
Join the Commonwealth Policy Coalition
With a Commonwealth-centric approach, we strive for our Fellows to become the most innovative and evidence-based group of Kentucky policymakers the United States has experienced since the era of Lincoln & Clay.
Joining CPC is entering an innovative,
Young-professional driven, University-Powered, Think-Tank community
focused on unique real-world solutions.
If you believe in our nonpartisan mission of solving issues faced in the Commonwealth with new policy solutions, created by translating university-level policy research into the real world of advocacy and passionately developing legislative solutions, then apply today for Fellowship.
We invite Kentuckians from all academic backgrounds or career stage to apply--whether currently pursuing undergraduate, graduate, law, or PhD candidacy. Those at earlier career stages may find substantial benefit from the experience, our alumni have received among the most prestigious post-graduate scholarships in the United States and are highly employable. Multiple members have received employment elsewhere as a direct result of their work with CPC.
We welcome members from all areas of study, individual backgrounds, ideologies, passions, and levels of research skill or policy-advocacy experience.
CPC's core members are those engaged in studies- this can include students and faculty. Kentucky's university faculty may join our advisory board (non-voting seat) as Faculty Counsel when approached by a policy center team. Research Faculty who wish to conduct policy work through CPC as Faculty Counsel members may formulate a policy center with a University chapter that involves new or existing CPC associate members. Faculty completing such work will also be deemed honorary fellows.
If accepted, our Fellows are trained through an semester-long intensive seminar program taught by our faculty associates. These academic seminars include topics ranging from the art of policy making, research methods, interest-based negotiation, advocacy, coalition building, and more. These seminars are offered in a hybrid, online or in-person format and have been offered since Fall 2022. This training program ensures our fellows are well-equipped to join a policy team or create their own policy initiative within a center.
Fellows or Associates are certified at the end of each academic year by our advisory board, depending on which milestones have been accomplished for the certification. Fellows receive certificates containing one of the following designations: Associate, Associate Fellow, Policy Fellow, or Senior Fellow. Senior Fellows are also automatically appointed to CPC's Advisory Board as alumni when they have completed their degree that's associated with their time at CPC's University Chapter.
We accept applications on a rolling basis, but highly recommend you apply prior to early September when our seminar program begins each year for active chapters.
*Please note that if you apply, you are applying to join our only established chapter at the University of Louisville. If you are a student or faculty at another Kentucky university and would like to establish a chapter at your school, please reach out to us at kycpc.org@gmail.com for more details.
When you join a policy team - our chapters, and board including alumni, advise your own path of gaining experience needed to craft & introduce solutions to non-partisan issues in Kentucky you care about most .