History

The +Policy Network formed in 2017 orginally as a strategic growth area under the auspices of the Office of the Provost as part of the  Beyond Boundaries initiative.  It was one of nine clusters (Destination Areas) created by the then-Provost, Thanassis Rikakis, to attract student and faculty talent by highlighting interdisciplinary, thematic research and teaching. The Network, known then as the Policy Destination Area, was housed within the university social sciences investment research institute, the Institute for Society, Culture and Environment (ISCE).

Initial governance consisted of a stakeholder committee, consisting of 9-12 faculty across the university and buttressed by liaisons to and from other Destination Areas, and reporting to the Provost's Office. Initial emphasis for Destination Areas focused on curricular development; however, the +Policy Network always maintained an equal focus on research.

Within a set funding cap, cluster communities had fiscal autonomy. The Network developed two signature programs: a seed funding research mechanism aimed to broaden policy research across the university (+Policy Fellows program); and a 12-credit graduate certificate program, Science, Technology and Engineering in Policy (STEP).

In AY 2020-2021, +Policy became fully funded by ISCE rather than by the Provost's Office, and adopted the name +Policy Network, in 2023.

We invite you to join the Network!