College Dream vs. Reality

College-for-all policies have set most U.S. high school seniors on paths to higher learning, but are they the right paths for all? Research shows that college typically confers many critical lifelong benefits on those who attend—and graduate from—four-year colleges. Yet the flipside of the college dream shows a different reality for students struggling with rising tuition and student debt. IPR education experts offer their evidence-based insights into how we can ensure better college experiences for all students, especially those most at risk for dropping out, as well as proposing alternate and more accessible paths that do not require four-year college degrees or incur significant debt.

Special Event

Advancing the Science and Practice of Street Outreach: Lessons Learned and the Future of Street Outreach in Illinois

As the country wrestles with a rise in gun violence and sees urgent calls to rely less on harsh criminal justice strategies to reduce crime, street outreach is becoming an increasingly central violence prevention strategy. The Northwestern Neighborhood & Network Initiative (N3) 2021 Symposium will highlight emerging research on outreach and feature the work of local experts building the infrastructure to strengthen the field of street outreach.

Research News

Students Are Happier if Their College Requires Vaccines, Study Finds

A new survey by IPR political scientist James Druckman shows students in colleges with mask and vaccine mandates were more likely to approve of their universities’ handling of COVID-19 than those without. But about half were confused about what their university’s policy actually said.

Faculty Research in Brief

New research from IPR faculty includes whether increased public K–12 school spending improves student outcomes, the threats facing Medicaid and the Child Health Insurance Program, and how a husband’s dominance over his wife’s health decisions varies geographically in sub-Saharan Africa and over time.

Northwestern Undergraduates Experience the ‘Nuts and Bolts of Day-to-Day’ Research

Over 40 undergraduates participated in IPR’s Summer Undergraduate Research Assistants (SURA) program, working on policy-relevant research with IPR faculty. Two students reflect on the skills they gained from the program and discuss how it aligns with their majors and career goals.

Summer Institute on Biological Approaches in the Social Sciences (SIBASS)

Applications are now open for postdoctoral fellows and junior faculty to apply for the Summer Institute on Biological Approaches in the Social Sciences (SIBASS) in Evanston on June 6–10, 2022. The workshop includes interdisciplinary lectures and hands-on exercises in integrating human biology measures into studies. The program is led by IPR faculty, with support from the Russell Sage Foundation. Apply by January 15, 2022.

Giving Tuesday

November 30 is #GivingTuesday—a global day of giving that brings people and the organizations they care about together. We hope you will consider making a donation to the Institute for Policy Research. In doing so, you will join others who have supported methodically rigorous, policy-relevant research on crucial social topics and provide opportunities to up-and-coming scholars to do the same.

Faculty in the News

“I think we lose the fact that this is coming out of the pockets of Americans. It’s not some largesse from your employer.”

—Craig Garthwaite
Employer-Sponsored Coverage Keeps
Getting More Expensive
The Washington Post

Working Papers

Are Bipartisan Lawmakers More Effective? (WP-21-08)
Laurel Harbridge-Yong, Craig Volden, and Alan Wiseman

Wage Theft in a Recession: Unemployment, Labor Violations, and Enforcement Strategies for Difficult Times (WP-21-09)*
Janice Fine, Daniel Galvin, Jenn Round, and Hana Shepherd

Symptoms of COVID-19 Infection and Magnitude of Antibody Response in a Large Community-Based Study (WP-21-10)
Thomas McDade, Joshua Schrock, Richard D’Aquila, Brian Mustanski, Nanette Benbow, Lauren Vaught, Nina Reiser, Matt Velez, Ryan Hsieh, Daniel Ryan, Rana Saber, Elizabeth McNally, and Alexis Demonbreun

A Surrogate Virus Neutralization Test to Quantify Antibody-Mediated Inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 in Finger Stick Dried Blood Spot Samples (WP-21-11)*
Amelia Sancilio, Richard D’Aquila, Elizabeth McNally, Matt Velez, Michael Ison, Alexis Demonbreun, and Thomas McDade

Not Too Late: Improving Academic Outcomes Among Adolescents (WP-21-12)
Jonathan Guryan, Jens Ludwig, Monica Bhatt, Philip Cook, Jonathan Davis, Kenneth Dodge, George Farkas, Roland Fryer Jr., Susan Mayer, Harold Pollack, and Laurence Steinberg

* Designates that the working paper has been published.

More Working Papers

Events

Registration is required to attend IPR’s events for the fall 2021 quarter online. You can always find the latest event information by visiting our online calendar.

Nov. 29: “Personality Traits and Toleration of Neuropathology in Older Adulthood”
Dan Mroczek (Psychology/IPR)

Dec. 6: “The Costs and Benefits of ‘Psychiatrization’: Working-Class Mexican American Mothers’ Experiences of Mental Healthcare-Seeking for Their Adolescents”
Rebecca Seligman (IPR/Anthropology)

Dec. 8: N3 2021 Symposium on Advancing the Science and Practice of Street Outreach: Lessons Learned and the Future of Street Outreach in Illinois

More IPR Events

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