IPI Director Greg Hill was invited to participate in a panel titled “Engaging the Public Through Public Policy Centers” at the Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities (CUMU) conference in Denver. The focus of the panel was building and employing policy centers as a vehicle for bringing the public and university together. The panel also focused on how objective research and analysis helps to build political capital among the university’s most valued stakeholders. Hill says, “in the current environment of complex public policy problems, with more and more expectations being placed upon state and local governments to make consequential policy decisions with limited information, it’s more important than ever to ensure Universities maintain their place as a source of unbiased research.”
CUMU was formed in 1989 in response to the unique challenges facing urban and metropolitan universities. These entities often do not fit the model of more traditional colleges. CUMU is now an international affiliate and partners with organizations focused on supporting public policy initiatives that impact urban and metropolitan universities and the communities they serve.