Student Public Policy Forum (SPPF)
The Student Public Policy Forum (SPPF) is an academic program that provides you an overview of local, state and national public policy making, and citizen influence and involvement. A focus is placed on experiential learning and leadership development through engagement in the public policy process. The program teaches civic responsibility, which is one category within Maricopa’s mission statement. The district’s Office of Community Engagement oversees the SPPF program.
What is the Purpose of the Program?
SPPF provides you with learning opportunities that allow you to become educated and an involved community member. You will have an opportunity to meet with a variety of elected officials and those working in the public policy arena. No prior political experience is necessary, students from all backgrounds, majors, and experiences are encouraged to participate. SPPF gives you an up-close experience of how government works and culminates in travel to Washington, D.C., where you will have the opportunity to lobby members of Congress on higher education issues that matter to you.
Program Components
- The SPPF cohort meets every other Friday afternoon, 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., beginning September 6, 2019.
- You must register for POS285 Political Issues and Public Policy in the Spring Semester. This 3-credit hybrid class is transferable to all three state universities and has an SB general education designation.
For more information, visit the official SPPF site.
Student Testimonials
SPPF Experience - By Joyce Bishop The Student Public Policy Forum is an experience of a lifetime. SPPF not only has improved my understanding of local and national government but has raised my confidence in effective advocacy efforts that I can use throughout my life. This program besides being fun and informative is an excellent way to begin social networking at each of the Maricopa Community College campuses as you make friends and gain contacts. Becoming an SPPF member and alumni have become the highlight of my Maricopa Community College experience.
My SPPF Experience - By Angel Herrera "My experience in the SPPF Student Public Policy Forum was empowering. Before I went through the program, I had this feeling that politics was something that didn’t really concern me. I was more concerned with working and getting my family ahead, not about some ballot initiative. However, as SPPF showed me, that these people have a vast ability to influence the outcome of your life and your family’s by the laws that they pass. Through the training and experiences of going to the capitol and making good friends of lawyers and lobbyists, I realized that I too could do this. That politics was a career that had endless potential and that depended on sheer intelligence and tact with the human mind and heart. Going to Washington D.C really brought me closer to my country, and fully shone a light on what I truly wanted to do with my life. I had thought about law school after my father’s lawyers kept pestering me to give it a chance but relegated it to something to difficult or not in line with my goals. However, after I visited the capital of our great nation it really cemented in me the desire to go to law school. So if I can credit the SPPF program with one thing in my life, it is empowering my dreams to reach as far as I want."
SPPF Testimonial - By Gabriel Bernal "The Student Public Policy Forum was an awesome educational experience. The entire program, from beginning to end, opened my eyes to the world of politics, which I had shunned for most of my life. I also built a network of wonderful people in different colleges, in the MCCCD, and in political offices, both locally and on Capitol Hill. But, the most important influence that the SPPF Program has had on me is that I have left the program with a desire to participate in politics. Politics, on any level, local through national, seemed like nothing more than an argument starter. But as I was exposed to different aspects of the government, and public policy creation process, I understood what it was that truly made our country unique and great. The ability of any person to make a change in the government by voting or by participating in government is not seen anywhere else in the world. I was able to see that by meeting persons from various backgrounds when I met politicians and their staff. The ability to meet politicians and their staff and to see politics at work on such a base level was amazing. It changed my perspective, and it made me excited to work in such an environment in the future. I met wonderful politicians, who shared what it was like in the field, and to explain some of the more complicated parts of being political. Their staff was just as eager to share their experience, as well as encourage us to join the political scene. It was the enthusiasm of these new contacts that have helped me decide that I would like to be in politics. I have always wanted to lead in some way. I have become a better leader now as I have participated in clubs at South Mountain Community College. The Student Public Policy Forum Program has helped me even more, and I credit the program with instilling in me the aspiration to be a great political leader one day. The SPPF Program educated and influenced me about politics, and is a wonderful program for those students that are leaders and wish to increase their leadership capacities."
SPPF Experience - By Marrissa Tanner "Being given the opportunity to be placed in the Student Public Policy Forum(SPPF) program has really strengthened my knowledge of how politics are run in today's world. I always thought different about politics and really never cared about how the government organizes situations. All I really cared about was just voting, however, my perspective on politics has drastically changed since this program. I look at politics more at a different viewpoint by truly understanding all the happenings of this nation and the solutions that had to be taken place. Having the opportunity to meet and greet with important officials, going to Capitol Hill, and having the privilege to travel to Washington D.C. really gave me a reason to strive to succeed in life as well as letting me know that my one voice could make a difference in the world. This program has changed my life in so many ways, from going to each of the Friday meetings we had at the Maricopa Community College District (MCCCD) building learning the essentials that will help prepare us for the future ahead. What really made this program so memorable to me was the students and staff, they were the ones that made this program successful and fun. It was great to know everyone's background like where they can from and what they hope to gain from the program. I really enjoyed learning and having fun with the SPPF program, if I could I would do this program again it was a great opportunity and I strongly encourage every student should participate in it."