FAQs

What do you do at the PPC?

Center researchers team with policymakers and other stakeholders to bring expertise in the following areas: strategic consulting and planning, communications, data collection and analysis, evaluation, events and seminars, facilitations, grant writing, project management, research, and surveys. Our researchers are not involved in policymaking, but their data-focused approach helps inform public policy decisions. Visit our services page to see a full list of the services we offer, or visit our focus areas page to learn more about our work in specific areas.

 

How do I learn about conferences, trainings, or events?

To find out about upcoming trainings, conferences, or events, join our Policy Talk newsletter or follow us on Facebook and Twitter. We regularly host virtual and in-person trainings in a variety of areas, including: behavioral health, suicide prevention, disaster preparedness, threat assessment, school safety, and public policy. Many of these items will also be posted on our events page.

If I want to collaborate with you, how do I do that?

To work with the Public Policy Center, call 402-472-5678 or email us at ppc@nebraska.edu. We can direct you to a staff member working in your specific area, or you can visit our staff directory for more information on a specific staff member.

 

How do you work with government and policymakers?

We collaborate in grant writing, project management, and research to inform policymaking. Our researchers are not involved in policymaking, but their data-focused approach helps inform public policy decisions. We link local, state, and federal policymakers to academic and scientific resources and approaches to address important public policy issues covering a wide range of content. Learn more about some of this work on the focus areas page under Civic and Government Systems and Community Engagement.

What types of projects do you work on?

We take on a wide variety of projects, including those needing help with program design and evaluation; conferences, trainings, and seminars; grant development and management; project management, strategic consulting and planning; scholarly research; and stakeholder and community engagement and outreach. For examples of specific projects, visit our focus areas page. 

Where do you get your funding?

Center researchers garner both public and private funding at the local, state, and national levels, for both applied and research grants, as well as through contracts and donations. For a list of some of our recent funding sources, visit our funders page.

Who do you work with?

The Public Policy Center has had the privilege of working with many well-known organizations, both locally and nationally, over the years. We collaborate with government agencies, legislature, non-profit organizations, educational organizations, and more. Our staff have also worked with over 100 faculty from over 50 departments across all NU campuses. Visit our partners page to see a list of some organizations we have worked with recently.

Do you only work in Lincoln/Omaha?

No, we work all across Nebraska, but our work extends nationwide and around the globe. Our staff have consulted with organizations around the country, collaborated on research and projects around Nebraska and across the country, and presented in national and international trainings.

Are you part of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln?

The Public Policy Center was established in 1998 by the Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska. The Center is a University-wide unit that resides institutionally within the UNL Office of the Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. Our official name is the University of Nebraska Public Policy Center, which emphasizes our system-wide status.