Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning & Public Policy

06/23/2026

A study by Dr. Andrea Hetling, Vee Yeo (LMSW, MPP '24), and Lillian McFarland (MPP '25) found that trauma-informed approaches, strong case management, peer support, and flexible services can make public safety net programs more accessible and effective for survivors. https://bloustein.rutgers.edu/hetling-yeo-mcfarland-research-easing-administrative-burden-in-the-public-safety-net/

06/22/2026

Interested in a career in ?

Join us for our final Public Policy virtual information session for spring 2026 this week on ▶️ THURSDAY, June 25 @ 9:00 AM EDT (NJ local time) to learn more about the Rutgers-Bloustein School's Master of Public Policy (MPP) and Master of Public Affairs and Politics (MPAP) degree programs or the Graduate Certificate in Public Policy!

🚩 To register, visit go.rutgers.edu/gradinfo.

The application deadline for domestic applicants for fall 2026 admission is August 1, 2026.

International students welcome -- find out more about applying for Spring 2027 admission!

➡️ The GRE is WAIVED for all 2026 applications. Scholarships available. ⬅️

We are excited to share helpful information about the Bloustein School, the curriculum for our master's degrees in Public Policy, as well as our Graduate Certificate, how to apply, career services support for students, and scholarship opportunities. Program faculty and staff will be on hand to answer questions.

WE HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!

🚩 To register, visit go.rutgers.edu/gradinfo.

All sessions will be held virtually via Zoom.

06/22/2026

If you have opened an electric bill recently, you have probably noticed the same thing many households have: it is higher than it used to be. Nationally, average residential electricity prices rose by roughly 20 percent between 2021 and 2024, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.[...

06/18/2026

A new Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center, Rutgers University report, "Improving Virtual Public Involvement in Transportation Agencies," produced by National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine TRB National Cooperative Highway Research Program, presents key principles and practical tips for VPI. https://doi.org/10.17226/29377

06/17/2026

Professor Samuel co-authored an editorial in the Journal of Big Data and Artificial Intelligence examining the evolution of artificial intelligence from natural language processing and large language models to emerging agentic AI systems. The article reflects on the future directions, opportunities, and challenges of AI research and its societal implications. https://jbdai.org/index.php/JBDAI/article/view/82/27

06/16/2026

How might digital mapping move beyond the conventions of traditional GIS?

A new special issue, "Counter-GIS" as Collaborative Practice: Grounded Experiments in Digital Mapping, co-edited by Bloustein School's Dr. Will Payne and Harvard University's Dr. Evangeline McGlynn, explores experimental approaches to cartography that challenge dominant spatial representations and mapping practices.

https://cartographicperspectives.org/index.php/journal/issue/view/cp108

The collection examines alternative forms of visualization, including deep mapping, non-linear projections, embodied cartography, and novel digital tools that push beyond the assumptions embedded in conventional GIS systems. Together, the contributions invite scholars and practitioners to rethink mapping as a collaborative, critical, and imaginative practice.

The special issue brings together perspectives on tool-making, pedagogy, spatial theory, and digital experimentation, expanding conversations at the intersection of geography, cartography, and critical GIS.

06/15/2026

🚲🚲🚲Sixty-four percent (64%) of respondents from a recent survey on e-bike use and perception agreed that the government should do more to support e-bike use. Over 70% of the respondents were from , with a smaller percentage from surrounding states, and 443 were non-owners:

E-bikes are having a moment. They’re showing up in neighborhoods, on trails, at work and transit stations, and in the hands of people who never saw themselves as “cyclists.” But as their popularity surges, so do the questions: Are they safe? Who benefits? What happens when policy moves faster ...

06/13/2026

Unfortunately, we had to postpone our summer Alumni Mixer in NYC originally scheduled for Thursday, June 25th.

📆 New date: September 17, 2026.

Watch for more information in the next few weeks!

Questions? Email [email protected]

06/11/2026

In the latest episode of the Heldrich Center for Workforce Development's "Work Trends RU" podcast, host Dr. Carl Van Horn speaks with Margo Chaly, Acting Secretary of the New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education, about the future of higher education in New Jersey.

They discuss key challenges and opportunities facing colleges and universities, including enrollment trends, financial sustainability, workforce alignment, and student success. Ms. Chaly also highlights efforts to support adult learners, strengthen institutions, and ensure students graduate with the skills and career pathways needed to thrive in a changing economy.

Listen on the podcast page: https://bit.ly/43uA6ut or on YouTube: https://bit.ly/4ojHiTI

06/10/2026

In this latest report published by the New Jersey State Policy Lab, researchers found that incidents of NJ Medicaid beneficiaries who received buprenorphine immediately and/or shortly after an opioid-related emergency department visit increased from 4.0% in 2018 to 14.4% in 2022. The team also conducted a series of interviews with medical professionals and discussed the challenges to buprenorphine provision, including patient resistance, insurance and pharmacy obstacles, and limited training and stigmatization.