Center for Local, State, and Urban Policy

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy. The Charge to the Class was delivered by U.S. Senator Carl Levin. May, 2014.

The students of Ford School's Public Policy 456/756 class along with their instructor and current Ann Arbor Mayor John Hieftje host a mayoral candidate debate. April, 2014.

Kevyn Orr talks about his experiences as Emergency Manager for the City of Detroit. March, 2014.

Ian Beniston, Hunter Morrison, John Russo and moderators June Manning Thomas and Margaret Dewar talk about Youngstown's innovative "2010 Plan" and possible applications for Michigan. March, 2014.

George Fulton describes the factors that contribute to the well-being of U.S. metropolitan area economies, and why have some areas been more successful in re-making their economies than others. February, 2014.

Robert Axelrod is the Walgreen Professor for the Study of Human Understanding; professor of political science, College of Literature, Science and the Arts; and professor of public policy, Gerald R.

Michael E. Kraft, Christopher P. Borick, and moderator Barry Rabe summarize the findings of Coming Clean, and apply the lessons of the TRI program to the emerging concern over shale gas fracking. December, 2013.

Kenneth Warner reviews state and local policies, evidence-based policies and endgame policies that have/could contributed to the successes of tobacco control. October, 2013.

Barry Rabe is an environmental policy professor at the University of Michigan’s Ford School of Public Policy and director of the Center for Local, State, and Urban Policy at the Ford School.

The 2013 Charge to the Class was be delivered by Paul O'Neill. Also includes Susan Collins, Carl Simon, Amazin' Blue, Eli Day (BA'13) & Cynthia Rathinasamy (MPP'13). May, 2013.

Mark Funkhouser describes how government and citizens working together can produce positive outcomes, including in community economic development and the tools and techniques of deliberative democracy. April, 2013.

The Ford School's Center for Local, State, and Urban Policy (CLOSUP ) discusses findings from the Michigan Public Policy Survey and the solutions suggested by these leaders. April, 2013.

Scott Greer and Frank Thompson examine the challenges Medicaid faces in the second term of the Obama administration. February, 2012.

Margaret Dewar, June Manning Thomas, and commentator John Gallagher discuss "The City After Abandonment" book findings and what these suggest about the future for better, though smaller, cities. January, 2013.

Black and Blue documentary film screening and panel discussion featuring former Senator Buzz Thomas (grandson of Willis Ward) and Steve Ford. January, 2013.

Matthew Chingos will discusses three studies of how schools respond to differences in teacher effectiveness, all of which are based on administrative data from the state of Florida. December, 2012.

Barry Rabe is a professor of environmental policy at the Ford School.

Christopher Borick, Jacquelyn Pless, Erich Schwartzel and moderator Barry Rabe review emerging patterns in policy development in these two states as well as nationally. November 2012.

Eric Lupher, Sanya Carley & Thomas P. Lyon examine Proposal 3, the 25% renewable energy by 2025 Michigan ballot proposal. October, 2012.

Margaret Spellings discusses the past, present and future of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 and educational reform. March, 2012.

Roger Fraser, Joseph Harris, Brandon A. Jessup, Dayne Walling, and moderator Brian A. Jacob discuss the proposed Michigan emergency manager law. March, 2012.

David Figlio talks about the intended and unintended consequences of school accountability. November, 2011.

Michael S. McPherson, President of the Spencer Foundation, talks about students who are "undermatched" and raises questions of fairness as well of resource waste. November, 2011.

Richard J. Murnane discusses high school graduation rate patterns and explanations using evidence from several national and state data sets. September, 2011.

Robin Wright delivered the keynote address as the Ford School celebrated our 2011 MPP, PhD, and BA graduates. May, 2011.

Nicholas Bagley, Genevieve Kenney, Chris Priest, and moderator Thomas Buchmueller share their views on logistic and legal realities of the Affordable Care Act and answer audience questions. March, 2011.

Christopher Borick, Erick Lachapelle, Barry Rabe and moderator Don Scavia reviews current policy commitments and provide an overview of public opinion on climate change and public policy options. February, 2011.

Howard S. Bloom, Brian Jacob, Johnathon Matthews, and Michael F. Tenbusch discuss the new results of the NYC study as well as the ongoing efforts among the small school community in the Detroit area. January, 2011.

Tonya Allen, Dan DeGrow, Lou Glazer and moderator Chuck Wilbur discuss what is next for education in the state of Michigan. December, 2010.

Thomas H. Howlett, Andy Jacob, Christopher Mullin, Richard Vedder and moderator Susan Dynarski discuss for-profit colleges in the latest in the Education Policy Initiative Seminar Series at CLOSUP. November, 2010.