Ford School Policy Analysis Learning Lab

The Policy Analysis Learning Lab ("the PAL") is focused on making the learning of policy analysis methods approachable and exciting for all our students. We are committed to helping you learn the methods you need and the concepts that help us measure, describe, and understand the world and how policy affects it. Through this platform, you can schedule appointments with PAL Consultants ("Consultants"), who can provide course support, programming help, and feedback and discussion on other topics.

PAL does not have permanent space, so appointments are virtual by default. If you wish to meet face-to-face, please read the notes below and reach out to your consultant via the "Reason for Meeting" box on the form.

Scheduling an appointment: You may schedule an appointment with a PAL consultant for 15 minutes up to an hour, depending on your needs. Appointments can be made days in advance or at minimum 20 minutes before the appointment would start. Please check the bio of the consultant you'd like to meet to see if their background and skills fits your needs. Then, indicate:

What course or topic you're there to discuss. If meeting for class material, the course name/number is required. (For instance, "PubPol 557 - DataViz")
Which instructor (or stakeholder) this meeting is supporting. (For instance, "Prof. Worthington")
What you'd like to discuss. This is the most important information, as it lets the consultant get prepared to make your time as productive as possible. Use the textbox to your benefit.
If you have a file or files (for example, Problem Sets, Quizzes, Lecture slides) to share for the consulting, upload them using the attachment menu at the bottom.

You'll receive an email confirming your appointment, as will your consultant. Then you're set!

Fall 2025 Note (Updated 2025-09-26): By default, PAL appointments are online-only. When scheduling an appointment, please note that we will use WCOnline's platform for virtual meetings. So, when it's time for your appointment, please log in and select your appointment. From within the pop-up, please select "Start or Join Online Consultation". This will open a video window with screensharing, a shared workpad, the ability to chat and draw, and the like.

If you are hoping to meet a PAL consultant in-person, you need to take additional steps:

If the consultant and student can coordinate on a meeting location in an academic space - Weill Hall meeting rooms, study rooms in other UM buildings, etc., in-person meetings may be possible.

If a student wishes to meet a PAL consultant in person, they should note this in their request for consulting, and may propose a meeting location (preferably in Weill Hall) if they have reserved space.
If you do not propose a space, the consultant may email or message you back to coordinate on a meeting location.
However, this option is at the consultant's discretion and availability. There is no expectation of the availability of in-person meetings at this time. Please check the Consultant biography for more information.
You must confirm the location of in-person meeting space with your consultant, and they must agree.
Same day appointment requests for meeting in-person may not be accommodated.
We appreciate your patience and understanding as we develop these resources and increase ways of accessing consulting help - Prof. Worthington

Important note: If you schedule an appointment and fail to attend, your appointment will be marked as a "no-show". This is for PAL recordkeeping, but you will recieve an email letting you know your appointment was marked as such. If issues arise, please email the lab (fspp-pal-lab@umich) to discuss.

The Policy Analysis Learning Lab is a proud part of The Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy:

The Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan is one of the nation's top policy schools, providing research, teaching and public discussion on current national and international policy issues. Our mission is to offer outstanding education for leadership in public policy analysis and public management and to excel in social science research that illuminates public policy issues and promotes better public policy. The Ford School offers masters degrees in Public Policy and Public Administration; dual masters degrees with schools and departments across the University of Michigan; joint PhDs with Economics, Political Science, or Sociology; and a newly launched undergraduate liberal arts degree, the Bachelor of Arts in Public Policy.