Aspen Policy Academy

We will update the following FAQs as we receive additional questions about our accelerator. If your question is not answered here or in the materials above, please contact aspenpolicyacademy@aspeninstitute.org.

What is policy?

Great question, and one we will be exploring through much of the accelerator. In general, policy is defined as a “course or principle of action adopted or proposed by an organization or individual.” It is a set of rules that an organization or individual agrees to follow. Both governments and companies (and many other actors) set policies, and those policies have the potential to affect all of our lives. The goal of this accelerator is to expose you to the value of policymaking, and to teach you how to impact policy yourself.

How broadly do you define environmental policy?

We define “environment policy” broadly. Environmental problems could include those related to climate change, energy, conservation, or sustainability. 

Why are you running this accelerator?

We’re running this accelerator because we see many individuals and teams who have a promising but still somewhat vague idea for a policy solution to an environmental problem. These individuals or teams need support to refine their ideas, understand how to engage key stakeholders, and develop effective advocacy plans. Our goal is to provide that guidance and help turn good ideas into actionable, impactful policy efforts.

How do I submit an application as a team?

Teams (maximum 4 people) should submit 1 application. In your application, you will be asked to share names and contact information for all team members. 

Can I apply more than once?

No. For fairness, applicants should only apply once. You are therefore not allowed to apply as a part of 2 different teams.

Do I need to apply as a team?

No, you do not need to apply as a team for this accelerator. You may apply as an individual. Both team and individual applications will be given equal weight. 

Will the accelerator be run in person or remotely?

The accelerator will be run remotely.

What is the expected time commitment for this program?

In addition to the weekly 2-hour programming, we also expect participants to spend 8-10 additional hours a week completing required readings and assignments. 

What is the attendance policy?

Since this program is run free-of-change, we require that participants abide by our attendance policy to miss no more than 1 hour of programming over the course of the accelerator, barring an emergency or medical illness. Participants will also be required to complete assignments outside of class hours.

If participants miss more than 1 hour of programming or do not complete required assignments, they will be required to pay a $500 fee to cover staff time for running the program.

How much does the accelerator cost?

The accelerator is free-of-charge for all participants. However, if you or any team member enrolls in the program and misses more than the required time or fails to complete required assignments, you or your team members will be required to pay a $500 fee per person to cover staff time for running the program.

Can we continue to work while participating in the accelerator?

The accelerator is part-time (2-hour sessions over 6 weeks). We expect full attention and attendance during the weekly sessions, and participants will be required to complete readings and assignments outside of class that we expect will take an additional 8-10 hours a week. As long as participants are able to fulfill these obligations, we welcome your participation while continuing to work.

I am on a visa. Am I eligible to apply to the accelerator?

Yes. Because this program is for people who want to impact US policymaking, you must either live in the United States now or be a US citizen or permanent resident living abroad. If you are a US citizen or permanent resident and will be abroad during the course, you are eligible to apply if you are available to attend the course on Mondays from 12-2pm ET from October 20 to November 24, 2025.

I am a student/recently graduated. Am I eligible to apply to this program?

You are able to apply to our programs as long as you are 21 and meet all the other program-specific criteria listed in the eligibility section.

I would like to join your accelerator to learn more about policy, but I don’t have experience working on environmental issues. Can I still apply?

All applicants must have a somewhat developed policy solution to an environmental problem. Strong candidates will either have subject-matter expertise on environmental issues or be community members with lived experience seeking to address an environmental challenge in their local state or municipality.

I already have significant policy experience. Am I eligible to apply to this accelerator?

This accelerator provides an introduction to policy work, and is likely not a fit for those with significant previous policy experience (e.g., past experience working in a government policy role). If you (or members of your team) already have a significant policy background, we encourage you to explain in your application how you will benefit from this program. Please note that we may prioritize applicants with less policy experience if the course is oversubscribed.

If you feel you have too much experience to enroll in this accelerator, we may have opportunities to engage you as a policy mentor or on future in-house projects. Please email us.

How do I write a policy memo?

There is no one way to write a policy memo, and there are many resources online that provide tips on writing policy memos. The appropriate structure depends on the problem you are trying to solve. In general, a few tips:

Your memo needs to define the problem, using evidence as appropriate to support your position, lay out your proposed solution, and identify major obstacles to the implementation of your solution.

To be effective, your memo also needs to be written extremely clearly. For some advice on clear writing, see this blog post from Y Combinator. We also recommend this post by Paul Graham.

While not required, many strong applications will tie the applicant’s experience in environmental issues to the problem they identified or to the solution they are attempting to apply.