O’Neill School – Bloomington

O’Neill students finalists in National Government Finance Case Challenge

Posted on December 7, 2023 by Ken Bikoff

Students from the O’Neill School are finalists in the 2023 National Government Finance Case Challenge.

A group of students from the Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs has been named a finalist at the undergraduate level of the 2023 National Government Finance Case Challenge, sponsored by the Association of Government Accountants (AGA).

Seniors Thomas McQuade and Natalie Skelton, as well as junior Jerry Turner III, are all pursuing a degree in public financial management at the O’Neill School. They are students in O’Neill’s Introduction to Government Accounting and Financial reporting class taught by Senior Lecturer Antonette McCaster.

“For the challenge, student teams analyzed data for a state, city, or county government specified by AGA and then developed a Citizen-Centric Report (CCR), which is part of the requirement for AGA’s Certificate of Excellence in Accountability,” McCaster said. “The CCR initiative helps simplify communication between government and its citizens who have a right to accurate information about the way their government spends their taxpayer dollars. The O’Neill team created its CCR for the City of Denver.”

The case challenge experience raises student awareness of the importance of government accountability and transparency, helps students learn how much data is available that needs to be turned into information for citizens to consume, and raises awareness about careers in government.

Submissions were judged by a panel of government finance experts. Named as a finalist in November, the O’Neill team presented its findings in a team-created video of a mock government meeting. The winning team will be announced December 17 with each participant receiving a $1,000 scholarship award. The competition was open to graduate and undergraduate students nationwide.

McGuire proposes racism-conscious framework for health policies in journal Health Affairs

Posted on November 27, 2023 by Ken Bikoff

Cydney McGuire, an assistant professor at the Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, has proposed a racism-conscious framework that can be used to develop new health policies or redesign existing policies that address racism and advance health equity.

In the article “Proposing A Racism-Conscious Approach To Policy Making And Health Care Practices,” published in the journal Health Affairs, McGuire and University of Minnesota colleague Shekinah Fashaw-Walters argue that race-neutral policies overlook the role of racism in policies and disparities while also contributing to inequity. Race-based policies, however, can be politically infeasible. A racism-conscious approach, however, could help develop better, more equitable policies that also stand a chance of being implemented.

“Designing policies to account for racism is exceedingly important to achieving health equity and eliminating the structural barriers that give rise to and maintain the social, political, and economic limitations imposed on minoritized groups in America,” McGuire said. “In our manuscript, we walk through an example focusing on racialized inequities and access to high-quality home health for Medicaid patients and consider how policies can be revised to incentivize higher quality care for racially minoritized patients.”

McGuire and her colleague conceptualize three types of race-related policies and practices, including race-neutral, race-based, and racism-conscious approaches, while also laying out five key steps to creating racism-conscious approaches. Racism-conscious approaches could be more politically feasible because they don’t focus on race but instead on manifestations of racism.

Beyond focusing on racism in health care, the approach can be used in a variety of areas.

“This framework can also be expanded to apply to broader social policies beyond health to create socially conscious policies,” McGuire said. “We hope this framework can help policy makers at multiple levels craft racism-conscious health policies that can advance health equity in a politically feasible way.”

APPAM Conference to feature heavy O’Neill School presence

Posted on November 8, 2023 by Ken Bikoff

Faculty members who will attend the 2023 APPAM Conference. — The O’Neill School will be well-represented at the annual APPAM Conference. (Top row: Christian Buerger, Lehn Benjamin, Nathan Cook, Sameeksha Desai; Middle Row: , Diane Henshel, David Konisky, Douglas Noonan, Alberto Ortega; Bottom Row: Kosali Simon, Shellye Suttles, Coady Wing, Nikos Zirogiannis)

The Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs will be busy during the upcoming Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management Fall Research Conference in Atlanta Nov. 9-11.

With a rich history of academic achievement and a strong tradition of shaping policy debates, the O’Neill School’s involvement in the APPAM Conference is an opportunity to showcase our cutting-edge research, impactful collaborations, and our passion for driving positive change in the world.

We would also like to congratulate Paul H. O’Neill Professor Douglas Noonan from our Indianapolis campus, who will be honored along with Georgia Tech colleague Daniel Matisoff with the World Citizen Prize in Environmental Performance Award at the conference. Noonan and Matisoff are being recognized for the research presented in their recent book “Ecolables, Innovation, and Green Market Transformation.” This award marks the third time in four years an O’Neill faculty member has received the honor.

We invite all of our APPAM colleagues to join us at a reception Thursday, Nov. 9, from 7-9 p.m. where we will honor Professor Noonan for his award.

While at the conference, please join us for discussions on pressing issues while forging connections that will shape the future of public policy and environmental management. O’Neill School faculty and students (in bold) will be part of the following scheduled events:

Thursday, Nov. 9

8:30-10 a.m., Embassy E

Panel: Measuring the Impacts of Economic and Policy Transitions on Agricultural Land Use Change

Wesley Zebrowski, Indiana University

Nikos Zirogiannis, Indiana University

Laura Montenovo, Purdue University

Angela Babb, Bloomington Food & Farm Council

“The Impact of County Boards on Discretionary Rental Rate Adjustments in the Conservation Reserve Program”

Wesley Zebrowski, Indiana University

“Understanding the Long-Term Impact of U.S. Specialty Crop Policy”

Shellye Suttles, Indiana University

Julia Valliant, Indiana University

Gregory Astill, USDA Economic Research Service

8:30-10 a.m., Embassy F

Panel: Maternal Health

“Maternal Antidepressants Demand during the COVID-19 Pandemic”

Sumedha Gupta, IUPUI

Kosali Simon, Indiana University

Dario Salcedo, Indiana University

8:30-10 a.m., Embassy G

Panel: The Aging Population: Financing, Long-Term Care, and Racial-Ethnic Disparities

Megdalynn Fisher, Indiana University

Ashley Bradford, Georgia Institute of Technology

Joseph Benitez, University of Kentucky

Engy Ziedan, Tulane University

“The Impact of Medicaid Financing Shenanigans on Long-Term Care: Supplemental Payments, Government Ownership, and Nursing Home Quality”

Megdalynn Fisher, Indiana University

10:15-11:45 a.m., Grand Hall D

Panel: Healthcare Policy

Megdalynn Fisher, Indiana University

Rebecca Myerson, University of Wisconsin-Madison

10:15-11:45 a.m., Fairlie

Panel: Crime & Health

“Psychiatric Treatment and Police Officer Safety”

Catherine Maclean, George Mason University

Monica Deza, Hunter College

Thanh Lu, Temple University

Alberto Ortega, Indiana University

1:45-3:15 p.m., Embassy G

Panel: Resources for Minority Entrepreneurs: Challenges and Solutions

Scott Langford, Arizona State University

Sameeksha Desai, Indiana University

Diana Hechavarria, Texas Tech University

Adams Bailey, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

1:45-3:15 p.m., Edgewood

Panel: Measuring and Preventing Health Insurance Coverage Losses after the End of Medicaid’s Continuous Enrollment Provision

“State ACA Medicaid Expansions and the Medicaid Continuity of Coverage Rules during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency”

Sumedha Gupta, IUPUI

Kosali Simon, Indiana University

Coady Wing, Indiana University

1:45-3:15 p.m., Hanover E

Roundtable: Urban Resilience to Disasters and Crises

Naim Kapucu, National Academy of Public Administration

Joe Trainor, University of Delaware

Oronde Drakes, US. Geological Survey

Ann-Margaret Esnard, Georgia State University

Douglas Noonan, IUPUI

Lilliard Richardson, Pennsylvania State University

1:45-5 p.m., Embassy D

Workshop: Translating Good Research into Good Policy

Florence Lecraw, Georgia State University

Kosali Simon, Indiana University

Jon Schwabish, Urban Institute, Washington, D.C.

Nancy Condon, Federal Bank of Atlanta

Rebecca Grapevine, Atlanta Business Chronicle

3:30-5 p.m., Hanover C

APPAM Entrepreneurship Policy Fellowship Class *Invite Only*

Cathy Liu, Georgia State University,

Douglas Noonan, IUPUI

Elsie Harper-Anderson, Virginia Commonwealth University

Alexandra Graddy-Reed, University of Southern California

Ting Zhang, University of Baltimore

3:30-5 p.m., Vinings

Panel: Extending Clean Energy Technologies to Underserved Communities and Households

“Electric Vehicles and Equity: Aligning Incentives and Compatible Transportation Behavior”

Joe Bozeman III, Georgia Institute of Technology

Sanya Carley, University of Pennsylvania

Daniel Matisoff, Georgia Tech

Destenie Nock, Carnegie Mellon University

Jeremy Michalek, Carnegie Mellon University

David Konisky, Indiana University

“Residential Solar Access and Energy Insecurity: An Evaluation of Preventative Solutions”

Trevor Memmott, Indiana University

Madeline Yozwiak, Indiana University

Sanya Carley, University of Pennsylvania

David Konisky, Indiana University

Galen Barbose, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab

Cristina Crespo Montanes, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab

Friday, Nov. 10

8:30-10 a.m., Embassy F

Panel: Examining the Role of Medicaid Coverage for Health and Health Care Among Postpartum People, Older Adults, and Children

“Unwinding of Medicaid Continuous Coverage and Health Care Utilization of Older Adults: Evidence from Electronic Health Records”

Hailemichael Shone, Indiana University

Sumedha Gupta, IUPUI

Kosali Simon, Indiana University

Coady Wing, Indiana University

Engy Ziedan, Tulane University

8:30-10 a.m., Embassy G

Panel: Entrepreneurs, Firm Demographics, and Public Policy

“Is Entrepreneurship Good for Society? the Firm Age-Size Puzzle and Social Inclusion”

Sameeksha Desai, Indiana University

8:30-10 a.m., Inman

Panel: Insights into Climate Adaptation

“Social Inequalities in Climate Change Adaptation”

Sechindra Vallury, University of Georgia

Nathan Cook, IUPUI

8:30-10 a.m., Roswell

Panel: The Impact of Funding Shocks on School and District Finances: Exploring Consequences for Stability, Equity, Student Learning, and Beyond

“The Impact of School Spending on Confidence in Government Entities: The Case of School Finance Reforms”

Christian Buerger, IUPUI

Mark Chin, Vanderbilt University

10:15-11:45 a.m., Embassy G

Panel: Natural Disasters and Community Resources: Housing, Management, and Vulnerability

“Housing and Flood Zone Dynamics”

Pin Sun, Renmin University of China

Douglas Noonan, IUPUI

Lilliard Richardson, Pennsylvania State University

1:45-3:15 p.m., Learning Center Ampitheater

Panel: Racial and gender equity in the workplace

“Difficulty-Driven Entrepreneurship: Does the Gender Wage Gap Drive Female Entrepreneurship?”

Sameeksha Desai, Indiana University

Ting Zhang, University of Baltimore

3:30-5 p.m., Edgewood

Panel: Causal Effects of COVID Daycare and Schooling Policies on Employment and Earnings

Kosali Simon, Indiana University

“Worker Sorting on COVID-19 Death Risk – Evidence from the Demographics, Health and Death Certificate Data”

Cong Gian, Indiana University

3:30-5 p.m., Hanover A

Panel: Mortality: Its Social Determinants and the Role of Public Policy

“The Unintended Consequences of Monitoring Technologies: Evidence from the Eld Mandate”

Dario Salcedo, Indiana University

Shellye Suttles, Indiana University

Wesley Zebrowski, Indiana University

3:30-5 p.m., Hanover B

Panel: Entrepreneurship and Policy: APPAM Entrepreneurship Policy Fellowship Program 2022 Cohort Panel

Cathy Liu, Georgia State University

Ting Zhang, University of Baltimore

Douglas Noonan, IUPUI

Alexandra Graddy-Reed, University of Southern California

Saturday, Nov. 11

8:30-10 a.m., Kennesaw

Panel: Equity and the Environment: Multiple Methods and Multifaceted Consideration of Local Contexts Are Necessary

“Experimental Evidence on Minority Participation and the Design of Community-Based Natural Resource Management Programs”

Nathan Cook, IUPUI

10:15-11:45 a.m., Hanover B

Panel: Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Entrepreneurship and Self-Employment in the 21st Century Economy

“Racial Protests and Credit Access”

Raffi Garcia, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Alberto Ortega, Indiana University

Noon-1:30 p.m., Grand Hall West

“Changes in Cognitive Health and Access to Health Care Services Among US Adults at Age 65 Years”

Eli Baratz, Indiana University

“Health Outcomes, Information Costs, and the Rise of Telehealth during the COVID-19 Pandemic”

Austin Knies, Indiana University

1:45-3:15 p.m., Hanover D

Panel: End of Life Decisions: Health Behaviors, Economics, and Public Policy

“Do State Level Assisted Suicide Laws Normalize Unassisted Suicide?”

Coady Wing, Indiana University

3:30-5 p.m., Embassy G

Panel: Exploring the Utility of Adaptive Governance for Addressing Emergent Problems

Jennifer Biddle, University of North Carolina Wilmington

Marquise McGraw, American University

Diane Henshel, Indiana University

George Hawkins, Moonshot Missions, LLC

3:30-5 p.m.

Panel: Policy Implementation across the Life Course: How Regulatory Differences Affect Vulnerable Populations

“Federal Devolution and State-Level Innovation: Families First and the Unfulfilled Promise of Child Welfare Transformation”

Bethany Elston, University of Chicago

Mary Kay Gugerty, University of Washington

Jennifer Mosley, University of Chicago

Lehn Benjamin, Indiana University

Nicole Marwell, University of Chicago

Simon receives IU’s Henry R. Besch, Jr. Promotion of Excellence Award from the Alliance of Distinguished and Titled Professors

Posted on November 6, 2023 by Ken Bikoff

Kosali Simon (right) was honored with the 2023 Henry R. Besch, Jr. Promotion of Excellence Award. (Photo by Alex Kumar)

Kosali Simon, a distinguished professor at the Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, has received the 2023 Henry R. Besch, Jr. Promotion of Excellence Award from the Alliance of Distinguished and Titled Professors at Indiana University.

The honor recognizes an individual who has exhibited distinction in promoting and encouraging the growth of excellence at IU. Simon, who is a member of the National Academy of Medicine, is a nationally known scholar who uses the tools of economic analysis to answer questions about U.S. health policy.

“It was such an honor to receive this prize, and I felt so humbled because I had watched my academic idols receive it in previous years,” said Simon, who also is a Herman B Wells Endowed Professor at IU and a Paul O’Neill Chair. “When I received the letter notifying me of the award, I first felt surprise, which turned quickly into gratitude. I am grateful for my wonderful research colleagues—IU faculty, staff, and students—and those who nominated me, because it’s being able to work with them that makes research a fulfilling experience. I hope that everyone gets to have as amazing a set of colleagues.”

Simon also serves as the Associate Vice Provost for Health Sciences at IUB, Associate Director of the Irsay Institute, and the Director of IU’s Research Data Commons. Outside IU, she is a research associate of the National Bureau for Economic Research, current President of the American Society of Health Economists., editor of the Journal of Health Economics, and a health advisor to the Congressional Budget Office.

Simon was recognized during the Alliance’s annual dinner, and she served as the keynote speaker at the event.

“We’re extremely proud of our faculty at the O’Neill School, and we appreciate the high standards they uphold at IU,” said Siân Mooney, dean of the O’Neill School. “Kosali’s work and reputation is nearly unparalleled, and she’s richly deserving of this honor.”

Fulton honored as Leading Academic Data Leader by Chief Data Officer Magazine

Posted on October 31, 2023 by Ken Bikoff

Brad Fulton, an associate professor at the Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, has been included on the list of Leading Academic Data Leaders for 2023 by Chief Data Officer Magazine.

The CDO list is a definitive compilation that celebrates exceptional individuals at the forefront of data leadership in higher education. Fulton was honored for his work with the Indiana University Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering’s Data Science in Practice course that is designed to help students experience the complexities and nuances of applying data science in the real world.

“I’m honored to be included on CDO’s list,” Fulton said. “I value developing the next generation of data scientists, and our collaboration with the Luddy School enables the O’Neill School to excel at the intersection of data analytics and policy formation. In particular, working with Luddy students has advanced my efforts to democratize data on charitable activity.”

David Leake, a professor of computer science at the Luddy School, was also included on the list.

“We are proud to present the ‘CDO Magazine Leading Academic Data Leaders 2023 List,’” the magazine wrote. “In an era defined by the transformative power of data-driven insights, these honorees have emerged as trailblazers, guiding their institutions towards a future shaped by innovative data strategies and unwavering commitment to excellence.”

Transfer student Erin Kemp on campus size, counting credits, and collaborative learning

Posted on October 16, 2023 by ebatman

Studious female student in red and blue t-shirt sits at table with laptop and notebook.

To celebrate National Transfer Student Week, we asked sophomore Human Resource Management major Erin Kemp about her decision to transfer to the O’Neill School at IU Bloomington.

Why did you choose to transfer to IU Bloomington?

I wanted a university with more of a campus culture and more career-building opportunities.

What brought you to the O’Neill School?

I’m passionate about human resource management, so that’s what brought me to O’Neill specifically. But I don’t know that I could have transferred to IU if it wasn’t for O’Neill, because of their transfer-specific advising.

I realized that I could talk to an advisor even before becoming an O’Neill student. Through that meeting, I realized that my credits were super easy to transfer. I knew I was going to graduate on time, and that helped me feel confident in my decision.

It wasn’t necessarily that I chose O’Neill—but O’Neill ended up making me choose IU.

Has anything surprised you about your transfer experience?

Something that surprised me was how many credits IU was willing to make work!

Another thing that shocked me was how small campus really is once you know where you’re going. IU is twice as big as the school I was going to previously. My main concern was, “I’m going to walk forever! I’m going to get lost on my first day!” But now that I’m actually in classes, I don’t have more than a 10-minute walk.

What’s the learning environment like at O’Neill?

My favorite part of O’Neill is easily my professors and peers. My professors want me to succeed, and a lot of my classmates are willing to collaborate. I’m a collaborative worker myself, so I like to talk through problems. That’s easy to find here. You can just look left and right, and the odds are really high that your classmates want to work with you, too.

What’s your favorite class so far?

Career Development (V 252) with Brett Reardon. Every assignment is spot-on, and every lecture is very engaging. I know it’s going to set me up well for the future.

What makes you excited about your major?

I picked human resource management because I really want to work with people and for people. I feel like that’s a main mission of HR as a whole—just constantly improving the workplace and advocating for people. I think it’s going to be a really good fit for me.

New Executive in Residence Brian Payne provides advice for students on O’Neill Speaks

Posted on October 4, 2023 by Ken Bikoff

What is the path to a rewarding career in public service for young people who have a passion for serving but don’t know where to get started?

Show up.

It’s as simple as that according to Brian Payne, the new executive in residence at the Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs. During an appearance on O’Neill Speaks, the official podcast of the O’Neill School, Payne offered advice to high school, undergraduate, and graduate students who wanted to get their foot in the door for a career in public service and community development.

“Showing up as a volunteer,” said Payne, the former president and CEO of the Central Indiana Community Foundation and the Indianapolis Foundation who built a respected career in community development and philanthropy. “Let’s say you’re interested in the arts and you think, ‘Hey, I might want to do arts management or arts administration someday.’ Start showing up to performances. When you’re at a performance, start saying hi to people. You can usually figure out if there’s some kind of management person in the audience. Introduce yourself. And, by the way, if someone in the arts sees a 16-year-old or an 18-year-old or a 22-year-old showing a lot of interest … they’ll really extend themselves.”

Payne also advises students interested in community development to hone their listening skills, specifically when it comes to the people who aren’t in places of power.

“The people in the fancy offices sitting on tens and hundreds of millions of dollars in endowments may not know the right answer in a Black neighborhood or may not know what a Latino neighborhood wants or what will work for them to enhance their quality of lives,” Payne said.

In his role as executive in residence, Payne will serve as a mentor to students at the O’Neill School, and he’s excited to be able to pass on what he has learned over the years to a younger generation. But it’s a two-way street.

“I always feel like with any kind of mentoring relationship, I learned as much as anyone else does from hanging out with younger people,” Payne said. “It keeps me active and relevant, so it’s an exchange—a mutually beneficial exchange—that I’m very excited about. There are things that you as a 22-year-old … you’re native to digital everything. I was not. I’m going to learn a ton from you, and through 64 years and a career that’s given me access to a lot of interesting projects and a lot of interesting outcomes, I have things I can share with you. I think we can both come out the better for it.”

O’Neill Speaks can be found on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast service.

High-impact practices for learning and leadership: O’Neill’s commitment to excellence through internships

Posted on September 26, 2023 by ebatman

This post is part of our series outlining O’Neill’s commitment to excellence in undergraduate education by R.J. Woodring, Associate Dean for Educational Programs, and Andrea Need, Director of Undergraduate Academic Affairs.

Aerial view of entryway crowded with multiple students in professional dress waiting in line to enter career fair. Students need more than just textbook knowledge to thrive in today’s complex, interconnected world. They need practical experience, real-world problem-solving skills, and a global perspective. At the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, our mission is to prepare students to become leaders for the greater good, equipping them with the knowledge and skills needed to make a significant impact in diverse global settings. One of the cornerstones of this mission is our commitment to high-impact practices for learning and leadership, with a particular focus on internships.

O’Neill’s internship program

Internships are critical to an O’Neill education. In fact, most of our students are required to complete an internship as part of their degree program.

Internships are more than just a checkbox on a student’s degree requirements. They are carefully monitored work or service experiences that allow students to pursue educational goals while actively reflecting on their learning. Internships are crucial for promoting critical thinking, skill development, and personal and professional growth.

The Career Hub at the O’Neill School is dedicated to helping students navigate their internships while gaining the practical skills, real-world insights, and global perspectives that are essential for career readiness. Our professional staff work to connect students with influential organizations in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.

To facilitate internship participation, we offer the O’Neill Greater Good Internship Fund and other scholarships, which provide financial support for unpaid summer internships.

Internships as a pathway to success

An internship is a learning experience and a bridge to a successful career. It allows students to apply classroom knowledge in a professional setting, make valuable industry connections, explore potential career paths, and gain a deeper understanding of their chosen field.

Sophia Osterberg, BSPA’23, gained experience as a policy and public outreach intern with the Department of State and as a legislative intern in the United States Senate. She now works as an energy, sustainability, and infrastructure consultant.

“The Career Hub was integral to finding internships throughout my time here at O’Neill and now finding my job, that I have recently accepted, as I graduate and move to Washington, D.C.,” Osterberg said.

Megan Bankowski, BSPA’23, interned with Congresswoman Debbie Dingell through the Washington Leadership Program.

“I had a blast in my internship,” Bankowski said. “I would love to head back to D.C. to work specifically in an executive department like the Department of Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, or something with regards to the environment.”

Ava Hartman, BAES’23, was a McKinney Climate Fellow with the City of Terre Haute in Indiana where she developed an equity-focused tree-planting plan and worked on grant applications.

“The McKinney Climate Fellows is an internship where you get placed with different nonprofit or government organizations around Indiana,” Hartman said. “You are placed there to quickly help them grow in whatever project they’re working on. And you develop professional skills so you can go out into the real world.”

Ryan Maddox, BSPA’21, spent the summer of his junior year interning with Wells Fargo in public finance investment banking, securities, and law. The experience helped him get a position at Wells Fargo as a public finance investment banking analyst following graduation.

“When you see something that you financed–a huge affordable housing project in Washington, D.C.–come to life and being able to see it when it’s built and talk to the community residents that live there is something that’s really cool. It was a great part of my internship.”

Our internship programs empower our students to become leaders for the greater good, making a positive impact on society and the environment, wherever their careers may take them.

Senior to Senior: Maddy and Harper’s top tips for high school seniors

Posted on September 25, 2023 by ebatman

To celebrate Discover IU: Senior Week, O’Neill student ambassadors Maddy and Harper share their top tips for high school seniors.

Two students wearing crimson IU sweatshirts make goofy smiles for the camera. One's eyes are closed, and the other has her armed wrapped around her friend's shoulder.

Applying to college while also trying to enjoy your senior year of high school can be a stressful situation. As college seniors, we want to help alleviate some of these stressors with our top tips to make your application and acceptance season a little easier. Here’s a list of advice that we wish we would have been given when we were in your shoes!

1. Make sure your credits transfer!

I know that one thing I was most concerned about was making sure all of my credits were transferable, and I’m thankful that I was able to check. There is a way to see which scores will transfer for which classes, and learning what credit IU awards for AP/IB test scores can be so helpful when looking at which classes you should be taking your first semester here.

2. Take a peek at the classes you could be taking during your time in college.

A little-known fact about IU academic programs is that their lists of required classes are available for anyone to view! This can be super helpful for every student, whether you are set on which major you want, or if you are shopping around and curious about which classes you would have to take for different majors. When I was a senior in high school, I took a look at a few different majors and their degree maps to see what is required, as well as explore what kind of classes I could take!

High school Maddy visiting Bloomington from Gallatin, Tenn.

3. Complete your application by November 1!

You might have already heard this from your high school counselors or college admissions staff, but it’s worth repeating: APPLY BY NOVEMBER FIRST. It is THE deadline for Early Action applications at IU. Early Action applications are non-binding, and they have the highest scholarship consideration. Plus, it means you’ve completed the general application before the busy end of semester and holiday season. So, why wait?

4. Start looking for scholarship opportunities now!

IU offers a variety of excellent scholarships and scholarship programs, many of which have additional application requirements and deadlines. My advice: look through all of the scholarships and programs, determine what you’re eligible for, and make a master document with all of the required prompts and deadlines! Make a note of which programs require additional materials like recommendation letters! O’Neill awards over $1,000,000 annually in funding to undergraduate students, so it’s definitely worth exploring.

Harper visiting the O’Neill School during Preview Day in high school.

5. Attend welcome events

During your senior year of high school, there will be a variety of opportunities for you to come visit Bloomington for a welcome event. There are lots of admitted senior-specific events like Red Carpet Days, Direct Admit Days, and even a Preview Day for your individual school. These events give you the opportunity to not only come and see the campus you’ll be on for the next four years but also can give you the chance to meet fellow incoming students! I still have connections with people that I met during O’Neill Preview Day my senior year, and you also get some cool swag while you’re here! If you live within driving distance of Bloomington, I cannot recommend these experiences enough! (And if you can’t make it in person, don’t sweat it – there are some pretty cool virtual opportunities as well.)

6. Follow IU social media pages!

There are all kinds of great online resources available for prospective students, and one of the easiest ways to become acquainted with IU is to follow the social media pages. There are lots of great Instagram pages for IU and O’Neill specifically, and it is a super convenient way for prospective and current students alike to keep an eye out for events and programs happening on campus (plus, that’s how we find out about all the events with free food). To get started, check out the IG pages: @iuoneill, @iubloomington, @iuadmissions

High-impact practices in learning and leadership: O’Neill’s commitment to excellence through collaborative assignments

Posted on September 19, 2023 by ebatman

two female students share a computer and smile while gesturing toward the shared screen

Experts work together to develop strategies and procedures to solve a problem by creating a policy. That policy is then passed on to decision-makers who implement it by working together to make what is written on paper into reality.

That’s what happens at every level of the public, private, and nonprofit sector, but collaboration isn’t a skill that grows on its own. It needs to be nurtured, and it’s why collaboration underpins the curriculum at the O’Neill School.

Collaboration is the very foundation of public and environmental policy

Learning the tools and strategies needed for good collaboration is one of the high-impact practices identified by the American Association of Colleges and Universities for providing a significant educational benefit to students. They help students learn to work and solve problems together while sharpening their understanding by listening to the insights of others, particularly those with different backgrounds and life experiences.

Being comfortable working in diverse teams to solve problems is critical to the success of 21st century leaders, and the O’Neill School is dedicated to developing our students’ ability to listen, work together, and act. Our faculty have included collaborative assignments in courses throughout our curriculum, often simulating real cases students can expect to encounter as professionals.

Real-world case studies and group projects encourage collaboration

“It’s all application,” said Senior Lecturer Cheryl Hughes, who teaches O’Neill courses specializing in human resource management in the for-profit and nonprofit sectors. “When you’re in the workforce, everything is about collaboration. So, every one of my classes that I teach, whether it’s human resources, management, or information systems, have some type of collaborative, interactive piece to it. The old formula of lectures and tests doesn’t work anymore.”

Hughes uses real-world scenarios to teach her students how to problem solve while considering other perspectives, all while managing their own time and holding each other accountable for work that needs to be done. The collaborative assignments go far beyond the practical methods of, for example, developing a job analysis, and instead incorporate the soft skills that take a student from being another recent graduate to someone who can make an immediate impact in their career.

“I’ve had students use the projects they’ve worked on in my class to get jobs,” Hughes said. “It’s all about active learning and getting them close to what they’ll experience in the work force.”

Whether in schools, universities, or workplaces, collaborative assignments foster a unique environment that nurtures skills, personal growth, and effective communication.

“I worked on a lot of group projects,” said Shannen Wisniewski, who earned a BSPA in 2017 with a focus on Human Resources Management. “In one particular HR class, it was my first opportunity for ‘the sky is the limit’ thinking. I didn’t know what to do with it—the syllabus literally read, ‘the sky is the limit.’ But it stretched me, and it was a really good group of students. We only worked together for six weeks on the actual project, but we got to know each other really well. … I benefitted from being exposed to the multiple perspectives offered.”

Collaborative assignments serve as catalysts for holistic growth and development. They foster a culture of shared knowledge, innovation, and cooperation, echoing the demands of today’s interconnected and teamwork-oriented world. By providing opportunities to refine skills, embrace diversity, and learn from one another, collaborative assignments at the O’Neill School prepare students to navigate the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.