Engagement at
the Public Policy
Institute
Chris Cooper
Director, Public Policy Institute
Director, Master of Public Affairs
Associate Professor
Political Science & Public Affairs
Agenda
• About the PPI
• How the PPI integrates with the University
Mission
• Some examples of PPI research
Role of a Center in a University
Role of a Center in a University
• Academic component
• Interdisciplinary
• Must support the service area of the
University
• Must create unique learning experiences for
students
Resources
•
•
•
•
•
~$12,000/year
3-4 GA’s/year
½ time release for Director
Work study students
No full-time staff
Public Policy Institute History, Vision &
Resources
Previous organization
College of
Arts and Sciences
Undergraduate
Political Science/
MPA Program
Public Policy
Institute
Organization and Structure
Undergraduate Political Science
Public Policy Institute
MPA Program
Local Government Training Program
A Shift in Mission
• QEP
• UNC-Tomorrow
• Bringing the tools of social science to
influence policy debates and improve
governance in WNC (and NC)
• More Cross-Disciplinary work
• More integration with MPA and LGTP
• More bridges to other Universities
What we do
• The Nexus of:
–
–
–
–
Applied Research
Basic Research
Civic Education
Outreach
About the PPI
About the PPI
Public Policy Institute Projects
• Voter Initiative
• American Youth Congress
• Constitution Day
• Best Practices of Local Government in WNC
• Nonprofit Data Assistance
Many Different Data Collection Techniques
CBS News/Chronicle of Higher Education
Comparing Vote Choice in NC Universities
1
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0.8
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
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ou
nt
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te
Proportion for Obama
0.7
University
Where is Dixie?
One example
• “[Duvall] asked the communities for their
input and all communities opposed it. He
likened zoning to communism and
totalitarianism.”
One Example
Who supports zoning in WNC?
•
•
•
•
•
•
People who trust local government
Liberals
Newcomers
More educated
Older people
People for whom zoning is more salient
Trust in Government & Opinions on
Zoning
One Example
Table 1: Distribution of Opinions on Land Use Policies
Zoning
Land Use Planning
Strongly Against
18%
11%
Somewhat Against
21%
22%
Somewhat in Favor
35%
33%
Strongly in Favor
26%
33%
N
470
429
Conservatives are less likely to support zoning,
but ideology has no influence on land use
planning opinions.
Product and Impact
• Two Policy reports distributed to all legislators in NC
and government officials throughout the region.
• Article in the premier journal of public
administration—used in classes across the country.
• Numerous quotations in newspapers.
• Contribution to the Mountain Landscapes Initiative
• Article in Popular Government—a journal for
practitioners in North Carolina.
• Numerous student projects in classes, and presented
at conferences.
Taking Advantage of What People are
Talking About: The 2008 Election
• More than one op-ed a month.
• Frequent quotes
• Frequent presentations to groups around the
state
The Polls
• Cell phones
• The “Bradley Effect”
• Likely voter screens
The Polls
Voter Turnout
Voting Eligible Population Turnout in NC and the US
70%
Turnout
60%
NC
US
50%
40%
30%
1980
1984
1988
1992
1996
Year
2000
2004
2008
55
50
45
VEP Turnout
60
65
Voter Turnout
1980
1984
1988
1992
1996
2000
Year
non-South
Source: United States Elections Project 2008
South
2004
2008
Voter Turnout
VA
FL
NC
LA
AL
MS
GA
SC
TN
TX
AR
0
20
Source: http://elections.gmu.edu/
40
VEP Turnout
60
80
Voter Turnout
20
18
16
14
12
2004
2008
10
8
6
4
2
0
Under 30
Blacks
Latinos
Voter Turnout
100
90
80
70
60
Kerry
Obama
50
40
30
20
10
0
Under 30
Blacks
Latinos
30
40
% Rep
50
60
The South
1980
1984
1988
1992
1996
2000
Year
non-South
Source: http://www.uselectionatlas.org/
South
2004
2008
60
50
40
30
% Rep
70
80
The South
1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008
Year
House
Source: The Almanac of American Politics
Senate
Voting Patterns in North Carolina
Voting Patterns in North Carolina
•
•
•
•
Percent Black
Education
Income
Region
Voting Patterns in North Carolina
80
Obama Vote by % Black
Durham
Orange
Hertford
Warren
Edgecombe
Northampton
Bertie
Halifax
Vance
20
40
% Obama
60
Mecklenburg
Anson
GuilfordHoke
Cumberland
Washington
Wake Robeson
Scotland
Buncombe
Pasquotank
Forsythe
Chatham
Pitt
Granville
Jackson
Gates
Wilson Martin
Watauga
Caswell
Bladen
Richmond
Hyde
Lenoir
New
Hanover
Franklin
Chowan
Nash
Tyrrell
Madison
Swain
Greene
Yancey
Columbus
Haywood
Allamance
Lee
Duplin
Person
Sampson
Wayne
Jones
Dare
Montgomery
Transylvania
Perquimans
Polk
Rockingham
Pender
Pamilco
Craven
Harnett Beaufort
Henderson
Burke Brunswick
Cabarrus
Cleveland
Moore
Onslow
Alleghany
Macon
Rowan
Johnston
AsheSurry
Catawba
Iredell
Gaston
McDowell
Union
Caldwell
Currituck
Rutherford
Lincoln
Davidson
Camden
Stokes
Carteret
Clay
Graham
Cherokee
Wilkes
Alexander
Davie Stanly
Mitchell
Avery
Randolph
Yadkin
0
20
40
% Black (2006)
60
Voting Patterns in North Carolina
80
Obama Vote by income
Durham
Orange
Edgecombe
Bertie
Northampton
Halifax
Vance
Mecklenburg
Anson
Hoke
Cumberland
Guilford
Washington
Scotland
Wake
Robeson
Pasquotank
BuncombeForsythe
Pitt
Chatham
Granville
Martin Jackson
Gates
Bladen
Caswell
Watauga
Hyde
Richmond
Lenoir
Tyrrell
Chowan
Franklin
New Hanover
Madison
Swain Nash
Greene
Columbus
Yancey
Duplin
Jones
Sampson
Wayne
Haywood
Person
Allamance
Lee
Montgomery
Dare
Perquimans
Transylvania
Pamilco
Rockingham
Pender
Polk
Craven
Beaufort
Harnett
Brunswick
Burke
ClevelandHenderson
Cabarrus
Onslow
Moore
Alleghany
Macon
Rowan
Johnston
AsheMcDowell
Gaston
Catawba
Iredell
Surry
Union
Rutherford
Caldwell
Currituck
Davidson
Lincoln
Camden
Carteret
Stokes
Clay Wilkes
Stanly
Graham
Cherokee
Alexander Davie
Avery
Mitchell
Randolph
Yadkin
Wilson
20
40
% Obama
60
Hertford
Warren
30000
40000
50000
Median Income (2004)
60000
70000
Voting Patterns in North Carolina
80
Obama Vote by % with College Ed
Orange
Hertford
Warren
Edgecombe
Bertie
Northampton
Halifax
Vance
Mecklenburg
Anson
Hoke
Cumberland
Guilford
Washington
Wake
Robeson Scotland
Pasquotank
Buncombe
Forsythe
Pitt
Chatham
Granville
Gates
Martin
Wilson
Jackson
Caswell
Bladen
Watauga
Richmond
Hyde
Lenoir
TyrrellFranklin
Chowan
Nash
New Hanover
Swain
Madison
Greene
Columbus
Yancey
Jones
Person
Duplin
Sampson
Wayne
Haywood
Lee Allamance
Montgomery
Dare
Perquimans
Rockingham
Pender
Pamilco
Craven Transylvania
Polk
Harnett
Beaufort
Brunswick
Burke
Cleveland
Cabarrus Henderson
Onslow
Moore
Alleghany
Rowan
Johnston
Macon
AsheGastonCatawba
Iredell Union
McDowell
Surry
Caldwell
Rutherford
Currituck
Davidson
Lincoln
CamdenCarteret
Stokes Stanly
Alexander
Cherokee
Graham
Wilkes Clay Davie
Randolph
Mitchell
Avery
Yadkin
20
40
% Obama
60
Durham
10
20
30
% College Degree (2000)
40
50
Public Policy Institute Future Projects
• Data Depository for WNC
• Faculty Fellows Program
• Small Conferences—always interdisciplinary,
always on targeted issues, always w/ applied
& academic outputs. Always w/student
participation.
• Survey and contract work around the region.
What makes for a Good Center?
• A distinct mission.
• An administration that allows the Director to play to
his/her strengths.
• A director with good connections across campus and
in the community.
• Student involvement.
• An academic program with direct linkages.
Questions/Comments