This event was created to help increase the pipeline of diverse undergraduate students into public policy and public affairs schools, as well as introduce the field of public policy to a group of students who might not otherwise be familiar with it. We are working to recruit underrepresented undergraduate students from colleges in the greater State Capitol and Central Pennsylvania to take part in this day-long event. In doing so, we focus on a broad constituency of underrepresented groups of students, including, but not limited to, in addition to minority students, low-income, first generation, and LGBTQ+ students. The programming will be interactive and designed to show these students what public policy is and what a career in the policy world might look like.

Program:

See the full program brochure here

Locations:

Penn State Harrisburg Campus, 777 W. Harrisburg Pike, Middletown, PA 17057 & Pennsylvania State Capitol, 501 N 3rd St, Harrisburg, PA 17120

Contact:

Dr. Alexander Siedschlag, Chair of the Organizing Committee: aus50@psu.edu, (717) 948-6050

Pam Dunn, Academic Support Coordinator, pzd9@psu.edu, (717) 948-6322

School of Public Affairs, Political Science & Public Policy Programs

Agenda Overview:

(full program brochure)

8:30 a.m.

Educational Activities Building, Penn State Harrisburg Campus

Registration, Welcome, Program Overview, and Kick-off Networking

• Dr. Marvin Overby, Professor and Director, School of Public Affairs

• Dr. Alexander Siedschlag, Professor and Program Head, Political Science and Public Policy

• Riley Cagle, President, Penn State Harrisburg Student Government Association; student, School of Public Affairs, Public Policy program

• Saahir Shafi, Ph.D. student, School of Public Affairs; President, Public Administration Doctoral Students Organization (PADSO)

• Speakers and contributors for the day

Breakfast served

9:00 a.m.

Panel with Questions and Answers: What Public Policy Is, How to Study It, and How It Affects Different Populations

• Opening remarks by faculty experts and student leadership

10:00 a.m.

Mini Fair on Public Policy Studies and Careers

• School of Public Affairs programs

• Student clubs

• Honor societies

• Career Services

• Pennsylvania House of Representatives: PA House Legislative Fellows Program

10:45 a.m.

Break

11:00 a.m.

Small Public Policy Simulation (Local Government Simulation):

Local Public Health Preparedness, Part I

This small public policy simulation will focus on a scenario or case of a contentious issue in the problem space of public transportation. Students will learn to balance majority and consensus considerations with responsiveness to underrepresented population concerns, including but not limited to social equity, access, and underserved areas.

Part I will set the stage, present the scenario, background information, policy choices, role descriptions, learning outcomes, and assign students to role groups with a focus on underrepresented populations.

• Moderator: Wayne Martin, City Engineer, City of Harrisburg

• Coaches: Players will be concurrently coached by Nolan Ritchie (alumnus of the School of Public Affairs and Executive Director of the Senate Transportation Committee for Sen. Kim Ward’s office) and Mike Passiment (alumnus of the School pf Public Affairs and Judicial Programs Analyst, Administrative Office of PA Courts). The coaches will help the groups reach, substantiate, and defend a final policy choice.

12:00 p.m.

Bus to the Pennsylvania State Capitol

• Box lunch provided

1:00 p.m.

Pennsylvania State Capitol

Session with the State Civil Service Commission: The Importance of Public Service Culture and Talent Next-Generation Acquisitions

• Opened and moderated by Nicholas V Soccio, Staff Secretary at the Office of Governor Wolf

1:50 p.m.

Break

2:00 p.m.

Small Public Policy Simulation (Local Government Simulation):

Local Public Health Preparedness, Part II

Students will be policy options provided from the point of view of their respective roles. Different ways of assessing and advocating the policy options will be available to acquaint students with alternative routes for policy advocacy and fostering positive policy change (such as researching related issues, writing op ed pieces, writing petitions, writing media pieces.

• All groups will then make their policy recommendations to the plenary of all participants

• The simulation will end in an evaluation and constructive feedback given by an expert jury

3:30 p.m.

Break

• With opportunities for informal conversations on State Capitol Hill

4:00 p.m.

World Café conversation

With graduates and Advisory Board members of the School of Public Affairs as well as experts from partner schools and public sector representatives, including staffers from the Capitol

• Current and Emerging Workforce Requirements in the Public Policy

• Employment Outlooks for Policy graduates

• Questions and Answers on Equal Opportunity

• Practical career insights

5 p.m.

Tour of the Pennsylvania State Capitol

• Sen. Argall, alumnus (Ph.D. graduate) of the School of Public Affairs

5:45 p.m.

Pennsylvania State Capitol East Rotunda

Awarding Certificates of Completion to all participating students

6:00 p.m.

Networking Reception sponsored by the Keystone Chapter of the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA)

• Host: David Margolis, President, Keystone State Chapter of the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA); Retired Director of Fiscal Management, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation

Light refreshments served

6:45 p.m.

Bus transportation back to Penn State Harrisburg Campus and end of program