As UMass Amherst shifts to remote learning for the remainder of the spring semester, the School of Public Policy (SPP) is finding ways to keep students and faculty connected outside of the classroom as well, with virtual discussion groups, community meetings and even an online networking “road trip” for students.
“These are challenging times for all of us but rising to challenges like this is what we do as specialists in governance and public policy,” said Alasdair Roberts, SPP director. “As UMass transitions to a temporary remote-learning model, the School of Public Policy is working to ensure that students have a seamless educational experience and that we stay connected as a community.”
In its new weekly COVID-19 discussion group, held via Zoom, SPP invites academics, legislators, policy makers and practitioners to join current and incoming students, faculty and staff for a conversation on policy and management issues related to the health crisis. The discussion series kicked off with a conversation with professor Don Kettl of the LBJ School of Public Affairs at UT Austin, who spoke about the long-term policy implications of COVID-19; the balance of power among the federal, state and local governments in responding to the crisis; and the important role today's students will play in shaping future policy that draws from the lessons we're learning right now. Last week, State Rep. Mindy Domb joined the discussion group to talk about her efforts to address the crisis, including legislative proposals to improve the government response and work with constituents seeking help with unemployment benefits, small-business assistance, food access and other needs.
The School of Public Policy is also holding weekly online “town hall” meetings, to check in with fellow community members, share the latest information and ask and answer questions. Each meeting also includes remarks from faculty members on the COVID-19 crisis through the lens of their fields.
In addition, SPP has shifted some of its experiential activities from the classroom to online spaces. This week, mock job interviews, a key component of SPP’s Professional Development Seminar curriculum, will take place via Zoom, with SPP alumni who work in the policy and management fields volunteering as the interviewers. And last week, SPP students joined students from the Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts and the UMass Office of Civic Engagement and Service Learning (CESL) for a virtual networking trip with local nonprofit leaders. Students met with representatives from Springfield’s Wellspring Cooperative Harvest greenhouse; Parent Villages, a Springfield-based policy and advocacy organization; and the United Way of the Pioneer Valley to learn about their organizations’ work and their personal career paths. The trip was part of the “Strategies for Social Change” course, a partnership of the Women’s Fund’s Leadership Institute for Political and Public Impact (LIPPI) program, SPP and CESL.