Institute for Policy Research
"It would be a big favor to political discourse; to our ability to do our work here in Congress; and to the American people, to be able to talk with each other and have some faith in their government and, more importantly, in their future." - Senator John D. "Jay" Rockefeller, IV
We are the Institute for Policy Research and Public Affairs in the John D. "Jay" Rockefeller School of Policy and Politics at West Virginia University. Located on WVU's Morgantown campus, we pursue funded research on a diverse range of policy issues relevant to the state of West Virginia and the surrounding Appalachian region. Consistent with WVU's land-grant mission, we provide non-partisan research to state and local officials, agencies, and community leaders to improve the lives and well-being of West Virginians.
Our research partnerships span the public, private, and non-profit sectors, and we welcome inquiries about collaborations within the state and the broader Appalachian region. We conduct interdisciplinary research on public policy at the intersection of the natural, biological, and social sciences. We have a strong belief that addressing our most important public problems and seizing on its most promising opportunities requires an integrated approach with a broad and deep commitment to social science as the link between natural, biological, and human systems. We endeavor to bridge basic and applied research in our collaborations and in service of West Virginia and its communities.