Students analyze impact of Indiana placemaking projects in SPEA practicum course

Posted on October 12, 2016 by O'Neill at IUPUI

We are gearing up for another SPEA practicum course this spring, a great opportunity for students to do some original research and inform policy and real-work difference-makers. Interested in adding a course to your fall, with a flexible schedule, a fun topic, and a chance to affect policy? Read on!

When we did this practicum in fall 2015, the results were both fun and valuable – for the students as well as the “client.” The idea started with a request from the Indiana Tourism Association (ITA), who were interested in learning more about how local tourism-related investments benefit the local community and improve “quality of place.” Indiana is chock full of these small-scale investments that also benefit the local community. You know that Indianapolis Cultural Trail you enjoy? Not just for Indy tourists. Whether it’s a local rail-trail or greenspace addition, the aesthetic improvements to a small-town “main street,” the cluster of craft breweries or wineries, or even the big complex of sports fields … all these amenities attract tourists and travelers, but locals enjoy them, too. (more…)

Scholarship spotlight: Zach McClure, BSCJ’16

Posted on September 7, 2016 by Jaclyn Lansbery

This month, SPEA IUPUI is sponsoring two teams at the 15th Beyond the Badge 5k Run and Walk. Proceeds from the event benefit SPEA undergraduate students through the Jason Baker Public Safety Scholarship fund. The annual 5k honors public safety heroes and Marion County Sheriff’s Deputy Jason M. Baker, who lost his life by gunfire on September 17, 2001.

SPEA sat down with one of last year’s scholarship winners, Zach McClure BSCJ’16, to talk about the impact the scholarship had on him as an undergraduate student at SPEA. (more…)

IU Public Policy Institute study outlines program needs for growing Indiana Latino population

Posted on September 2, 2016 by O'Neill at IUPUI

By Rachel Thelin and Dona Sapp, senior policy analysts

September marks the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month, and as community leaders around the state come together to recognize and celebrate the many economic, social, and cultural contributions of Indiana’s growing Latino population, they must also recognize challenges facing Indiana Latinos in a number of areas, including income, education, and health.

The Institute recently partnered with the Indiana Latino Institute (ILI) to conduct a study consisting of a range of research activities to help ILI enhance programming and services throughout the state.

As part of this project, we produced a report compiling 1) an in-depth profile of the Indiana Latino population covering general population trends, education, economic, and health indicators based on a comprehensive and detailed examination of publicly available data; and 2) results of the Survey of Organizations Serving the Indiana Latino Community aimed at gathering perspectives from organizations throughout the state involved in providing services to members of the Latino community. (more…)

Study Abroad: On the Rhine

Posted on August 16, 2016 by O'Neill at IUPUI

By Nathan Saylors, BSCJ ’19

SPEA Study Abroad — Our SPEA study abroad class visited the European Commission in Brussels to learn about the Commission’s role in the European Union.

The Frankfurt Love Lock Bridge located in Germany.

As a first-year undergraduate student enrolled in SPEA IUPUI, I did not expect to have the opportunity to travel halfway around the world for an educational program. The SPEA On the Rhine program focused on Public Policy and Administration. All five seminars revolved around the European Union as well as the acknowledgement of the different topics and situations from the German and the United States’ perspectives.

Our five-week program was stationed in the small town of Speyer, Germany, where we learned about international governance. English-speaking German professors taught most of the seminars in our program, and we also took classes with German students from the German University of Administrative Sciences Speyer. This allowed us to coexist with citizens of Germany and to break the cultural and language barriers that exist. (more…)

Voices of Change from Great Britain

Posted on July 21, 2016 by O'Neill at IUPUI

By Bill Foley, Lecturer

SPEA in London Program — The SPEA in London National Security class visited the New Scotland Yard on July 12 to discuss the history of counterterrorism in the UK, current UK threats, and the UK’s counterterrorism strategy of CONTEST.

The SPEA in London National Security class visited the American Embassy in London, the largest embassy in the world.

Arriving at Heathrow after long night flights to Europe, our 21 undergraduate and graduate students accompanied by our teaching assistant and my wife and I were immediately greeted by the voices of change in the United Kingdom.

Comprised of a mix of SPEA Indianapolis and Bloomington students, all of us found that we were no longer in the European Union. With the June 23 referendum entitled Brexit (British Exit) taking place and votes still being counted as we landed, the “street papers” of London anticipated the outcome with splendidly unappetizing banners as, “We’re Out,“ “See EU later” and “Take a Bow Britain.” More civilized headlines read, “Birth of a New Britain,” “Brexit Earthquake,” “Britain Divided,” and “Brexit MP Pledge Loyalty to PM.” (more…)