Founded in 2011, the Institute of Government and Politics (IOGP) at Utah State University is a non-partisan educational institute focused on enhancing students' understanding of government institutions and global political processes by providing opportunities that bridge practical skills and academic training. The vision of the IOGP is to provide substantive opportunities for students to learn about a life of public service from experiences beyond the classroom through internships, seminars with policy makers, study groups, book clubs, campaign work, engaging with community leaders, and experiencing the world of policy-making up-close. It is the IOGP's belief that if students can understand the role of government in society that they will be better prepared to positively contribute to their industries and communities.