The University Record, January 14, 2002

Congress Gives Ford School $2 Million

By Laurel Thomas Gnagey

The Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy received notification over the holiday of a $2 million appropriation from Congress. The funding will go toward curriculum development and training, according to Rebecca M. Blank, dean of the Gerald R. Ford School.

Although plans for using the resources are not finalized, Blank says there are some key areas where funding will be targeted. Among them:

  • Fellowship aid for master’s students in public policy, too many of whom take on large debt burdens that are not easily paid off in lower-wage public sector or not-for-profit jobs after graduation

  • Internship assistance by helping students accept summer-long work in unpaid positions that offer them useful career experience

  • Support for hiring young researchers that assists them in developing and pursuing a career focused on policy-relevant research

  • Expansion of the school’s base of teachers and students with international interests in the globalization of both economic and political issues

    “The action by the U.S. Congress to appropriate $2 million for programs of the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy is an enormously gratifying tribute to former President Gerald R. Ford and his dedication to a life of public service,” says Blank. “The Ford School seeks to train future generations of public leaders who will exhibit the dedication, integrity, intelligence and compassion that made President Ford such a model of what we look for in our public officials.

    “This week’s Congressional appropriation will enable the school to advance its commitment to furthering the practice and study of public policy. With this new support, the school will expand opportunities to attract top students and to provide a diverse curriculum that prepares students for the challenges of the new century.

    Blank expressed the University’s gratitude to U.S. Senator Carl Levin (D-Mich), U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich), members of the Michigan Congressional Delegation and Frank Zarb, immediate past chairman of the NASDAQ Stock Market, Inc., and former assistant to the president for energy affairs in the Ford Administration for their efforts at “winning Congressional support for this tribute to former President Ford.”