Compass Fellowship

2023 Projects and Highlights

The 2023 cohort of Compass Fellows took on research in some heavy hitting areas. Fellows tackled seven different projects. Here are project highlights, outcomes, and next steps:

• Sub Population Profiles for the Point in Time Homelessness Count: Fellows worked with data collected from The 2023 Tri-County Point-in-Time Count to create reports showing data trends and themes for various demographic groups. Fellows also interviewed community-specific service providers and incorporated these qualitative findings into the profile reports. (This project was in partnership with PSU’s Homelessness Research and Action Collaborative.)

• Basic Needs Services for Students in Higher Education: Fellows studied basic needs insecurity among students in higher education, namely food and housing needs. They conducted a systematic literature review of services provided to students in higher education, studying types of resources available and how students access resources, and sharing recommendations for improving services. (This project was in partnership with PSUs Homelessness Research and Action Collaborative.)

• Long-Term State Expenditure Forecasting: Fellows researched long-term expenditure forecasting in other states by interviewing public finance experts and developing a comprehensive literature review. They developed recommendations for expenditure forecasting changes in Oregon, which they may be able to formally present to a state legislator! (This project was in partnership with ECONorthwest)

• Local Government Budgets: Fellows updated forecasts for financial health of ten jurisdictions in Oregon, contributing to ongoing North Star research, which show significant fiscal shortfalls. Highlighted impacts of these budget imbalances and possible solutions.

• Cap and Invest Research: Fellows conducted research to compare carbon cap and invest programs in the United States, exploring impacts and efficacy of these programs, relating these findings to existing climate policy in Oregon. (This project was in partnership with Tom Bowerman)

• Climate/Disaster Migration: Fellows studied if climate change and migration are connected, identifying how state population forecasters should take a changing climate into account in their future projections. (This project was in partnership with Dr. Jon Rork of Reed College)

• Compensation of Elected Officials: Fellows studied how pay for elected leaders varies across states and how compensation can influence outcomes like productivity and reflective representation in elected bodies. (This project was in partnership with Dr. Jon Rork of Reed College)