The New Jersey State Policy Lab at Rutgers University and SPIA in NJ at Princeton University are delighted to be hosting the third annual Policy Collaboratory at the Heldrich Center for Workforce Development on Wednesday, March 25th from 12pm-5pm. This collaborative event, sponsored by the Rutgers Democracy Lab, will welcome graduate students interested in education policy in New Jersey to work together and brainstorm various solutions to address access to higher education in the Garden State.
In consultation with academic experts from a variety of disciplines as well as advocates, policymakers, elected officials, and people with lived experience, students will work together in mixed teams to develop creative and original solutions to this policy problem. The conference will begin with a keynote presentation by Robert Kim, Esq., Executive Director of the Education Law Center. Students will have the opportunity to explore six themes related to higher education access:
- Affordability and financial aid
- Basic needs support
- Coursework and curricular pathways
- Guidance and wraparound student supports
- Metrics and accountability
- Transfer pathways
This half-day event will include complimentary lunch as well as an optional networking cocktail hour after the conference concludes. Students are strongly encouraged to bring a laptop, tablet, or other writing materials for the development of presentations in the second half of the conference.