Organizations | Funding

Student Organizations

Student organizations are an integral part of Ford School community life. Students organize groups to talk about common policy interests, to bring speakers to the School, to do community service, and to have fun. We encourage students to come together in these groups and the School often provides support for activities.

Here’s a listing of Ford School student organizations and contact information:

Student Affairs Committee (SAC)

Contacts:
Primary Contact Email – fspp_sac
Committee Member – Jesse Franzblau – jfranzbl
Committee Member – Kathy Valle – kvalle
Committee Member – Maureen Downes – madownes
Committee Member – Keenan Pontoni – kpontoni

The mission of the Ford School Student Affairs Committee is to assist student organizations at the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy through funding and guidance and to facilitate their activities on campus to promote a positive student experience. SAC also serves as the primary liaison between Ford School students and the School's administration. SAC is also responsible for administering a yearly survey and reporting results to the school community.

Community Service Organization (Now part of SAC)

The Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy Community Service Organization (CSO) strives to create opportunity for service for public policy students. We design days of service, on-going projects and fundraising events to support community organizations and to promote interaction between students, faculty and staff within the Ford School.

Association for Public Policy About Learning and Education (APPLE)

Contacts:
Kristen Welling – kewellin

Recognizing the growing contingent of students interested in education policy at the Ford School of Public Policy, APPLE was established in 2002 to promote the discussion of and provide additional resources for the study of education policy issues at the University of Michigan . APPLE brings in speakers on education-related topics, such as Dr. Kenneth Burnley who spoke about his perspective on large, urban school districts as the CEO of Detroit Public Schools and Dr. Susan Neuman who addressed her work in education policy on the federal level. APPLE also advocates for a deeper focus on education issues within the Ford School faculty and through career services. In addition, APPLE helps its members learn about the field of education policy by hosting events with alumni who currently work in education and by creating an extensive list of interesting organizations for internships or jobs upon graduation. The organization also participates in “hands-on” activities, such as attending local progressive high schools to see the effects of policy first hand.

Charity Auction Committee

Contacts:
Chair – Aleta Haflett – aleta
Chair – Sarah Shubitowski – sshub

The Ford School Charity Auction Committee coordinates and executes the spring Charity Auction. This semi-formal event raises more than ten thousand dollars each year for a student-nominated and elected beneficiary. All members of the Ford School community attend to eat, drink, dance and bid on silent and live auction items. Committee member responsibilities include fundraising, donation, solicitation, decoration, and all other aspects of event planning. The Charity Auction is the major end-of-year event hosted by the Ford School.

Domestic Policy Corps (DPC)

Currently Inactive

Domestic Policy Corps (DPC) provides a forum for student engagement and dialogue with current domestic policy issues. We foster and activate student voice on current and vital policy issues as they arise, as the Ford School of Public Policy should be a leader on campus in discussing and analyzing policy issues.

DPC advocates to expand current curriculum offerings to include practical and applied courses that employ experiential learning. We are working to build relationships with public and nonprofit sector entities that could benefit from graduate student policy assistance. These types of experiences will further our path to policy professionalism through practical, hands-on knowledge and a working ability to explore and express our views outside of the classroom.

In the past, DPC provided an opportunity for students to engage in an alternative spring break trip away from campus. As a departure this former iteration of DPC, we seek to engage with local communities and build long-term relationships with public and nonprofit sectors organizations in Michigan. This may take the form of a local, alternative spring break trip.

Environmental Policy Organization (EPO)

Currently Inactive

Recognizing that many of the most pressing public policy issues in the coming decades are environmental ones, the Environmental Policy Organization (EPO) is a student-run organization that strives to raise awareness among the Ford School student body of these issues and their implications. EPO hosts regular brown bag meetings with professors and professionals involved in environmental policy issues, organizes local community clean-up projects and informative tours, and provides opportunities to network with other graduate students interested in the environment and public policy.

Ford School Consulting Club (FSCC)

Currently Inactive

The FSCC is a club for Ford School graduate students with an interest in consulting. The club will help students find information, meet recruiters, navigate the interview process, and make connections with Ford School Alumni in consulting. The club will also provide resources and information on consulting in its many forms in for-profit, nonprofit, government, and international firms, agencies, and think tanks. Similar to consulting clubs in other schools, FSCC members will gather together to practice case interviewing and learn how to use analysis techniques learned at the Ford School to solve problems in different industries and sectors. The Ford School is unique among policy schools in that its highly quantitative curriculum and complex issue analysis techniques are extremely suitable for strategy, management, and operations consulting both in the private and public sectors. The FSCC aims to help students make the transition from student to consultant. The FSCC also endeavors to assist consulting firms in meeting interested students as well as in sharing new developments and unique or novel perspectives from the industry.

Future Leaders in Politics (FLIP)

Future Leaders in Politics is a professional learning and networking group for Ford School students interested in a career in public service. We bring in speakers to enlighten students about the crucial skills and trends that may affect their future careers. In addition to workshops on negotiation, presentation, and analytical skills, Future Leaders in Politics also sponsors day trips that allow students to gain real-world training in the public sector and expand their network of contacts.

Health Policy Student Association (HPSA)

HPSA website

Contacts:
Chair – Ruth Brown – rubrown

The Health Policy Students Association (HPSA) is an organization whose purpose is to provide and support educational and professional development opportunities for all students interested in health policy. Our members come from all disciplines and degree programs, including public health, public policy, law, social work, business, medicine, dentistry, and nursing. HPSA is a place for students to participate in a number of health policy related events including, guest speakers, local and national level meetings, panel discussions, and a variety of social activities. Our organization provides opportunities for career enhancement, skill development and networking in the health policy world. We are also a student chapter of AcademyHealth, a professional health services and policy research organization located in Washington, D.C.

International Policy Students Association (IPSA)

IPSA website

Contacts:
First Year Co-chair – Collin Gerst – colling
Second Year Co-chair – Emad Ansari – heansari

IPSA was established to give students in international policy an informal setting for the discussion world events and to work with faculty in organizing the annual mid-winter study tour of a developing country. Much of our current work focuses on the trip and the related course (Public Policy 674) including selecting a country to study, planning the trip, and raising funds to support the trip.

Jewish Policy Student Association (JPSA)

Currently Inactive

The Jewish Policy Student Association is a student-run organization charged with exploring historical and contemporary policy issues related to and affecting Jewish constituencies.

Michigan Journal of Public Affairs (MJPA)

MJPA website

Contacts:
Editor in Chief - George Stankow - stankow

The Michigan Journal of Public Affairs (MJPA) is the student-run academic journal of the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan. The MJPA promotes dialogue on a wide range of public policy issues by publishing a diverse group of contributors, ranging from students to public policy professionals.

Out in Public

Contact:
Jonathan Moore – jonrmoor

Out in Public is the LGBTQ and ally group at the Ford School of Public Policy. We seek to create a welcoming space for LGBTQ people at the Ford School, engage the wider Ford School community in dialogue about LGBTQ issues and connect with other LGBTQ groups across campus. Bachelors students, Masters students, PhD students, faculty and staff are all welcome.

Social Committee

Contacts:
Chair – Anna Erickson– hartac
Chair – Ryan Pretzer – rwpretz

The Social Committee organizes social outings for the Ford School community. The Committee tries to offer an array of events from sports activities to the graduate picnic to the orientation service day. Throughout the year, Social Committee Chairs create and keep students informed of opportunities to gather and get to know one another better.

Students of Color in Public Policy (SCPP)

Contacts:
Chair – Marisol Ramos – mariramo

The mission of SCPP is to create an environment at the Ford School and within the University of Michigan campus community in which public policy students of color can succeed emotionally, academically, and professionally. SCPP meets regularly to provide a place for discussion of policy and personal issues and to organize activities. The organization, which welcomes all interested students.

For more information about SCPP, please visit our website.

Students Engaged in Global Health

Contacts
President – Saurabh Yvas – saurabhv
Program – Coordinator Kristen Sell – ksell
Treasurer – Emmanuelle Ravat-Francoise – ravat

Women and Gender in Public Policy (WGPP)

Contacts:
Alexis Guild – Chair – aguild
Katherine Nielson – Professional Development Co-Chair – nielsonk
Beth Hribar – Financial Director – hribar
Mayela Montenegro – Alumni Relations – mayelam
Jen Hong – Social Chair – honjenni

Formed in 2002, Women and Gender in Public Policy engages the Ford School community in a dialogue about gender and related domestic and international public policies. WGPP promotes professional development activities by facilitating communication and networking among current students, Ford School alumni, faculty, and working professionals to form a lasting community of policy professionals.

Undergraduate Student Organizations

Undergraduate Council

Contacts:
Primary Contact Email – – fspp-undergrad-council
Committee Member – Tommy Held – tjheld
Committee Member – Meg Ryan – megrye
Committee Member – Brian Wanglin – bwanglin

The Ford School Undergraduate Council is an elected board of undergraduate public policy students. The council consists of 3 senior class students who are elected in the spring of their junior year and 2 junior class students who are elected in the fall of their junior year. The students elected in their senior year will serve a total of 2 semesters, while the students elected in their junior year will serve a total of 4 semesters. The Ford School Undergraduate Council is responsible for planning social events for the undergraduate class, organizing community service opportunities and acting as the liaison to the Ford School Administration. The council meets on a weekly basis.

Gamma Rho Phi

Contacts: President – Doug Sharp – dougshrp
Vice President – Jenna Roe – jenroe

Gamma Rho Phi, named in honor of Gerald R. Ford, is a professional "fraternity" formed by the B.A. Class of 2010. By taking advantage of the Ford undergraduate community's small size, GRPhi works to increase opportunities for undergrads outside of the classroom. These opportunities broadly fall within GRPhi's four pillars–social bonding, professional development, athletics, and community service. In the past, GRPhi has hosted and organized: a "PubPol Progressive," a welcome BBQ for newly admitted undergrads, a trip to Detroit to volunteer at an organic farm, and a mentorship program with a local high school (among other events). GRPhi participates in many IM sports, and was recently runner-up in the Co-Ed Volleyball league. Coming soon is a database that will allow Ford undergrads to take advantage of the Ford School network by reaching out to graduates or current students with which they share an interest.

Public Speaking Club

Contacts: Meg Ryan – megrye
Alex Schwartz – alexhs

The Public Speaking Club was born purely out of necessity. As students in the Ford School of Public Policy, it is fair to say most of us are destined for a life full of public speaking. Whether it is a speech to sway constituents, an interview for a job, or a presentation of evidence, it must be clear, concise, and influential. The Public Speaking Club will give you the opportunity to improve your skills in four main areas of public speaking: speeches, presentations, debate, and interview. In an effort to achieve a level of comfort for every student, we will invite professors to come to our bimonthly meetings and give an example of these sub-categories. They will then give specific advice to help further our abilities. The meetings will round out with opportunities for club members to partake in impromptu exercises to put what they just learned into practice. Finally, there will be the chance for students to record their own speech, presentation, etc. and have it go on the club's CTools site. Upon the upload, fellow members and a rotation of faculty will critique it and give suggestions on how to improve.