Public Policy Institute

The Public Policy Institute at Charleston School of Law is dedicated to advancing nonpartisan, evidence-based solutions to pressing societal challenges. Through rigorous research, community collaboration, and student engagement, the PPI serves as a bridge between academic inquiry and real-world impact. By grounding our work in data and fostering dialogue across diverse perspectives, we aim to develop policy initiatives that strengthen communities, promote justice, and uphold the law school’s commitment to public service.

1. Build Strong and Diverse Community Partnerships Across Sectors. Community partners may be trade associations, nonprofits, non-governmental organizations, and/or other community leaders and institutions dedicated to serving the public.

Relationships will be cultivated with potential partners through Requests for Proposals (RFPs), to which they may respond by submitting policy research proposals. After reviewing submissions, selected partners will be assigned a team of law students who will spend 16 weeks researching and developing proposals to share with their assigned partner.

2. Produce Accessible, Data-Driven Research & Recommendations. The Institute produces high-quality policy research on some of South Carolina’s most pressing issues. Students will present their findings to their partners and the community in a designated forum. The institute will publish an annual report detailing the recommendations and implementation plans.

3. Educate and Collect Community Feedback. The Institute periodically holds engagement forums and workshops to collect feedback on the issues that resonate most with the community. The forums also serve to educate the community on the matters being evaluated and debated by local and state leaders and representatives.

4. Translate Research into Real-World Policy Action. The Institute tracks and reports specific cases of recommendations being adopted and/or piloted and will continue to refine recommendations based on their success.

5. Create Tools that Enhance Transparency and Civic Trust. The Institute is working to create a publicly accessible data hub with interactive dashboards to keep community members informed, track progress, and collect input.

The Public Policy Institute at Charleston School of Law is pleased to announce the release of our Request for Proposals (RFP) for Fall 2026 community-based policy research projects!

We are continuing to build on a successful inaugural cycle where our student fellows delivered meaningful, data-driven research and recommendations in partnership with three local non-profit organizations. Students engaged in research to address issues ranging from small business support and expanding access to commercial real estate to affordable housing preservation to expanding access to conflict resolution education (CRE). These projects not only produced actionable insights for our partners but also demonstrated the value of integrating legal analysis with policy problem-solving in real-world contexts.

We are excited to deepen that impact this fall with a new cohort of student researchers and community partners. Through this initiative, selected partners will receive pro bono support in the form of legal and policy research, regulatory analysis, and evidence-based recommendations, culminating in a written report and formal presentation of findings. If you are interested in learning more about our community partnership opportunities, contact Director Jennifer Wilkins.

The Public Policy Institute welcomes volunteer advisors from the legal, policy, business, nonprofit, academic, and government sectors to share their subject matter expertise with student research teams each semester. Advisors serve as mentors and thought partners, providing practical insights and feedback at key milestones throughout the project. The time commitment is modest, but the opportunity to help shape the next generation of public policy leaders is significant. To learn more, please contact Jennifer Wilkins.