More Than a Policy School
Most policy programs teach you how to analyze problems. UVA Batten goes further, teaching you how to lead through them.
Here, leadership and public policy are fully integrated, so you graduate not only with the ability to understand complex issues, but with the skills to act on them.
Our Approach:
Leadership + Public Policy
At UVA’s Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy, we’re committed to solving the world’s toughest policy challenges. We know the complex issues of our time demand innovative, collaborative, cross-sector relationships within our walls and beyond. Our multidisciplinary approach to problem-solving and emphasis on ethics reinforce our focus on how leadership works, why context matters in decision-making and which actions lead to tangible results.
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A close-knit community with real support
The Student Experience
At UVA Batten, students are part of a collaborative, engaged community where ideas are shared, challenged, and put into practice. Small class sizes, accessible faculty, and dedicated student support services ensure that every student has the resources to succeed.
- Community and connection
Build relationships with classmates, faculty, and alumni in a highly collaborative environment. - Advising and support
Receive personalized academic, career, and wellness support throughout your time at Batten. - Hands-on learning
Apply what you learn through internships, projects, and real-world experiences.
A mission built for real-world impact
Mission & History
The UVA Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy prepares students to become principled, results-oriented leaders who can address society’s most pressing challenges. Through a combination of policy analysis, leadership training, and real-world application, UVA Batten equips graduates to make innovative and informed decisions to drive meaningful change.
Lead with Purpose
Develop the judgment, ethics, and perspective needed to lead in complex environments.
Use data to drive decisions
Build strong research and analytical skills to understand problems and design effective solutions.
Turn ideas into action
Learn how to move from insight to implementation across public, private, and nonprofit sectors.
Our Founder Frank Batten
In 2007 Frank Batten, Sr., chairman and CEO of Landmark Communications, Inc., founder of The Weather Channel, dedicated $100 million for the creation of the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy.
Batten, a forward-thinking philanthropist committed to supporting educational initiatives and serving the public good, saw an urgent need for a new generation of leaders who could affect transformational change. He emphasized leadership as one of the key skills required for success in the field of public policy.
UVA Batten Today
Of the 250-plus schools of public policy and administration in the United States, the UVA Batten School has the distinction of being the only one explicitly committed to teaching leadership — how it works, why context matters in decision-making and which actions lead to tangible results. The School’s programs inspire students to act vigorously, effectively and ethically on behalf of the common good.
Students emerge from the UVA Batten School understanding social responsibility and equipped with specific skills to work collaboratively and successfully in real-world environments to achieve a shared mission and accomplish common goals.
The School’s innovative approach has attracted leading scholar-practitioners in political science, social psychology, policy history, economics, and law from around the globe. Their areas of focus reflect the drive and research of some of the sharpest minds at work in policy and leadership today. UVA Batten faculty also lead the School’s seven research centers, which focus on the areas of health policy; social entrepreneurship; education policy; global policy; leadership and simulation; legislative effectiveness; and national security policy.
The power of Batten at UVA
The University of Virginia
As part of the University of Virginia, The Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy combines the close-knit experience of a small professional school with the resources and reputation of a top-ranked public university. Students benefit from
A globally recognized university
Earn your degree from one of the nation’s leading public institutions.
Interdisciplinary access
Take advantage of coursework and collaboration across UVA’s schools and departments.
A powerful alumni network
Connect with graduates working across government, nonprofit, and private sectors.
Expanded career resources
Access both UVA Batten Career Services and the broader UVA Career Center.
A beautiful place to live and learn
The City of Charlottesville
Charlottesville offers the energy of a vibrant college town with the balance and livability of a smaller city. From the historic Downtown Mall to the nearby Blue Ridge Mountains, it’s a place where students can stay engaged, connected, and inspired both inside and outside the classroom.
- Outdoors
Hiking, trails, and mountain views just minutes from campus. - Food and downtown
A nationally recognized dining scene and walkable city center. - Arts and culture
Music, festivals, and a thriving local arts community. - History and community
A place shaped by history and driven by innovation.