Public Affairs at Alma
Alma's Public Affairs Institute offers interdisciplinary experiences for students who, regardless of particular majors, have common academic and vocational interests in public affairs.
The program includes:
- Hosting special workshops
- Visiting speakers
- Scholars-in-residence
- Professional consulting
- Global internships
The program's requirements are designed to be flexible and link to any major or minor, from Art to Women's Studies. Participating in the classes and other programs of the Public Affairs Institute allows students to link their other studies to civic needs and concerns.
How to get involved
Students interested in public issues are urged to apply to join the Public Affairs Institute before beginning classes at Alma. Applications are available from the College Admissions Office. Also, students are encouraged to visit campus and speak with Professor Lorenz or other faculty involved in Public Affairs.
How to Apply
Click here for the Public Affairs Institute application. [Only available on line before April1. Contact Dr. Lorenz at other times.]
Curriculum
While students not members of the Institute may enroll in Public Affairs classes, if there is space, students in the formal institute program begin with a Colloquium in the Fall Term of the First Year.
The Colloquium is designed to expose students to representative public issues related to a variety of disciplines in the humanities, the social sciences, and the natural sciences.
In recent years the colloquium has focused on:
- The Media and Elections
- Energy and Food Policy
- Health Policy
- Religion and Politics
- Changes in Working Conditions Around the World
- Terrorism and International Law
Colloquium students have organized forums on industrial agriculture, community sustainability, and election outcomes. They have provided research support for the local community advisory group for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. In 2008 they hosted the Eugene Kenaga International DDT Conference which brought medical and environmental experts from around the world to Alma. At tghe end of the DDT Conference, Dr. Lorenz and the other participants produced a "consesnsu Statement" that has been published in Environmental Health Perspectives [May 2009]. Go to http://www.ehponline.org/docs/2009/11748/abstract.html to see an abstract [summary] of the consensus statement and for a link to a free copy of the full statement. The consensus statement is important for challenging a lobbying campaign to increase use of DDT and other persistent organic pollutants. The significance of the conference also was noted by The Scientific American. See http://www.scientific american.com/article.cfm?id=ddt-use-to-combat-malaria
During 2009-2010, current Public Affairs fellows anticipate holding a similar international event related to the role of the U.S. in recognizing and defending international law related to human rights, labor and migrant rights, and the rules of war and peace. As plans evolve for that event, more information will be available. See the description of the Public Affairs programs related to Mexico and International Law for background on this initiative.
In addition to working on these common projects, individual public affairs students must develop internships or practica with a public or private non-profit agency, design an independent study of a public topic of interest, and conclude with a senior seminar.
