Leaders at Jacksonville University hope their students and professors soon  will shape the way government works, pushing the Arlington campus’ influence far  outside its physical boundaries.

The university announced last fall the start of its Public Policy Institute,  billed as the first of its kind in Florida. At the helm is Rick Mullaney, a  former city general counsel who worked in three City Hall administrations.

Faculty still must sign off, but Mullaney is working now to include  coursework in economics, political science and statistics for master’s students  to take in fall 2013. He and others say the university is part of a growing  trend of focusing on policy versus politics at the collegiate level.

JU’s institute is non-partisan, said Mullaney, a Republican who ran  unsuccessfully for mayor last year. He said it will offer more than what’s  usually offered in political talk — heard most often during election years such  as 2012.

“Campaigns tend to put a premium on sound bites and 30-second ads and bumper  stickers. There’s not really a place for depth,” Mullaney said. “What this does  is provide a forum for the in-depth consideration of public policy issues. I’m  excited about what it can do in preparing students but also what it can do for  the city of Jacksonville.”