Politics, Policy, and Pedagogy: Preparing I-O Psychology Students Amidst Ongoing Policy Shifts

The policy shifts the United States is facing as of late are creating a changing landscape for workers and organizations. These policy shifts are also impacting how I-O psychology professors engage with pedagogy and politics in the classroom and training. Our policy brief emphasizes using policy shifts to support skill-building around critical thinking and evidence-based decision making, thereby promoting classroom and training environments that empower the next generation. In this article, we discuss these implications and recommendations for I-O professors (including instructors, faculty, and others responsible for teaching and training the next generation of workers and I-O professionals). We call on I-O professors to intentionally engage with policy shifts in the classroom, emphasize evidence-based practice and provide opportunities to develop these skills, and support I-O advocacy. We recognize that these efforts are not without challenge, and we provide recommendations to reduce the burden on I-O professors and students when critically engaging with this content. Finally, we highlight several sources, including SIOP, that provide information on navigating and understanding the ongoing policy shifts.