POLS5499

The University of Utah has been selected as one of six Academic Centers of Conflict Anticipation & Prevention (ACCAP) through the State Department’s Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations (CSO). According to CSO, the intent of ACCAP is to “establish a diverse national cadre of academic institutions and experts to supplement and expand the Bureau’s ability to anticipate and prevent conflict.” The course will be reserved for 10-20 upper-division students who will apply in the Fall term for the following Spring semester research experience. Student's research will contribute directly to CSO’s data collection and analytic tools on key conflict-related priorities. Through access to CSO’s tools and data, students can add to their thesis, submit their research to RANGE, an undergraduate research journal at the University of Utah, for publication, and present their findings at CSBS and UROP Conference. CSO is also interested in “organize[ing] local conferences and symposia around topics of great interest to the Department.” Finally, establishing a working relationship with CSO officers will create internship and job opportunities for our students; according to CSO, ACCAP scholars “are more likely to be exposed to relevant job placement opportunities across the bureau.” There are a number of benefits to ACCAP Scholars. They will: (1). learn about data collection and data use, including to help build CSO’s data sets and tools through research, and with a focus on CSO’s identified list of topics to address key conflict-related priorities, (2). meet and engage CSO officers, staffers and planners through Zoom or in Washington DC, and participate directly in the development of US policy objectives, and (3). gain awareness of career options in data/policy analysis and job opportunities in the State Department, and more generally, in the federal government.