MPA BYTES: e-newsletter for Friends, Faculty, and Students of USI's MPA Program

MPA BYTES
e-Newsletter for MPA students Editor: MT Hallock Morris		August 2005 Vol. 3, No. 1
In this issue...
Application Deadline Approaching \| Fall Course Offerings MPA Program Has First Graduates \| Alumni News Campus Events \| MPA Society News Academic Calendar \| In the Field \| Miscellany
Application Deadline Approaching
In order to be admitted to the MPA program for Fall Semester 2005, application materials should be submitted to the Graduate Studies office by August 19, 2005. Applicants who are unable to meet the August 19, 2005 deadline for submitting materials may apply for admission as a special student for the spring semester if they submit a Graduate Application for Nondegree or Guest Status on or before August 26, 2005. Special students have a life-time limit of six credit hours (two courses). Admission as a special student does not guarantee admission to the MPA Program at a later date. Admission requirements can be found the USI website at http://www.usi.edu/libarts/philpolsci/MPA/requirements.asp. <up>
Fall Course Offerings
This fall, the MPA program will be offering two courses, PA 614.001 Interpersonal Communications within Organizations and PA 632.001 Public Administration. Returning, New and Nondegree students can register for these courses starting Thursday, August 25. The course descriptions are included below: PA 614.001 - Interpersonal Communications within Organizations (3hrs) Thursday, 600pm-0845pm, SC 1212, Dr. Karen Bonnell This course provides a review of the research and applied approaches to organizational communications. This course includes an examination of the process of selecting appropriate communication channels, a consideration of the ways in which meaning, both verbal and nonverbal, is conveyed, and an exploration of ways in which communication can help alleviate typical interpersonal problems within organizations. No prerequisite. PA 632.001 – Public Administration (3hrs) Tuesday, 600pm-0845pm, HP1081, Dr. M.T. Morris What is public administration? This course serves as an introduction to the various theories and concepts of the field. During this semester, students will be exposed to the current and classical literature related to organizations and bureaucracies, human resource management, leadership and decision making, and policy analysis – from planning through implementation and evaluation of a program. You will learn the ‘language’ of public administration while working to achieve ‘praxis.’ This course includes a Blackboard/Internet component. <up>
MPA Program Has First Graduates
Congratulations to Susie Carney, Janet Johnson, and Pam Van Vorst who completed all of the requirements for their MPA degrees over the summer. The trio was recently featured in the College of Liberal Arts' Spring newsletter. A copy of the story can be found on the MPA website at: http://www.usi.edu/libarts/philpolsci/MPA/LAStory04-5602.pdf. <up>
Alumni News
Pam Van Vorst has accepted a position with a full service human resources solutions firm called Employment Plus. As a staffing specialist, Pam will be responsible for recruiting, screening, interviewing, evaluating, and supervising the temporary employee workforce. Pam writes, "Although the MPA degree is focused toward future or current administrators in government agencies, not-for-profit organizations, and heavily regulated private corporations, it can also be crossed over into the private sector." Employment Plus expressed great interest in Pam’s degree and felt her higher education would be of great benefit to the company. Pam is thrilled with her new position and is excited about the academic track she chose, as well as her new professional path. <up>
Campus Events
In honor of Constitution Day, the University of Southern Indiana will sponsor a video presentation entitled “Free Speech in the Digital Age.” NPR's Margot Adler will host the hour-long special video-cast from the William G. McGowan Theater at the National Archives. The program will look at censorship in libraries, of textbooks, and on the Internet. The program will examine the reasons for both safeguarding and limiting speech, including protection of minors and community safety, ensuring a free marketplace of ideas, and guaranteeing democratic institutions—an excellent way to jump start classroom discussion on First Amendment freedoms. Students in the MPA program are invited to attend the Philosophy and Political Science Department's Open House on Wednesday, September 7. The open house will be held in Carter Hall A between 4:30 and 5:30 p.m. See Dr. Morris for more information about this event. <up>
MPA Society Announcements
We're looking for a few good officers! See Dr. Morris if you are interesting in being nominated for a position. This is a good resume builder. Coming soon: Our Fall Mixer! The date for our fall mixer will be announced during the first week of classes. <up>
Academic Calendar
Labor Day: No classes will be held on Monday, September 5, 2004. Assessment Day: No classes will be held on Tuesday, November 15, 2004. Thanksgiving Break: No classes will be held November 23, 24, and 25, 2004. Finals Week begins December 12, 2004. <up>
In the Field
The 27th Annual Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management (APPAM) Conference will be held in Washington, D.C., on November 3-5, 2005. The theme of this year's conference is: Understanding and Informing Policy Design. More information about the conference is available on the APPAM website: http://www.appam.org/conferences/fall/dc2005/index.asp. <up>
Miscellany
For information about the University of Southern Indiana's Graduate Student Policies, see the Graduate Studies website at: http://www.usi.edu/gradstud/academic.asp General admission requirements for USI's graduate programs are listed on the Graduate Studies website at: http://www.usi.edu/gradstud/admit.asp The specific MPA program admission requirements can be found at: http://www.usi.edu/gradstud/admpa.asp <up>
About the MPA @ USI
The Master of Public Administration (MPA) is the primary graduate degree sought by current and future administrators in government agencies, not-for-profit organizations, and heavily regulated private corporations. The curriculum consists of twelve graduate courses. Courses emphasize practical applications of skills and knowledge relevant to problems confronting administrators working in government agencies and not-for-profit organizations in southwestern Indiana. Since most MPA students are working professionals attending school part-time, most courses meet one evening each week during fall and spring semesters. Some courses are also offered in the summer or can be taken online as distance education courses. See our home page at: http://www.usi.edu/libarts/philpolsci/MPA/
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