Policy Research Seminar (PRS)
Client-Driven Capstone Research Projects
The Policy Research Seminar (PRS) is a one-semester research and writing intensive real-world experience that is our version of a capstone project for second-year students. Small teams of students complete client-driven policy analysis projects. This allows students to hone their skills in implementing the analytical tools of policy research and, perhaps most importantly, in communicating their results effectively to policymakers. Teams present intermediate results to each other and make one or more presentations to their clients. PRS students also share their work with the program's board members at the annual Board of Advisor reception held each fall semester.
2019 Policy Research Seminar
Virginia Department of Veterans Services
Veterans to Teachers
Virginia Interfaith Center
Private Right of Action for Wage Theft
USAID
Cyber Security of Ukrainian Courts
James City County
Improving Recycling in James City County
2018 Policy Research Seminar
Virginia Department of Veteran's Services
Virginia Veteran Microloan Program
USAID
The Effect of Electronic and Online Access to Courts on Supply Chain Management of Judicial Services in the Ukraine
US Department of State
Women and Violent Extremism
Joint Legislative and Audit Review Commission (JLARC)
Timeliness of Regulations in Virginia
2017 Policy Research Seminar
USAID
Improving Distribution of Off-Grid Solar Energy System in Sub-Saharan Africa
US DOE Office for Electricity & Energy Reliability
The Status of Electrical Production, Distribution & Use in Virginia, 2017/2018
American Concrete Pressure Pipe
America's Chronic Underinvestment in Water Infrastructure
Virginia CRS
An Assessment of Finance Strategies to Support Community Rating System Technical Assistance to Local Communities
Avalon Center
Documenting Outcomes of Avalon Center's Programs
Virginia Department of Taxations
How can Virginia improve the accuracy of its revenue forecasts?
Virginia Joint Leadership Council of Veterans Service Organizations
Analytic Support for the Virginia Joint Leadership Council of Veterans Service Organizations
2016 Policy Research Seminar
Associated Equipment Distributors (AED)
The Equipment Industry Technical Workforce: Addressing the Technician Shortage Supply
W&M Office of Sustainability
Conservation Credit Markets and the Potential for Implementing Conservation Credits at the College of William & Mary
End Rape on Campus (EROC)
EROC CHIMEHACK Map
Joe Nash
Design a Market-based Energy/Environmental Platform for the 2017 Virginia Gubernatorial Campaign
NH Circle Program
Evaluation of The Circle Program: New Opportunities for New Hampshire Girls
2015 Policy Research Seminar
Associated Equipment Distributors (AED)
The Equipment Industry Technical Workforce: Policy Recommendations to Address the Technician Shortage
AidData
Getting to Use: Producing High Impact Datasets on Development Finance
Joint Legislative and Audit Review Commission (JLARC)
Examining Options for Virginia Department of Education's Composite Index of Local Ability to Pay
Middle Peninsula Planning District Commission (MPPDC)
The Changing Demographics of Virginia's MIddle Peninsula
New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES)
Proving the Value of the New Hampshire Hazardous Waste Coordinator Certification Program
Olde Town Medical and Dental Center (OTMDC)
What is the best organizational designation for OTMDC?
Virginia Sea Grant
Jurisdictional Landscape Analysis in Oyster Aquaculture & Restoration
2014 Policy Research Seminar
Associated Equipment Distributors (AED) & Aeronautical Repair Station Association (ARSA)
Policy Solutions for a Stronger Technical Workforce
AidData
Country-Level Data Analysis Using AidData
City of Williamsburg
Examining Non-Transient Occupancy of City Hotels and Motels
Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis
Study of Alternative Education Options
Energy Equipment & Infrastructure Alliance (EEIA)
Shale Energy Development Supply Chain Guidance
Joint Legislative and Audit Review Commission (JLARC)
Examining the Connection between Poverty and Teacher Quality in Virginia's Public Schools
Joe Nash
Development of Legislative and Regulatory Strategy for Oil and Gas Exploration in Virginia
2013 Policy Research Seminar
Associated Equipment Distributors
State Infrastructure Investment Analysis
AidData
Measuring AidData's Policy Impact
Beyond Boobs
Estimating and Communicating the Benefits of Beyond Boobs' Programs
Joint Legislative and Audit Review Commission
Comparing Virginia's Public Research Universities to Leading Private Research Universities
Virginia Coastal Policy Clinic
Regulatory Fidelity: Wetlands Management in Virginia
Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools
Estimating the Return on Investment for the Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools
2012 Policy Research Seminar
Amerigroup
Alternative Concepts for Medicaid Program Sustainability through State Reform and Financing Redesign
Associated Equipment Distributors
Impact of Fuel Usage Trends on Federal Surface Transportation Investment Resources
Blueseed
Developing an Environmental Compliance and Sustainability Plan for Blueseed
Joint Legislative and Audit Review Commission
The Use of Age-Based Investment Portfolios in the Virginia Retirement System and the Virginia College Savings Plan
Lewis B. Puller, Jr. Veterans Benefits Clinic
Estimating the Value of Benefits Provided by the Lewis B. Puller Veterans Benefits Clinic
The Nature Conservancy
Tracking Healthy Waters Protections in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed
Virginia Advances Studies Strategies
Further Evaluation of the Advanced Placement Training and Incentives Program
2011 Policy Research Seminar
Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee
Evaluating the impact of economic development grants
Associated Equipment Distributors
Infrastructure spending impacts on future tax revenues
National Library of Medicine
Optimal public expenditure on new bioinformatics PhDs
The Nature Conservancy
Public funding of land acquisitions in Virginia
Virginia Advanced Study Strategies
Outcomes-based evaluation of teacher training
Amerigroup, Inc.
Basic Health Programs: Implications for Concordant Family Insurance Coverage
2010 Policy Research Seminar
Division of Parks and Recreation, James City County, VA
The Economic Impact of Parks and Recreational Facilities in James City County
Air Combat Command, United States Air Force
Use of Federal Land for Renewable Energy Development and National Defense
Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC)
The Policy Effectiveness of Tax Preferences in Virginia
Williamsburg Community Health Foundation and Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools
Design, Fielding and Analysis of School-Based Surveys on Health Behaviors
The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC)
Best Practices in Evaluating the Impact of Agriculture Projects in Developing Countries
Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC)
Prosecution of Medicaid Fraud in Virginia
2009 Policy Research Seminar
World Bank
An Analysis of the European Union's Emission Trading System
The Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis
A Profile of Immigrants in Virginia's Economy
Rita Welsh Adult Literacy Program (RWALP)
What is the Economic Impact of Adult Literacy Programs of the Type Offered at RWALP: Focus on Employment, Income, Poverty, and Health Outcomes
Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC)
What are the Economic Impacts of Requiring the Virginia Treasury to Place Treasury-Managed Funds with In-State versus Out-of-State Financial Institutions
Urban Institute
Foreclosures, Minorities, and Immigrants in Prince William County, Virginia
Williamsburg City Education Review Committee (WCERC)
What are Plausible Models for Moving the School Students (K-12) from the Combined Williamsburg-James City County School Division to an Independent City of Williamsburg Approach (powerpoint presentation)
Office of Economic Development at the College of William & Mary
A Benefit-Cost Analysis of the Provision of a Year-Round Free Clinic in Petersburg, Virginia (powerpoint presentation)
Alliance for the Family (AFF) (a non-profit organization)
The Impact of Character Education in Latin America
2008 Policy Research Seminar
U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Program Analysis and Evaluation
Analyzing the Transportation Security Administration "9-11 Fees"
Senate Finance Committee, Virginia General Assembly
Early Impact and Budget Analysis of Virginia's New Mental Health System
National Library of Medicine/National Institutes of Health
Measuring Return on Investment from National Medical and Behavioral Research
Virginia's Gateway Region: Economic Development Organization (VGR)
Statewide Analysis of the Effectiveness of Regional Economic Development Activities
A Voice for Virginia's Children
Virginia's Voices of Children's Budget Proposal
2007 Policy Research Seminar
The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC)
Proposal for Policy Research Seminar: Best Practices in Technical and Vocational Education Programs
Virginia House Appropriations Committee
Legislative options for improving access to physician care for medicaid recipients
Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC)
What is a "normally expected" mortality rate for children with emotional or behavioral disturbances in Virginia residential facilities?
National Govenors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA)
State policies to promote and support rural entrepreneurship
Project on National Security Reform (PNSR)
What lessons can be learned from prior attempts at National Security Reform in the United States?
Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)
The Economic Impacts of Recycling in Virginia
MITRE Corporation
How Government Redirects its Efforts to Improve Effectiveness
Virginia State Crime Commission (VSCC)
Effectiveness of available juvenile services across the Commonwealth of Virginia (both public and private)
Which programs are the most cost-effective programs and which boast the lowest recidivisim rates?
2006 Policy Research Seminar
The Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis
The State of Working Virginia
Office of Public Health and Science, US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)
An Empirical Review and Policy Analysis of Disease Prevention and Health
Senate Finance Committee, Virginia General Assembly
Policy and Budget Analysis of Virginia's Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT)
EPA Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics Nanoscale Materials Research Needs Review
Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC)
The Impact of Regulations on Virginia's Manufacturing Sector: How Good are Estimates Derived from Examining Differences in Economic Levels Across Countries
York County Office of Economic Development
Defining and Creating a Business-Friendly Community: Evaluating York County's Business Environment
CARE USA - Policy and Advocacy Unit
Mapping the Humanitarian Policy Landscape
2005 Policy Research Seminar
Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy
Tracking Lottery Sales and Education Distributions in Virginia
House Appropriations Committe, Virginia General Assembly
Factors Driving the Cost of Residential Services in the Comprehensive Services Act Program: What are Alternatives to Control Costs and Serve Children in the Most Effective Treatment Setting
Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC)
What Is a Living Wage in Virginia
Children's Services, County of York
Early Childhood Behavior Interventions - What Works
National Council for Advanced Manufacturing (NACFAM)
Project Green: Linking Environmentally-Friendly Business Practices to Public Policy
Ernst & Young Quantitative Economics and State Practice
Benefit-Cost Analysis of Rails-to-Trails Investment
2004 Policy Research Seminar
Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association
Why Doesn't Virginia Have More Nurses: Changes in Faculty Funding, Curriculum and Credit Requirements Needed
Senate Finance Committee, Virginia General Assembly
Serving Foster Children at the Local Level: Best Practices and Investment Results
The Office of Comprehensive Services (CSA)
An Empirical Analysis of Local Government Utilization Management Under the Virginia Comprehensive Services Act
Partnership for Public Service
Public Attitudes About Government and Government Workers
IBM Global Services
Issues in Evaluating Projects for the Millennium Challenge Corporation
2003 Policy Research Seminar
Virginia State Crime Commission
Prosecutorial Services in the Commonwealth of Virginia
Virginia Department of Health
Evaluate Proposed Modifications to the Isolation and Quarantine Statutes in Virginia to Enhance the Public Health Response to Large Scale Disease Outbreaks
Partnership for Public Service
Who is Being Hired in the Federal Government
The Office of Comprehensive Services
A Gap Analysis of Local Government Utilization Management Under the Virginia Comprehensive Services Act
Hampton Health District
Evaluation of Hampton's Healthy Families Partnership Programs
Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC)
Projecting Future Benefits Paid and Future Balances of the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund
2002 Policy Research Seminar
Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC)
Formula-Driven Spending in the State Budget
Employment Policy Foundation
Is Phased Retirement a Viable Approach for Extending Labor Force Participation of Skilled and Experienced Older Workers
Arthritis Foundation, Virginia Chapter
Arthritis Care in Managed Care Populations
National Institute of Justice (NIJ), U.S. Department of Justice
Benefit Cost Analysis of the Collection of DNA Evidence in Reported Rape/Sexual Assault Cases
Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC)
Virginia State Agency Use of Performance Measures
2001 Policy Research Seminar
RAND Corporation
The History and Impact of Several Research and Development (R&D) Programs Supported by Various Federal Agencies - Selected Case Studies
State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV)
Assessing Critical Labor Shortages in Virginia
Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC)
Virginia State Agency Use of Performance Measures
Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC)
Why do Localities with Higher Population Density Tend to Spend More
Virginia State Crime Commission (VSCC)
Study of Indigent Defense in the Commonwealth of Virginia
RAND Corporation
The Federal Government's R&D Investment and the American Aerospace Industry
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
2000 Policy Research Seminar
U.S. Congressional Budget Office (CBO)
Review and Evaluation of the Work of National Commissions on Economic and Budgetary Issues
Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC)
Likelihood of Different Types of Economic Downturns Occurring
Virginia State Crime Commission
Decision-Making in the Criminal Justice System
National Academy of Sciences, National Research Council, Board on Science, Technology, and Economic Policy
The Information Technology Workforce Gap: An Analysis of the United States and India
AGATE Alliance Association, Inc. (AAAI) and NASA Langley Research Center
The Development of the Small Aircraft Transportation System (SATS) Public Policy Implications at Federal, State, and Local Levels
1999 Policy Research Seminar
The International City County Management Association
Renewing the Urban Landscape: The Dilemma of Vacant Housing
International City/County Management Association (ICMA)
Analysis of Factors Determining and Consequences of Vacant Properties in U.S. Cities
Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC)
Forecasting Enrollment and Expenditure Needs for K-12 Education in Virginia
PriceWaterhouseCoopers
Modeling Changes in Procurement Practices for the U.S. Mint Under New Federal Regulations
1998 Policy Research Seminar
Virginia State Crime Commission
Analysis of School Safety in Virginia
Arlington County
Assessing Welfare Reform in Arlington County, Virginia
Office of Human Services ISSI, Inc.
Evaluating the Redevelopment of Superfund Sites
PriceWaterhouseCoopers
Telehealth: Business Case, Social Good, and Government Programs
Virginia State Crime Commission
An Analysis of Wireline and Wireless 911, E-911 Systems, and the #77 Service
1997 Policy Research Seminar
York County
An Analysis of Unmet Health Needs in York County, Virginia
Ameritech of Illinois
Evaluation of Several Aspects of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 as it Applies to Competition, Pricing, and Market Share Issues for Ameritech
Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC)
Pay Equity Among State Classified Employees
Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC)
Survey of State Cabinet System Structure
PriceWaterhouseCoopers
Policy Issues Related to Housing of Military Service Members
Urban Institute
Policies to Protect Victims of Threats, Harassment, and Stalking by Domestic Partners
1996 Policy Research Seminar
Virginia Health Care Foundation
Evaluation of the Free (Dental) Clinic of the New River Valley
City of Hampton
City of Hampton: Building a Healthy Neighborhood Asset Index
Council of Governors' Policy Advisors
Private Sector Prison Industries: A Report to the States
Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC)
Legislative Program Evaluation:Survey of Analytical Methodologies and Tools
Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC)
The Effects of Truth-in-Sentencing on Admissions to Virginia State Prisons
Olde Towne Medical Center
The Proper Patient Mix for the Olde Towne Medical Center: A Menu of Policy Options
Virginia Health Care Foundation
Nelson County Rural Health Outreach Program Evaluation
1995 Policy Research Seminar
Virginia Power Company
Analysis of Virginia Power's Corporate Giving Program in Light of a Changing Regulatory Environment
Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC)
Forecasting State Indebtedness
Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC)
Development of an Alternative Method for Forecasting Needs for Juvenile Prison Space
Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC)
Impact of Social Security Reform Proposals on the Virginia Retirement System
National Center for State Courts
Impact of Tort Reform Proposals
1994 Policy Research Seminar
Williamsburg Child Care Center
Analysis of the Future Viability of the Williamsburg Child Care Center
City of Norfolk
Helped the City's financial planning bureau develop a financial plan
James City County
Analyzed new regulations regarding "open space" in James City County in regard to land use policy.
