Integrated Policy Exercise

The Integrated Policy Exercise (IPE) is a school-wide policy simulation held in the first week of January each year. All master’s level students are expected to participate.

IPE Overview

The IPE provides you with a week-long opportunity to work intensively on a policy issue:

• The faculty leader of the IPE divides students into teams representing different constituencies with an interest in the problem being studied.
  
• Working in small groups, students are assigned to represent a particular viewpoint, such as a lobbying organization, elected politician, professional organization or advocacy group.
  
• Groups spend the week in consultation with experts on the topic, preparing political strategies to achieve their clients’ objectives, and developing policy positions for their group. The week culminates in a negotiation process between all the groups involved.

IPE Topics

The topic for the IPE varies from year to year. To get a sense of the range of topics covered and how the IPE works, please click on the links below:

• 2008: Insuring Michigan’s Uninsured: Options for Expanding Access to Affordable Health Care. Led by Liz Gerber.
• 2007: Special Meeting of the International Community on Reform of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank. Led by Jan Svejnar.
• 2006: The Detroit River International Border Crossing: Transportation Infrastructure Options for the Future. Led by Liz Gerber.
• 2005: Small Arms Forum. Participants explored three proposals to regulate the international small arms trade. Led by Susan Walz.
• 2004: Regional Solutions to Urban Revitalization. Led by Liz Gerber.
  
• 2003: AIDS Global Forum. Led by Marina Whitman.