The Education Policy Initiative (EPI) at the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy is a program of coordinated activities designed to bring the latest academic knowledge to issues of education policy. Under the direction of professors Kevin Stange and Christina Weiland, the EPI team conducts rigorous and relevant research to inform education policy debates and to disseminate best practices in education reform to local, state, and national policymakers. Our research projects span the entirety of the P-20 educational system, ranging from early childhood access to post-secondary pathways. EPI researchers have established strong working partnerships with some of the leading practitioners and policymakers in the field of education research and policy and have collaborated with the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement and Potential (MiLEAP) to evaluate the Tuition Incentive Program (TIP). Our team is seeking a temporary outreach assistant to assist with the qualitative portion of the evaluation, focused on engaging high school and college students in interviews to describe their experiences and priorities with choosing postsecondary options.

EPI seeks a Student Research Assistant to contribute to a qualitative study investigating how Michigan high school and community college students understand state financial aid in Michigan and how college affordability shapes their college and career decisions. The study involves interviews with high school seniors and community college students. Interviews will largely be virtual; however, some in-person recruitment and interview work may be required. Each interview lasts between 60 minutes and 2 hours and may occur on evenings and weekends. Other work may include analyzing interview transcripts using qualitative data analysis software. This research will inform ongoing policy work being implemented by the state of Michigan aimed at increasing college affordability and college access. Research Assistants will have the opportunity to conduct interviews, receive training from experts in the field, gain experience on a large-scale research study, and work closely with the research team.

Student Research Assistant Responsibilities

Research Assistant should be comfortable with the following:

• Conducting one-on-one interviews with students.
• Contacting participants to schedule interviews.
• Writing field notes following interviews.
• Participate in team meetings.
• Assist with the administrative work related to the study.
• Assist with coding and other analytic project tasks.

Interested students should submit a cover letter detailing their interest in the project and any experience with qualitative research methods, as well as a resume/CV to edpolicyford@umich.edu.

Required Qualifications

• Graduate student in public policy, education, or other relevant discipline (in good academic standing).
• Demonstrated interest in qualitative research, and/or research related to college access and success.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to engage interview participants.
• Organization and time management.
• Ability to work independently, and as a member of a team.
• Ability to work well under pressure and within timelines that are relatively constrained.
• Flexibility to work on evenings and weekends, as needed for interview scheduling.
• Ability to problem-solve and think creatively.

Desired Qualifications: Training in qualitative methods or experience conducting interviews.