Spring 2024

Steady and true, in praise of public servants

This edition uplifts voices from our community to illustrate the value of a professional, well-trained, dedicated workforce—serving us all in federal, state, and local governments across the U.S. We present eight MPP alums: professional, creative problem solvers who have dedicated their careers to federal and local government service. Read also the perspectives of five of our faculty members who share why public sector leadership matters and how they challenge our students to make difficult tradeoffs and get the facts right.

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Featured news

Ford School named #4 public affairs program: #1 for social policy and #2 for policy analysis and for health policy

The Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan is recognized again as one of America’s top graduate programs in public...

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News

Bold AI policy proposals awarded at Ford + Munk case competition

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News

U-M researchers partner with District of Columbia Public Schools for Pre-K curriculum implementation study

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News

Highlights from the Dean's Symposium

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Featured event

2024 Ford School Commencement

May 5, 2024, 4:00 pm EDT

Hill Auditorium

Graduation eventsUniversity of Michigan Spring CommencementSaturday, May 4, 2024 Ford School Commencement CeremonySunday, May 5, 20244:00 PMHill...

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Apr 26 2024

Students of Color in Public Policy (SCPP) Graduation Celebration

1:00-4:00 pm

Jul 14 2024

Gerald R. Ford wreath-laying

12:00 pm

Aug 9 2024

50th anniversary of Ford swearing-in

12:00 pm

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Our impact

A community dedicated to the public good.

More impact areas

Education policy

From cradle through career, education programs exist to help children and youth learn, grow, and succeed in school and in life. But how do decision makers know which interventions work? How can their investments address institutional and systemic...

Science and technology policy

Urgent questions at the intersection of science, technology, and public policy are shaping nearly every aspect of our society. Science and technology policies shape transportation, communication, public safety, social services, and much...

Our strengths

The Ford School difference

Prominent and accessible faculty

Our faculty are world-class scholars—and also enthusiastic teachers and mentors.

Rigorous academics

We're the nationally recognized leader in policy analysis.

A world-class university

The University of Michigan is a premier public university, and it's deeply collaborative: we're closely linked with Law, Ross, the Schools of Information, Education, and Social Work, and many more top programs.

Hands-on approach

Students apply what they're learning through hands-on practical policy experiences.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion

This work is woven throughout all we do—and integral to the study and practice of public policy.

“ One of the most exciting aspects of our work is how deeply engaged students and faculty are with practitioners and policymakers, whether it is working in Lansing or Washington, DC, or advising school districts from Massachusetts to Washington State.

Brian A. Jacob, Walter H. Annenberg Professor of Education Policy

Jacob is one of America's top education policy scholars, renowned for his empirically rigorous and policy-relevant research. He has produced substantive insights into how to improve educational outcomes and altered the way education policy research is conducted.

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Courses, faculty, news and more

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Health Ethics Education Economics and finance Energy and environment Security Public and nonprofit management Science and technology International policy and diplomacy