The Policy and Research Legislative Fellowship is a
new, non-partisan initiative, supported by the Office of Public Engagement. This initiative is administered by the Center for Social & Behavioral Science (CSBS) and matches graduate students at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with a state legislator representing Champaign-Urbana or a neighboring district to collaborate on a policy research project that can inform public policy to help make Illinois a better place to live.
Goals and Expectations
Student researchers use their expertise to contribute toward developing a policy agenda in a state legislator’s office, thereby gaining hands-on experience in bridging the gap between theory and practice at the state level. Students attend policy meetings with legislators and policy directors, watch legislative sessions and track bills to frame research activities that will assist in developing legislation from the ground up. In addition to research support and supervision from state policymakers, student researchers take part in seminars and professional development activities at Illinois.
The aim of the Policy & Research Legislative Fellows Program is to provide graduate students with:
• First-hand experience and insight into the fast-paced legislative environment and law-making process
• An understanding of how to connect research to real-world policy applications
• Legislative and policy writing skills
• Exposure to different policy and research areas that will help students evaluate their career interests and plans