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The News from the Network section of IdealistOnCampus.org is a space to highlight the interesting and innovative programs, people and events connected with the Idealist On Campus Community. As a resource for the rest of our constituency, these individuals and organizations who have made a tremendous impact are invited to share how they've turned a concept into reality and continue to work each day to build a better world.

Roosevelt Institution
By Ted Fertik

The Roosevelt Institution is a network of student think tanks at campuses across the country. It was founded after the 2004 elections by students who felt that the national debate had grown tired and stale and that a fresh infusion of new ideas was desperately needed.

The Roosevelt Institution has two missions. The first is to more effectively tap the human capital found in our colleges for solutions to the challenges confronting our society now, as well as a generation from now. We are a source of virtually unlimited energy, enthusiasm, idealism, and intellectual capacity. College students are often asked to help—as volunteers for a political campaign, for example—but our accumulated intellectual capital and research skills have been largely ignored. The progressive movement has allowed the fruits of the best minds and academic facilities in the nation to accumulate in filing cabinets. The Roosevelt Institution is the mechanism by which ideas and research can move off campus and into the political discourse.

The second mission of the Roosevelt Institution is to help cultivate the next generation of outstanding citizens and progressive leaders. Other think tanks have Nobel laureates and former secretaries of state; we have future Nobel laureates and secretaries of state-in-training. In the process of connecting student work to policy we are providing realistic training for tomorrow's leading thinkers and doers. By interacting with outside experts on a wide range of political issues and developing research models and presentation skills, students acquire the training and networks necessary to prepare them for leadership.

Each chapter collects students who already do relevant and groundbreaking work into issue-oriented policy centers. Centers combine discussion groups for individual work, project teams for collective efforts, and networking tools to give students access to on- and off-campus resources. Projects are often undertaken at the request of elected officials or advocacy groups, particularly at the local and state levels. Typically, projects involve detailed firsthand research and have the goal of eventually turning into legislation. Centers at various chapters frequently collaborate on projects. In the fall the Roosevelt Institution will implement our first annual National Policy Challenges, which will create many new opportunities for collaboration across the country on critical issues.

Roosevelt has chapters at a variety of very different schools, ranging from some of the largest public universities to some of the smallest private colleges. Students at individual schools have been very successful at adapting the Roosevelt model to their particular campus, through creativity and a willingness to work with other political groups on their campuses in a collaborative fashion. Many Roosevelt chapters have found that they can be most successful by making Roosevelt an opportunity to translate academic study into political engagement through placing classroom research in a public venue. Likewise, Roosevelt centers can often help other political organizations with research, so that students are not forced to choose between Roosevelt and their other political activities.

To give these centers the organizational support they need to connect a high quality student product to the policy process, Roosevelt chapters have staff teams focused around events, public relations, finances, development, technology and publications. These teams work with the centers and the national organization to bring guests to campus, organize and fund activities, and deliver fellows' work to the media, politicians, policymakers and think tanks.

The Roosevelt Institution has received help and encouragement from many sides. Some of our most valuable advisors have been faculty and administrators at our campuses. We have received great encouragement from other think tanks that have been eager to find ways for Roosevelt Fellows to collaborate with their researchers. Various political professionals, elected officials, writers, activists, funders, nonprofit leaders and others have all contributed valuable advice along the way. Many of them have joined our Advisory Board and continue to field questions as we grow and develop.

Roosevelt is always looking to start new chapters. If you are interested in learning more, please contact our National Outreach Director, Mattie Hutton, at mattie@rooseveltinstitution.org.