Master of Public Affairs
MPA Alumni Reunion
The annual MPA Alumni Reunion was held Friday evening, October 19 in the Weatherspoon Art Gallery Atrium and Auditorium. The topic of the panel discussion this year was "Leadership Transitions and the Next Generation: Are You Prepared?" We also celebrated the program's reaccreditation, and announced our scholarship winners. Thanks to all who participated in planning the event and came to the reunion.
Our fundraising for the Next Generation Scholarship continues, so we may be able to offer another scholarship next year. Please consider a gift before the year's end. Send a check made out to Next Generation Graduate Award, and send it to the Department of Political Science, P.O. Box 26170, Greensboro, NC 27402-6170. Many thanks!!!!!
UNCG’s MPA Program Reaccredited
The Master of Public Affairs program at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro has received full reaccreditation from the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA). The MPA program at UNCG is one of only 161 NASPAA accredited programs in the nation, and the only accredited MPA program in the Piedmont Triad region. NASPAA accreditation recognizes that a master’s program in public affairs has gone through a rigorous process of voluntary peer review, and has met NASPAA’s standards for professional master’s degree programs in public affairs, policy and administration.
Programs are reaccredited every seven years after review by NASPAA’s Commission on Peer Review and Accreditation.
The COPRA site review team commended UNCG’s MPA program for its dedicated faculty, student focus, and community connections through advisory boards for the program’s three concentrations in local government management, nonprofit management, and community and economic development, said Dr. Ken Klase, MPA program director.
The MPA program is housed in the Department of Political Science at UNCG and has been in existence for over thirty years. Initially accredited by NASPAA in 1993, the program has now been reaccredited twice since then and has over 500 graduates who work in public service across the Piedmont Triad, North Carolina, and the nation. The Master of Public Affairs is a general public management degree designed to provide professional training for public service positions in government and nonprofit agencies and to build the foundation for long-term development and advancement in a public service career.
For more information on the MPA program, contact Klase at (336) 256-0510 or kaklase@uncg.edu.Local Foundations Give Scholarship Gifts to MPA Program
The Cemala, Bryan, Weaver, and Toleo Foundations, along with the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro have provided over $150,000 for the next three years of scholarships, internships, and fellowships for graduate students in the MPA and Nonprofit Management Certificate Programs. We are grateful to these five local foundations for their support of the program and its students.
MPA students enrolled in any concentration (Local Government Mangement, Community & Economic Development, or Nonprofit Management) or graduate students enrolled in the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Nonprofit Management who work (Full-time or Part-time) for a Guilford County government or nonprofit (501(c)3) agency are eligible to apply for Greensboro Foundations Scholarships (See Financial Aid). While scholarship awards will be made primarily to part-time students who are employed full-time in Guilford County government or nonprofit agencies, selected full-time students will receive a combined work stipend for part-time work in a Guilford County government or nonprofit agency and scholarship award. Students must be enrolled either as a part-time or full-time student depending on the type of scholarship. Preference will be given to students who are not reimbursed by their agencies. Funds will be allocated in equal amounts paid in Fall and Spring Semesters. The total for the year also covers enrollment in Summer Session. Scholarship awards are competitive and will be based on considerations or merit and need.
New MPA Concentration Approved
A new concentration in local government management has been approved for the MPA program to allow students to specialize beyond the core curriculum in preparation for careers in city and county government throughout the state and nation.
This concentration combines the MPA core requirements with courses emphasizing the knowledge and skills to prepare students to work as local government managers. The prerequisite, comprehensive exam, and experiential component are the same as for the MPA.
Required courses in the concentration are PSC 520 Urban Political Systems (3 credits) and PSC 613 Local Government Administration (3 credits).
Congratulations to the 2008 Spring MPA Graduates!
Congratulations to our Spring 2008 MPA Graduates: Brenna Goggin, Nancy Hunter, Lisa Lopez, Brent Lucas, Tim Smith