Students in the course Policy and Persuasion worked with staff from Pathfinders RC&D and the South Central Iowa Local Workforce Development Board to develop policy directions for issues related to five focus areas: rural development hubs, innovation, resource guides, workforce development, mental health, and community capacity.

Interested in developing a rural innovation hub in South Central Iowa, Pathfinders asked students to research what has been done in other communities and what elements would be needed to create a successful rural innovation hub in their area. In addition to researching hubs in other areas and making recommendations about how to form them, students researched related areas. They created tools, such as survey and call scripts; located best practices from other communities; and compiled information into spreadsheets.