Organizations consulting with AYSC GSU benefit from the expertise of Andrew Young School faculty and research associates who direct teams of students pursuing a Master of Public Administration (MPA), Master in Public Policy (MPP), Master of Science in Criminal Justice, or a Master of Social Work (MSW). Students earn credit for the project as a “capstone” to their graduate degrees while integrating knowledge acquired in courses in public and nonprofit management, public budgeting and financial management, public economics, administrative law, policy analysis, criminal justice, and social work. Students work and study in fields of program evaluation, urban planning, economic development, social policy, public health, education policy, environmental policy, community partnerships, and global affairs.

Consulting teams consist of three to five graduate students who are typically in the last year of their MPA/MPP/MS/MSW degrees. Each team is directed by a faculty advisor or research professional in one of the college’s research centers. Depending on the requirements of the project, teams work on- or off-site of the client organization for 10 weeks and follow a clearly defined scope of work. Deliverables vary by project but may include white papers, executive reports, strategic plans, survey instruments, evaluation plans, or other documents defined in the scope of work. All work is proprietary to the client.

Project work follows the fall and spring semester calendar. Project proposals may be submitted at any time, but they will only be reviewed in December and August. Projects that are not accepted in one semester may be evaluated for future semesters depending on the client’s timeline for the work.

Clients commit to supporting a consulting team by identifying a project liaison who facilitates access to people, data, and other resources needed to complete the scope of work. Projects require:

• a clear definition of the problem or issue to be addressed;
• a scope that is achievable in 10 weeks, but not sooner;
• specified deliverables;
• a project fee of $1,000 paid by the client upon completion of the project. Some projects may require higher fees if the scope of work requires more manpower or resources to complete in ten weeks.

Unsuitable projects are those that ask for interns, administrative support work, or involve agencies without the capacity to appropriately support the project team’s efforts.

American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia

Atlanta Beltline Partnership

Atlanta Bicycle Coalition

Atlanta Humane Society

Atlanta Legal Aid

Atlanta Public Schools

Atlanta Regional Commission

Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation

Atlanta Wealth Building Initiative

Camp Sunshine

Central Atlanta Progress

Center for Civic Innovation

Center for the Visually Impaired

City of Alpharetta, Department of Public Safety

City of Atlanta, Office of City Planning

City of Atlanta, Office of Revenue

City of Atlanta, Office of Sustainability

City of Atlanta, Police Department

City of Atlanta, Smart Cities Initiative

City of Decatur, Office of the City Manager

City of Forest Park

City of Peachtree Corners

City of South Fulton

Cobb County, Purchasing Department

Common Good Atlanta

Constitutional Officers’ Association of Georgia, Inc.

Criminal Justice Coordinating Council

The Drake House

Environmental Protection Agency

Food Security of America

Foodwell Alliance

Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce

Fulton County District Attorney, Conviction Integrity Unit

Georgia Budget & Policy Institute

Georgia Forward

Georgia Municipal Association

Girls on the Run

International Rescue Committee

Junior Achievement

Kindezi School

Latin American Association

Living Walls

Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce

Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta

St. Luke’s Episcopal Church

State of Georgia, Administrative Office of the Courts

State of Georgia, Department of Behavior Health and Development Disabilities

State of Georgia, Department of Community Affairs

State of Georgia, Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget

United Way of Greater Atlanta

UPS Foundation

US Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Georgia

Girl Talk

Great Promise Partnership

Proposals may be submitted by email to [email protected] at any time. However, work is completed during the Fall and Spring Semesters of the Georgia State University academic year.

Submit your proposal by August 1 for work to be completed during the Fall Semester (September-December).

Submit your proposal by December 1 for work to be completed during the Spring Semester (February-May).

The proposal asks the following questions:

• BRIEFLY describe your organization, including its mission and target population.
• Please list the field(s) of your proposed project (e.g., education, finance, management).
• Please describe the issue or problem the project will address (ONE paragraph max).
• What about this issue is important to your organization?
• Describe the purpose and scope of the project. What specific activities do you expect the project team to complete (e.g., fiscal analysis, program evaluation, survey development)?
• List the deliverables that you envision from the project.
• List recommended skills or qualifications that team members have to complete the project (e.g., data analysis, GIS, policy analysis).

Email the completed application to [email protected].

If you have questions about the suitability of a project, please send an email to [email protected].