Michigan Citizens Strongly Support
Newly Enhanced Driver's Licenses

Michigan’s citizens support “enhanced” driver’s licenses that would carry digitally stored information such as their pictures and fingerprints, researchers said in sharing survey results at an IPPSR Public Policy Forum.

Criminal Justice and Homeland Security researchers found that 70 percent of Michigan residents preferred use of a specialized driver’s license over a passport to cross the borders between the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

More than half of those taking part in a new State of the State Survey also said preventing terrorists from entering Michigan through Canada should be a top priority for the state.

Michigan is now taking steps to create an enhanced driver’s license under federal homeland security laws.
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IPPSR Survey Researchers Featured in
New England Journal of Medicine

IPPSR Office for Survey Research Director Larry Hembroff is co-author of a New England Journal of Medicine study aimed at improving the lives of men with prostate cancer.

OSR Project Manager Jill Hardy was cited in the article for her “expert project management” of the survey research.

The MSU survey research team conducted telephone interviews with 1,201 men and 625 spouses before treatment and after to provide key data for medical professionals from nine hospitals.
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Obama Stays in the Lead in IPPSR Survey
McCain Moves Up in Support, Clinton Third

Illinois Sen. Barack Obama has picked up speed in a first-ever IPPSR survey of Michigan State University students and their presidential preferences.

The Democratic hopeful is now the favorite of more than half the students taking part in the online survey.

Republican Sen. John McCain gained in the latest survey as well. New York Sen. Hillary Clinton remained in third position.
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Fiscal Wake-Up Leader on WKAR-TV
Calls on Country to Debate the Deficit

U.S. Comptroller General David Walker brought a sobering Fiscal Wake-Up Tour message to MSU in December. Now, he sounds that warning again on WKAR-TV in an interview with Capitol Correspondent Tim Skubick.

Walker lead a panel of budget analysts who called for Americans to help raise the alarm about rising Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare costs. See an online video from the Tour's stop at MSU .

For more information about the presentations....

Debt and deficit in a documentary? A commercial documentary about the Fiscal Wake-Up Tour has been accepted into the 2008 Sundance Film Festival.

IPPSR to craft solutions for rising retiree healthcare costs

IPPSR is recipient of a $14,000 grant to help find ways to address the rising costs – already estimated at $20 billion – of healthcare for retired public employees.

The Center for State and Local Government Excellence grant asks IPPSR to examine how retiree healthcare systems in Ohio, Indiana, Wisconsin and Minnesota attract and retain talented workforces.

IPPSR’s research will offer a framework for evaluating reform options. The research is to be completed by Spring 2008.

Experienced Researcher Joins IPPSR Survey Staff

Linda Stork, a researcher with more than 20 years experience in national field and telephone surveys, is the new Director of Survey Operations at IPPSR's Office for Survey Research.

At MSU, Ms. Stork will be responsible for recruiting, training and managing the day-to-day data collection activities of OSR’s Survey Research Lab.

OSR’s Survey Research Lab maintains 45 telephone interviewing stations staffed by 80-120 interviewers and 10 shift supervisors during the average year. OSR conducts roughly 25,000-30,000 telephone interviews each year.

IPPSR Research Cited in Grant to Curb High-Risk Drinking

Two IPPSR researchers have been cited as part of an award-winning team to help continue to curb student alcohol use.

Larry Hembroff, Ph.D., director of IPPSR’s Office for Survey Research, and Senior Project Manager Karen Clark conducted surveys each semester designed to find out student perceptions and use of alcohol.

Applied Policy Research Grants Explore
Vital Cities, Renewed Energy and Personal Security

Research exploring new strategies in urban revitalization, renewable energy, homeland security and other pressing social questions is now underway through Michigan Applied Public Policy Research grants available through IPPSR.

The latest grants fund the work of 17 Michigan State University faculty members. Over 10 years, $2.25 million in grants have been awarded for research into timely and innovative solutions.

IPPSR Forum Message: Michigan's Research Universities Make Significant Contribution to the State's Economy

Michigan's research universities are major contributors to the state's economy, according to a new study showcased at IPPSR's final 2007 Forum.

Together, Michigan State University, the University of Michigan and Wayne State University spent more than $6.5 billion in 2006, the Anderson Economic Group study shows. The schools rank among the nation's top research institutions and attracted more than $800 million in research and development financing.

Michigan State University's Institute for Public Policy and Social Research connects scholarly work with the policymaking community through applied and survey research, community dialogue and political leadership training. Our research is exacting. Our applications are far-reaching.

Our work is on view in books, journal publications, peer presentations, the trade press, through public testimony, professional participation in public debate and in the actions of the leaders engaged by our programs.

IPPSR transforms the results of research into resolve, solutions and strategies for our campus, our Michigan Capital and our communities throughout the nation and the world.