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TECH 072 | Public Policy Analysis for Scientists, Engineers, and Health Professionals

November 2, 2020 to December 18, 2020

ONLINE

REGISTRATION IS CLOSED.

Registration occurs on a first-come, first-served basis. The deadline for registration is one week before the first day of the course.  If you are unable to register before the deadline, please email: registrar@faes.org or call 301-496-7977 for space availability.

NIH Fellows or NIH community members being sponsored by their lab and awaiting payment authorization can tentatively hold a seat using the “Reserve A Seat” option. FAES must receive payment within 7 business days after reserving a seat or 3 business days before the start of the workshop, which ever comes first. If payment is not received in this time frame, your reservation will be canceled.

A virtual 6-week intensive course designed to help scientists, engineers, and health professionals be more competitive for fellowships and jobs or in advancing their careers in science and technology policy by learning how to conduct a public policy analysis.

Schedule
November 2 - December 18, 2020 (Live sessions on Mondays and Tuesdays 12PM-1PM ET, Asynchronous components, and Individual Coaching Sessions)

Introduction
Policy analysis provides a systematic process to analyze public policy options to respond to a societal challenge such as COVID-19, climate change, and homelessness.  It involves identifying the underlying problem, key decision makers, stakeholders, policy question, and policy options.  These options are then analyzed to identify which is likely to be the most effective, efficient, equitable, and ease of political acceptability.  Once that analysis is concluded, the analyst makes a recommendation based on those criteria.  The analyst then communicates the results to policymakers and the public.   The class will be taught by Dr. Deborah D. Stine, who has conducted public policy analysis for the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; the Congressional Research Service; the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy; and Carnegie Mellon University.

Educational Outcomes
During this class, students will learn:

  • What policy analysis is and why it is important
  • The eight-step process to do a public policy analysis based on the 4Es (effectiveness, efficiency, equity, and ease of political acceptability)
  • An overview of ways to communicate that message through 1-pagers, op-eds, presentations, videos, and infographics.

In 6 weeks, you will be able to:

  • Be more competitive for public policy related fellowships and jobs because you can demonstrate your abilities through a vetted product produced during the class.
  • Participate more actively and with greater impact in dialogues about public policy during the interview process or during meetings with policymakers through a better understanding of public policy decision-making criteria.
  • Develop the core information of most interest to policymakers as a foundation for your discussions and communication products.

Students will receive a Certificate of Completion from the Science and Technology Policy Academy if they complete all assignments successfully.

How You Will Learn

  • Each week you will watch several short videos of approximately 10 minutes that teach you the key principles of public policy analysis at your own pace. You will then complete micro-assignments to practice those principles with peer and instructor feedback.  Those micro-assignments will build up into a sample of your analytical skills as you develop a policy memo or brief, presentation, infographic, or video on the topic of your choice.
  • There will also be two live group office hours via Zoom (every Monday and Tuesday, 12-1PM ET) where you can ask questions several students’ assignments will be workshopped. The date/time of these calls will be determined based on a vote of registered students.  You do not need to attend these calls, but the more you can make the better.  A recording of the Q&A call will be posted if students can’t make it.
  • Students will also receive feedback on their mini-assignments from the instructor via Ruzuku, the online learning management platform.
  • Students also have the option to participate in three individual 30- minute coaching calls with the instructor based on your schedule.  During these calls, the instructor and student will discuss the students’ policy question, policy options, and analysis as well as any other questions they have about public policy analysis.
  • Community interaction and support will be provided via Slack.  The classes’ Slack page will also provide job and fellowship listings
  • Weekly written check-ins to identify your wins and challenges with instructor feedback as well as the ability to ask questions via email

 

Schedule

Week 0

  • Introduction to People & Technology
  • Individual Goal Call with Instructor

Week 1

  • What is policy analysis and why is it important?
  • Eight step process to do a public policy analysis
  • Communicating your message

Week 2

  • Step 1.  Define the problem in the form of a question
  • Step 2. Assemble some evidence

Week 3

  • Step 3. Construct the Alternatives
  • Mid-Program Individual Check-In with Instructor

Week 4

  • Step 4. Analyze the Alternatives based on the 4E Criteria (Effectiveness, Efficiency, Equity, Ease of Political Acceptability)
  • Step 5: Project the Outcomes

Week 5

  • Step 6: Confront the Tradeoffs
  • Step 7:  Decide

Week 6

  • Step 8. Tell Your Story
  • Individual Coaching Call with Instructor

General Training Rate
$1,315.00
Discounted Training Rates
$1,075.00 - NIH Community (Trainees, Employees, Contractors, Volunteers, etc.)
$1,195.00 - Academia, US Government, US Military

Technology Fee

$60.00

Refund Policy
100% tuition refund for registrations canceled 14 or more calendar days prior to the start of the workshop.
50% tuition refund for registrations canceled between 4 to 13 calendar days prior to the start of the workshop.
No refund will be issued for registrations canceled 3 calendar days or less prior to the start of the workshop.

Notification
All cancellations must be received in writing via email to Ms. Carline Coote at registration@faes.org.
Cancellations received after 4:00 pm (ET) on business days or received on non-business days are time marked for the following business day. 
All refund payments will be processed by the start of the initial workshop.

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