URIG Sponsors

The Urban Research Interest Group (URIG) is a research initiative sponsored by Michigan State University's Urban Affairs Programs, Center for Global Change and Earth Observations, the Institute for Public Policy and Social Research and the Office of the Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies. More information on each of these groups is provided below.

Urban Affairs Programs
Dozier W. Thornton, Acting Dean

Urban Affairs Programs analyzes conditions, designs policies, and seeks programmatic solutions for problems related to racial, social, economic, and political inequality. UAP’s goal is to enhance the quality of urban life, to facilitate access to opportunities, and to ameliorate unfavorable conditions leading to inequalities among urban residents. To achieve this mission, Urban Affairs Programs conducts research that provides the basis of the unit’s interdepartmental graduate programs and its outreach efforts. UAP’s teaching and outreach activities, in turn, generate ideas for problem-solving research.

Center for Global Change and Earth Observations
David L. Skole, Director

The Center for Global Change and Earth Observations (CGCEO) is an interdisciplinary research unit administered by the College of Social Science in collaboration with the College of Natural Science, the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources and the Michigan Agricultural Research Station. Faculty from across the university participate in research focused on the study of global environmental change using geospatial information technologies and earth observation satellites to measure, analyze and predict the human and physical processes of global environmental change. The Center strives to strengthen interdisciplinary approaches for understanding global change at all scales, from the regional to the global, using the tools of the social and physical sciences.

Institute for Public Policy and Social Research
Douglas B. Roberts, Director

The Institute for Public Policy and Social Research (IPPSR) is the nonpartisan public policy network at Michigan State University. Our staff is dedicated to connecting legislators, scholars, and practitioners through applied research, policy forums, and political leadership instruction. IPPSR applies research to pressing public policy issues and builds problem-solving relationships between the academic and policymaker communities. To this end the Institute promotes and conduct research on issues of public policy; provides survey research services; produces public policy education and training programs; and initiates discussion of society’s most pressing needs among diverse audiences.

Office of the Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies
Robert J. Huggett, Vice President

The Office of the Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies (OVPRGS) supports the scholarly activity that is fundamental to the mission of Michigan State University. The office provides seed funding for new research projects, fosters faculty’s efforts to secure external funding, and supports major research facilities and instruments. It is charged with promoting safe and secure research locations and practices and assuring compliance with regulations that govern research.

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For More Information

For more information contact Douglas B. Roberts, PhD, Director, Institute for Public Policy and Social Research (IPPSR) at 517-355-6672 or Douglas.Roberts@ssc.msu.edu or contact AnnMarie Schneider, IPPSR Director of Program Development at (517) 355-6672 or annmarie@msu.edu.

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