Abt, Marxe School at Baruch College Launch Graduate Certificate to Promote Diversity and Equity in the Field of Policy Analysis
Rockville, Md. – Recognizing the limitations of conventional academic pipelines in quantitative graduate programs—such as economics or statistics—Abt Global has established a new graduate certificate in Quantitative Methods for Policy and Equity Analysis, in partnership with the Marxe School of Public and International Affairs at Baruch College, City University of New York. The program was specifically designed to increase the participation of traditionally under-represented students in the field of policy analysis.
The certificate will teach students how to apply a wide range of quantitative methods to analyze contemporary policy and equity challenges at the local, national, and international levels. Using industry-standard software packages such as Stata or R, the hands-on courses will be taught fully online, fully in-person, hybrid, or hybrid-flex (simultaneously in-person and online), reducing common barriers to attaining such credentials. The certificate is expected to help students who need quantitative skills to advance in their careers, particularly in government, non-profit, or research organizations.
With equity serving as both an offering at Abt and a thread throughout our consulting, research, and digital services, we were looking for an implementing partner who could reach the right cohort; Baruch College was a perfect fit. As a designated MSI (minority serving institution), Baruch attracts a diverse and highly motivated student body and the college has been in the top 10 of CollegeNET’s Social Mobility Index for eight years running.
“Producing a greater diversity of quantitatively-trained analysts—from among Marxe’s students and among Abt’s staff—matters not just for our work at Abt, but across our industry as a whole, including governments and nonprofits that comprise the social sector,” said Abt’s Laura Peck, who led the initiative. “We’re honored to partner with the Marxe School, which is uniquely poised to offer this certificate, given its student body, the expertise of its faculty, and its vision for social transformation.”
“Faculty at the Marxe School are uniquely devoted to examining urban policies and their effects on social equity and justice,” said Dean Sherry Ryan. “This certificate program will impart tremendous advancements for the field and for students yearning to move governmental agencies and nonprofit organizations toward adoption and implementation of more equitable policies in a range of fields.”
“By making these tools and this knowledge available, we’re signifying to these students that they—and the perspectives they’ll bring to bear—are valued,” notes Abt’s Chief Equity Officer Roslyn Brock. “This program expands the bench of diverse professionals who bring their lived experiences and technical expertise to the field to achieve more culturally relevant and equitable policy outcomes for greater social impact and sustainability.”
About Abt Global
Abt Global is a global consulting and research firm that combines data and bold thinking to improve the quality of people's lives. We partner with clients and communities to advance equity and innovation—from creating scalable digital solutions and combatting infectious disease, to mitigating climate change and evaluating programs for measurable social impact. https://www.abtglobal.com
Contact:
Eric Tischler
eric_tischler@abtassoc.com
(301) 347-5492
