Policy Research Collaborative: Programs and Initiatives

Through our Course Collaborations initiative, the Policy Research Collaborative supports Roosevelt University faculty who wish to enrich their course offerings with applied research and experiential learning opportunities for students. Our staff work with faculty to develop collaborative experiences with community partners, coordinate logistics, and provide opportunities for critical reflection to enhance student learning outcomes.

Faculty may apply for grants of up to $300. These grants could support field trips, honoraria for guest speakers, or other experiential learning and applied research projects in collaboration with community partners in Chicago and beyond.

Funding for Course Collaborations is limited. Faculty must submit an online application to be considered. Applications are due no later than March 15th for fall semester courses and no later than October 1^st for spring semester courses.

Questions? E-mail the Collaborative at prc@roosevelt.edu

APPLY NOW

The Policy Research Collaborative is committed to fostering excellence in collaborative research in the next generation of engaged scholars and policy practitioners through our Research Fellowships open to Roosevelt University students.

Working together with community partners and policymakers, as well as faculty and staff, Research Fellows conduct applied research that strengthens communities. Research Fellows contribute to the full range of research activities at the Collaborative in order to better understand and address complex and interdisciplinary policy issues.

Through bi-weekly modules and workshops, Research Fellows gain hands-on experience and mentorship across a range of research methodologies, learning directly from our partners and invited policy practitioners and cultivating essential skills to succeed in their academic studies and professional careers. 

Most Research Fellowships are funded via external grants. These positions are posted to Career Central and circulated by the colleges and departments at Roosevelt University. We also welcome students seeking to secure Graduate Assistantships or Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program funding to work with us.

The Policy Research Collaborative offers unpaid Research Assistantships to individuals with a demonstrated commitment to evidence-based policy reform and community-based, collaborative research and advocacy.

Research Assistants contribute to the full range of research and advocacy activities at the Collaborative, providing essential support for our projects alongside staff, faculty, students, and community partners, engaging with transformative policymaking in Chicago and beyond.

We are particularly interested in applicants with previous experience in quantitative and qualitative research as well as geospatial analysis, but those with a commitment to learning will also be considered.

Applications are accepted at any time, though most Research Assistants join the Collaborative at the beginning of each semester at Roosevelt University. Research Assistants are expected to commit at least ten hours per week to working at the Collaborative. Applicants receiving school credit or compensation through another program are encouraged to apply.

If you are interested in joining the Collaborative as a Research Assistant, please send the following materials via e-mail to prc@roosevelt.edu, with the subject line, “Research Assistant – [Your Name]”:

1. A cover letter articulating your specific interest in the Collaborative and its approach to applied research;
2. A current resume or CV;
3. A writing sample or an example of any previous research or advocacy work (written, audio, visual, etc.), and, if applicable, examples of design work and/or geospatial analysis.

CITY OPEN Workshop is a hands-on bi-weekly meet up to share, learn and contribute to civic projects connecting city design and public policy. Our mission is to bring design to communities as a platform for citizen-driven change.

We are a collaborative group united in the belief that design should be open for all as a platform for change and participation in the civic realm. Our programming is open to the public and aims to build meaningful collaborations between community partners, engaged scholars, policymakers, and the urban planning and design community to foster civic discourse about Chicago’s built environment and spark curiosity and investment in its communities.

CITY OPEN cultivates a platform for long-term relationships and practices knowledge-sharing to support our community partners in advancing their own visions for policy and design innovation at all scales by providing our partners the resources, knowledge, data, and tools to effectuate transformative and aspirational visions for the future of their communities.
The Collaborative is hosting the spring season of CITY OPEN Workshop. We meet bi-weekly on Mondays from 6pm-8.30pm, beginning Monday January 22, 2018 at 425 S. Wabash Avenue (WB 1315).

For more information and to RSVP, please visit cityopenworkshop.org.