History of the Colorado Institute of Public Policy

The Colorado Public Policy Institute is an outgrowth of the public policy institute first launched at Colorado State University in 2003. Recognizing that Colorado and the region were facing increasingly difficult challenges, the Institute was created to meld the best academic research with applied public policy analysis to address our complex problems.

Expectations of high performance and a formidable scope of service expectations have accompanied thinking about the Colorado Public Policy Institute throughout its development. The Institute is designed to meet the policy assessment needs of numerous potential stakeholders, such as:

• Local, state, and regional policy-makers, including the Governor and Legislators;
• Regional, state, and local reporters and media services;
• Private and public policy institutes;
• Environmental, business, education, economic development, transportation, land-use, natural resource, and agricultural interest groups;
• State and local educational institutions;
• Federal, state, and local land and water managers;
• Underserved populations across the state, including decision-makers in rural areas; and
• Health, human, and justice service decision-makers and providers.

Similarly, the Institute approach to policy problems recognizes that:

• Many important decisions with local impact will be affected by decisions made outside Colordo;
• Numerous public and private groups make decisions which may have a limited direct impact but, when combined, have a substantial impact on quality of life in Colorado;
• There will be continued public mistrust of the objectivity, validity, and value of public policy information;
• The ideological motivations and content of public policy information produced by interest groups will be increasingly difficult to identify and address;
• The implications of culture and cultural differences for policy-making subject matter, approaches, and information dissemination need to be addressed; and
• There is a lack of accepted approaches for informing policy-making when subject matters cut across many public domains.

In order for the Institute to fully meet its mission, respect divergent stakeholder interests, and respond appropriately in a complex policy arena, the following guiding values have emerged:

• Diversity of Thought – Encourage the use of multiple perspectives and approaches for addressing policy issues.
• Knowledge Centered -- Promote the use of knowledge-based policy formation throughout Colorado and the region.
• Accessibility – Serve communities in Colorado and consistently work to identify and remove barriers to effective research, policy analysis, and technical assistance.
• Responsiveness – Anticipate and respond to the changing needs of communities and stakeholders throughout Colorado.
• Culturally Competent – Understand cultural diversity and shape the work of the Institute to respond to diverse audiences.
• Professionalism – Develop personnel who will conduct themselves ethically, professionally, and respect the dignity of the people of Colorado.
• Collaboration and Integration – Work in partnership with diverse stakeholders to address complex problems Colorado communities are facing.
• Creativity and Innovation – Be receptive to new ideas, be willing to take risks, and view change as a positive challenge.