Engaging students in state and local government, shaping policy and addressing the needs of local communities
Influence Policy
The Institute of Political Citizenship at the Jonathan M. Tisch College of Citizenship and Public Service—founded and managed by Tufts undergraduates—seeks to educate and motivate students to engage in state and local government to shape policies that address local community needs.
Aware of the impact that grassroots advocacy can have on the greater political landscape, the Institute aims to develop future civic leaders through collaborative research, internships and relevant academic preparation.
Tufts student engagement and faculty involvement takes many forms, including:
- Policy research internships
- Voter registration efforts
- Political discussion groups (such as Republican/Democrat brown bag lunches)
- Community-based policy projects
- Conferences and symposia on all of the Tufts campuses
The Institute seeks to bridge the gap between active citizenship and politics.
Many students already actively engage in policy matters through issue advocacy groups on campus. However, many of them tend to think of politics primarily as a partisan or electoral activity rather than as a powerful vehicle to influence and implement policy.
The Institute of Political Citizenship helps connect students with local and state political structures—to research and build coalitions for policies about which they are passionate.
Connect with an Internship
Established in the Spring of 2007, the policy research internship program is the Institute’s flagship program.
For a full academic semester, the Institute places students who previously may not have engaged in the political process, with elected officials, lobbyists and advocacy groups and nonprofit organizations interested in public policy. The internships focus on developing issue-specific research. Students may earn academic credit for their internship, with academic oversight provided by a Tisch College Senior Fellow with directly relevant experience.
All placements culminate in a final policy report, some of which are published in the Institute’s Journal of Public Policy.
In the past, students have worked on numerous projects with the Massachusetts legislature. They include:
- Low income housing issues
- Educational policy with respect to immigrants
- Transportation finance
- Budget deficit recovery
Contact Us!
If you are not a student and want to know how the Institute may work with you, or for any other matters, please contact Jarrod Niebloom (Jarrod.Niebloom@tufts.edu).
“Participatory politics is how our society accommodates competing interests, and effective political leadership, honed through practice and knowledge, steers the process.”
Tom Birmingham
Former Massachusetts Senate President and Tisch College Senior Fellow
Student Board:
Dean Ladin
Jarrod Niebloom
Matthew Shapanka
