Welcome to the Center for Public Management

CPM's programs and services directly support the Department of Public Administration’s mission to become a leader in addressing the community needs of this region and the state. CPM contributes to UNT’s effort to cultivate partnerships with educational institutions at all levels, government agencies, businesses, and nonprofit organizations to improve the quality of education and serve as a resource for lifelong learning and professional education.

Call for Proposals

White Papers on Artificial Intelligence in Local Government

The Center for Public Management invites proposals for white papers that advance understanding and best practices related to the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in local government and its impact on service delivery and community outcomes. These white papers will serve as a resource for local government practitioners through the Center for Public Management’s White Paper Series.

The Center for Public Management is the professional development arm of the School of Public Affairs, which is housed in the College of Public Affairs and Health Sciences. Through the Center for Public Management, the School of Public Affairs builds capacity in public and non-profit sectors through training, research, and community engagement.     

As part of the Center’s commitment to strengthening communities and advancing the public good—and in alignment with Look North’s focus on impactful research, regional partnerships, and workforce development—accepted proposals will support research that advances best practices, informs public‑sector decision‑making, and promotes responsible, transparent, and equitable adoption of AI at the local level.

Eligibility

The application is open to:

• UNT faculty (all ranks)
• Graduate students (master’s or doctoral) with faculty advisors
• Interdisciplinary teams with private or nonprofit sectors must be led by UNT faculty.

Priority Topics

We invite proposals that focus on any of the following:

• AI applications in local government service delivery and administration
• Citizen impacts: equity, access, trust, and civic engagement
• Governance, ethics, transparency, and accountability in AI systems
• Data governance, privacy, and security in municipal contexts
• Workforce, organizational readiness, and human–AI collaboration
• Evaluation frameworks, metrics, and case studies of AI use in cities and counties

Funding Support:

Selected proposals will receive up to $2,000 per white paper, depending on scope and methodology. Funds may be used for research support, graduate assistance, data acquisition, or related scholarly expenses. Funding will be disbursed through faculty nonsponsor project number on the following schedule:

• 50% after acceptance of the proposal
• 50% upon submission and approval of the final white paper

Expectations for Completion

Selected proposals are expected to produce a white paper with managerial implications for local government. These papers must combine rigorous analysis with accessiblity to practitioners. Each white paper will include:

• Clear research question(s)
• Methodology or conceptual framework
• Relevance to local government practice
• Discussion of citizen impact
• Recommendations aligned with responsible AI best practices
• White paper will become part of the Center for Public Management’s White Paper Series
• Center for Public Management is acknowledged as at least partial support in any future publications.

 Timeline:

  Proposal acceptance notification:       July 15, 2026

  Draft white paper due:                        October 15, 2026

  Final revised white paper due:            December 15, 2026

Authors will be asked to participate in an AI conference session to present findings.

Proposals:

Each proposal should include:

• Author names and titles, including lead contact
• Relevance to priority topic(s)
• Research question(s)
• A brief description of the methodology, conceptual framework, or analytical strategy
• An explanation of relevance to municipal operations, decision-making, or service delivery
• Address implications for equity, access, trust, or civic engagement

Proposal Selection Criteria:

• Preference will be given to interdisciplinary teams led by a UNT faculty member.
• Proposals that include private sector or nonprofit partners must be led by a UNT faculty member.
• Proposals should address a significant problem aligned with the priority topics listed above and demonstrate clear, innovative ideas.
• Projects should be well-designed, feasible, and demonstrate clear, actionable implications for management practices in local government.

Proposals together with application are now being accepted through the Center for Public Management at CPMWorkshops@unt.edu. Application can be downloaded here.