Learning Outside the Classroom

Students enjoying International Week

The School of Public Policy realizes that learning does not occur only inside classroom walls. During this academic year, SPP’s Student Services Office provided a series of co-curricular events and opportunities to support the academic and professional success of SPP students. These efforts were in addition to offering individualized academic advising and career consultations to the nearly 1,000 enrolled students.

Employers such as the Defense Intelligence Agency, RAND Corp., U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration, CIA, Chemonics International, Inc., FBI, and U.S. Department of Transportation conducted information sessions for students on George Mason’s Arlington campus. The sessions provided students a convenient opportunity to learn more about career paths and a chance to ask pertinent questions to practitioners. Other workshops provided students with job search strategies, résumé clinics, fellowship and internship information, and networking strategies.

“Student Services advises students individually and provides professional development opportunities, academic success strategies, and social events,” says Director of Student Services Jill Emerson.

This year saw the beginning of a Success Strategies series that includes information kiosks with themes such as “Ask an Advisor,” “Writing and Public Speaking Tips,” and “Helpful Web Etiquette.” Emerson notes, “The kiosk is for those students who have a quick question or want information fast, and don’t require an appointment.”

SPP Student Association officers

“In organizing social events such as ‘Welcome Back’ and end-of-semester receptions, Student Services encourages students to socialize across programs and to interact with faculty outside of the classroom,” says Kelly Schrader, assistant director of student services. These events are often organized in conjunction with the School of Public Policy Student Association. This group of enthusiastic students provides further opportunities for interaction among students, faculty, and alumni.

The associate dean’s office and SPP faculty share in the philosophy of continuing learning outside the classroom. They arranged one-day math and writing workshops free of charge to students. Both workshops were offered on Saturdays and quickly filled to capacity. Professors Phil Auerswald, Narou Koizumi, and Wayne Perry assisted students with quantitative skills during the math workshop. At the writing workshop, Professor Brien Benson; Joyce Murdoch, managing editor for politics at the National Journal and former editor and reporter at the Washington Post; and SPP student and American University Professor Carol Whitney assisted students with improving written communication skills.

“For our doctoral students, the work they do outside the classroom is an essential complement to their work in the classroom,” says PhD Student Services Director Elizabeth Eck. Doctoral students present their research at conferences worldwide (e.g., American Political Science Association, the Southern Economic Association, the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management, the North American Regional Science Council), and SPP has a research grant program to provide funds for them to do so.

To give students more experience in presenting their research, SPP also has a doctoral student research workshop series, which is entirely student-conceived and administered. Students present their research to peers and faculty, and then publish their findings in the SPP Doctoral Working Paper Series. Working papers are also required to be submitted to peer-reviewed journals for publication.