Research Centers
John L. Krauss, Director
The IU Public Policy Institute is a collaborative, multidisciplinary research institute within the Indiana University School of Public and Environmental Affairs. The Institute serves as an umbrella organization for research centers affiliated with SPEA, including the Center for Urban Policy and the Environment, the Center for Health Policy, and the Center for Criminal Justice Research. The Institute also supports the Office of International Community Development and the Indiana Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations (IACIR).
Center for Urban Policy and the Environment
John L. Krauss, Director
The Center for Urban Policy and the Environment was created in 1992 within the School of Public and Environmental Affairs on the Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis campus as the cornerstone of a strategy to position Indiana University as a national leader in urban and environmental policy. The Center works with state and local governments and their associations, neighborhood and community organizations, and business and civic groups to identify issues, analyze options, and develop the capacity to respond to challenges. The Center brings to Indiana cities and communities the expertise of the School of Public and Environmental Affairs faculty, as well as the considerable talents of our professional staff and graduate students.
Since 1992, the Center has completed more than 270 projects with and for public, private, and nonprofit institutions in the Indianapolis region, across the state of Indiana, and in other states and countries. These projects fall within several areas of public policy, including central city development, criminal justice, growth management, waste disposal, government and finance, health care, and water resources.
The Center for Urban Policy and the Environment was named by the Indiana General Assembly to provide staff to the Indiana Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations (IACIR). Established by the Indiana General Assembly in 1995, the IACIR works to create effective communication, cooperation, and partnerships between the federal, state, and local units of government to improve the delivery of services to the citizens of Indiana.
Center for Health Policy
Eric R. Wright, Director
The Center for Health Policy was created in 2007 to address the critical need for information to educate health care policy makers in Indiana. The mission of the CHP is to collaborate with state and local government, as well as public and private health care organizations in health policy and program development and to conduct high quality program evaluation and applied research on critical health policy-related issues. While the CHP is new to SPEA and IUPUI, CHP faculty and staff aspire to serve as a bridge between academic health researchers and state and local government as well as health care organizations and community leaders. CHP leaders have established working partnerships through a variety of projects with government and foundation support. Among other projects, the CHP is leading efforts to review health care delivery systems in Indiana.
Center for Criminal Justice Research
Sam Nunn, Director
The Center for Criminal Justice Research works with public safety agencies and social services organizations to provide impartial applied research on criminal justice and public safety issues. CCJR provides analysis, evaluation, and assistance to criminal justice agencies; and community information and education on public safety questions.
Created in 2008 by the Indiana University School of Public and Environmental Affairs, some of the issues CCJR addresses include crime prevention, criminal justice systems, policing, traffic safety, and youth.