The Public Interest Technology University Network is a partnership that unites colleges and universities committed to building the field of public interest technology and growing a new generation of civic-minded technologists. Through the development of curricula, research agendas, and experiential learning programs in the public interest technology space, these institutions aim to develop graduates with skills and knowledge at the intersection of technology and policy.
By joining PIT-UN, members commit to:
Field Building on Campus—Members may choose to focus on some or all of the activities below, in addition to other initiatives to build the field of public interest technology on campus:
- Support curriculum and faculty development to enable interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary education of students, so they can critically assess the ethical, political, and societal implications of new technologies, and design technologies in service of the public good.
- Develop experiential learning opportunities such as clinics, fellowships, apprenticeships, and internship, with public and private sector partners in the public interest technology space.
- Find ways to support graduates who pursue careers working in public interest technology, recognizing that financial considerations may make careers in this area unaffordable to many.
- Create mechanisms for faculty to receive recognition for the research, curriculum development, teaching, and service work needed to build public interest technology as an arena of inquiry.
- Provide institutional data that will allow us to measure the effectiveness of our interventions in helping to develop the field of public interest technology.
Liaison Activities—Designated university liaisons and Network staff will meet quarterly, either in person or via teleconference to report on field building activities and work on the following three areas as a Network:
- Annual Convening–university liaisons and any participating faculty member will help to facilitate the formal annual convening to discuss programmatic progress, lessons learned, future planning, and strategies for success with Network members.
- University Collaborations–explore how Network members can partner and collaborate with each other, private industry, philanthropy, and government.
- Communications–aid in telling the stories of public interest technology, so that individuals understand the value of public interest technology as a field of study.
To join, contact pituninfo@newamerica.org. New members will be added during a fall enrollment period.
Current University Members
Arizona State University
Boston University
Cal Poly State University
Carnegie Mellon University
Columbia University
Cornell University
Florida International University
Georgia Institute of Technology
Georgetown University
George Washington University
Georgia State University
Harvard University
Howard University
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Miami Dade College
Nazareth College
New York University
Olin College of Engineering
Pepperdine University
Princeton University
Pardee RAND Graduate School
Rochester Institute of Technology
Stanford University
The City University of New York
The University of Texas at Austin
University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Santa Cruz
University of Arizona
University of Chicago
University of Michigan
University of Pennsylvania
University of the South
University of Virginia
University of Washington
Virginia Tech
Worcester Polytechnic Institute