The Center for Public Policy at Christopher Newport University was established in 2007 to help solve a growing problem in Virginia; the lack of unbiased and non-partisan information both about important public policy issues facing Virginia and about citizens views on those issues. Without such information, Virginia’s elected leaders face difficult decisions with little guidance from the citizens they represent. Dialogue between citizens and policy makers on important public policy issues is lacking in Virginia, and the result is that Virginia has an increasingly difficult time solving its public policy challenges.

To facilitate dialogue and help citizens better understand the policy issues facing Virginia, the Center’s activities are focused in two areas. First, the Center conducts a twice-annual statewide poll – the Virginia Poll – with questions focusing on the five core service areas: education (both higher education and K-12), the environment, healthcare, public safety and transportation. In addition, the Center conducts regional polls on specific policy questions where appropriate. Second, the Center prepares and publishes Virginia Policy Briefs on important public policy issues facing the Commonwealth. Each brief is short (2-4 pages), non-partisan, and focus on describing the policy problem and outlining the various solutions to the problem being considered.

The Center and its activities are unique in several ways, including in its ability to immediately and directly impact public discourse on policy issues in Virginia, its singular focus on Virginia public policy, and its ability to directly involve undergraduate students in the study and practice of Virginia public policy.