Programs

The Aspen Policy Academy is the first comprehensive, nonpartisan and non-university training program in the United States offering a step-by-step process to learn practical strategies for policymaking.

Our “special sauce” is our curriculum. We teach participants how to engage in policymaking in a practical, engaging way — without requiring our participants to join a degree program or relocate to Washington, DC. We have offerings for participants at every level of commitment, from webinars to part time short courses to full time in-person programs. We also work with nonprofits to help them translate their direct services work into impact, and with funders to train their grantees and manage multi-stakeholder engagements.

Program Areas

The Aspen Policy Academy has three core program areas:

  • Tech: Continuing our work as the Aspen Tech Policy Hub
  • Climate: Expanding our work supporting environmental causes
  • Capacity-Building: Growing our support for nonprofits and funders

Stay tuned for more information on these program areas when our full website launches in November.

Open Programs

We offer a variety of programs to support your policymaking journey. We have full application-based courses for in-depth engagement, week-long short courses to engage in skills building, and webinars to introduce you to first concepts. Current open opportunities include:

  1. The Policy Primer is a part-time, unpaid, virtual program that combines the broad scope and curriculum of our Fellowship with a more flexible format. It is ideal for people who are interested in building better policy, but who may not be able to commit to the full-time Fellowship.
  2. Cyber Civil Defense Policy Training Series is a three-part Aspen Tech Policy Hub webinar series built for the cybersecurity community; it will teach participants how to impact policymaking through effectively communicating to key stakeholders. Whether you are a cybersecurity professional or a member of the community seeking to get public officials to support stronger and more resilient cybersecurity measures, these trainings will introduce you to techniques that will help achieve policy change on the issues you care about. This program is free and open to the public with prior registration.
  3. Influencing AI from the Outside is a part-time, unpaid, virtual Aspen Tech Policy Hub program that teaches AI professionals how to improve their policy communications. This short course provides a basic introduction to communicating for policy through focused writing and speaking strategies, preparing participants to influence how AI policy is shaped. 
    • Program dates: December 16-20, 2024, with classes from 8:30-10:30am PT daily
    • Application deadline: November 17, 2024 | Learn more and apply.
  4. Nonprofits In an Age of Policy Change is a part-time, unpaid, virtual program designed to support subject matter experts and nonprofit advocates in developing and updating their policy advocacy strategy following the U.S. Supreme Court’s June 2024 decision overturning Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council. This short course introduces less-experienced policy advocates to a framework for thoughtfully creating an advocacy plan in light of changes to the federal policy ecosystem. 
    • Program dates: January 13-17, 2025, with classes from 8:30-10:30am PT daily
    • Application deadline: December 1, 2024 | Learn more and apply.
  5. Policy Impact for Emerging Climate Leaders is a part-time, unpaid, virtual program that teaches young climate professionals how to have policy impact. This short course provides a basic introduction to policymaking and is designed for climate leaders between the ages of 21 and 30.
    • Program dates: February 24-28, 2025, with classes from 8:30-10:30am PT daily
    • Application deadline: December 1, 2024 | Learn more and apply.
  6. Webinars: In addition to these programs, we regularly host webinars on policy topics. These are open to the general public. Our upcoming webinars include:
    • Policy 101: November 21, 2024, from 9:00 – 10:00am PT. Register now.
    • Communicating for Policy: December 5, 2024, from 11:00am – 12:00pm PT. Register now.
    • Policy 101: January 8, 2025, from 9:00 – 10:00am PT. Register now.
    • Writing a Public Comment: January 29, 2025, from 11:00am – 12:00pm PT. Register now.
    • Communicating for Policy: February 5, 2025, from 12:00 – 1:00pm PT. Register now.
    • Writing an Op-Ed: February 12, 2025, from 11:00am – 12:00pm PT. Register now.