Established in 1999, CLOSUP serves University faculty and students interested in state, local, and urban policy.

The Center is housed within the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, where it helps scholars conduct state-of-the-art policy-relevant social science research. It functions as an information resource for academics, policymakers, the media, and the public. The Center works to foster effective communication between academic researchers and the policymakers dealing with today's state, local, and urban policy problems.

New Publications

The Effect of Gun Shows on Gun-Related Deaths: Evidence from California and Texas

This working paper by Brian Jacob, Mark Duggan, and Randi Hjalmarsson describes findings from a study of how gun shows and their regulations impact gun-related homicides and suicides. See the UM press release regarding this paper.
Reforming the System of Care: A Review of the Literature on Housing and Service Arrangements for Homeless Populations

This report describes findings from a literature review of recent academic and applied research on the relationship between housing and service arrangements and housing stability for homeless, formerly homeless, and precariously housed individuals and families.

Education Policy Initiative (EPI)

EPI is a program of coordinated activities at the Center for Local, State, and Urban Policy (CLOSUP) designed to bring the latest academic knowledge to issues of education policy. Through a combination of research projects and related events, EPI seeks to identify and evaluate promising educational interventions and to inform educators and policymakers about new research findings.

Upcoming Events

Global Urban Symposium:

10/10/2008 (day-long event): Hosted by the Ross School of Business and its Net Impact organization, this event is co-sponsored by CLOSUP. A day-long conference in Ann Arbor that explores the role that the private, public and nonprofit sectors play in addressing the challenges facing cities around the globe. See the conference website for more.

Election '08's Impact on Michigan: Energy, the Environment, and the Economy

10/14/2008 (7:00-8:30pm): This panel discussion co-sponsored by Michigan Radio and the Center for Local, State, and Urban Policy at the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy will feature experts in the environment, energy, and economics for a discussion on how the policies of the presidential candidates will impact Michigan. They will be joined by advocates for both the Obama and McCain campaigns. Listen to the discussion, and ask your questions. Register and see more information here.

EPI Seminar Series:

A core component of the Education Policy Initiative is the education policy seminar series, launched in Fall 2007. Seminars for the 2008-2009 academic year are now being planned, and currently include:

11/19/2008 (4:00-5:30pm): "Improving Impacts of Classrooms: Professional Development and Classroom Observation." Dr. Robert Pianta, Dean of the Curry School of Education at the University of Virginia, and Director of the UVA Center for Advanced Study of Teaching and Learning
3/9/2009 (4:00-5:30pm): Grover Whitehurst, Director of the Institute for Education Sciences at the U.S. Department of Education

See more information on previous EPI seminars.

Policy Events around UM

See other events around the University of Michigan with relevance for local, state, and urban policy.

closup@umich.edu |

735 South State Street, Suite 5310. Ann Arbor, MI. 48109-3091 |

phone: 734-647-4091 |