The PhD in Public Policy Program at OSU is a strong ally and advocate for students from diverse backgrounds and offers the opportunity for students to participate in a wide range of interdisciplinary inquiry on policy that affects diverse communities.

We are striving to provide a truly multicultural, diverse and international learning environment. For this purpose, we have been partnering with Diversity & Cultural Engagement (previously called Intercultural Students Services), with OSU International Programs, and with several international partners.

We provide a variety of funding sources and scholarships for excellent students from any background.

We also offer a close mentoring relationship between our students and faculty. Joint policy-related and social events throughout the academic year offer regular opportunities for an active academic and personal exchange, and contribute to a strong sense of community and fellowship.

Several programs directly address issues of international and domestic diversity:

International Comparative Rural Policy Studies Summer School

ICRPS 2012

The International Comparative Rural Policy Studies (ICRPS) program brings together a diverse, international, multi-disciplinary group of faculty, students and professionals to study together the many facets of rural policy, from policy formulation to policy impacts. Student participants are selected on the basis of merit, service to their degree programs, and areas of academic concentration (i.e.,rural policy)

Web Site: ICRPS

Indigenous Policy Summer Institutes

The Indigenous Policy Summer Institutes are a series of short-term academic and service-learning exchanges that provide a student-based and partially student-run space for the discussion of questions of indigenous governance, culture, politics, and history, which takes place in an interdisciplinary, experiential and indigenous setting. Prepared by classroom seminars, video conferencing and an online discussion forum, graduate and undergraduate students and faculty from Oregon State University and interested partners meet for a week of field trips and an academic conference each spring. The location will be a different indigenous community every year.

Web Site: Indigenous Policy Summer Institutes

Social Justice Students Conference at Holocaust Memorial Week

PhD students are encouraged to hold presentations and interact with speakers and fellow students at the annual Social Justice Conference, hosted by Diversity & Cultural Engagement in cooperation with the Holocaust Memorial Week.

Cultural Centers

OSU maintains a variety of Diversity & Cultural Engagement which serve an active community of domestic and international students. MPP faculty regularly participate in events hosted by the centers.

Web Sites:

Diversity Workshops

All PhD students take part in workshops addressing questions of cultural, ethnic, social and sexual diversity. The Social Policy concentration allows for further specialization in solving contemporary challenges to maintaining a diverse culture and society.

Women in Policy

Oregon State University’s Women in Policy student group seeks to serve as a platform for increased collaboration and education for those interested in policy topics, which span all disciplines, including social and natural sciences. The group also aims to build a diverse member base, from casually interested observers to those who are actively pursuing careers in policy-making. Central to the group is to recognize and raise awareness among members and the broader community about historical and current under-representation of women in the policy process. WIP invites both undergraduate and graduate students of any gender to contribute towards this goal. Staff/faculty and community members are also encouraged to participate.