer transition time to implement multiple or significant changes

20. Perspectives on Staffing a Small But Complex School: (2) • Encourage Central UM Offices to explore types of support most helpful for small units: • Mutually beneficial engagement: you can help us train & mentor staff, while we provide learning opportunities for you • Recognize difficulties of in-unit staffing for activities that require redundancy

21. Thank You for the Opportunity to meet with Business & Finance!