“Preparing leaders for excellence in public service”

— SUNY Brockport’s MPA Program Educational Philosophy and Mission —

 

Mission Statement: “Preparing Leaders for excellence in public service”

The mission of the Master of Public Administration program at SUNY Brockport is to prepare current and future leaders to effectively manage the public service organizations of the 21st century. In short, we aim to educate students who can manage—and make a difference—in the increasingly complex networks of public and nonprofit organizations that formulate and deliver public services in a modern democracy. We take pride in preparing students to make substantive contributions to Western New York through careers in the public service.

This mission is accomplished through dedication to high quality teaching, research, and service to the community. In particular, we are committed to teaching that builds skills and commitments to the core values, challenges, and rewards of public service; we are committed to conducting basic and applied research on important and timely issues of public management; and we are committed to serving our community by drawing on the diverse skills and knowledge of our faculty, students, and alumni to improve the performance of the public and nonprofit organizations that contribute to a vibrant Western New York society.

The MPA program stresses the importance of democratic responsibilities and personal integrity in the management of human affairs as well as the professional qualifications required for managing constructive change. Students and faculty alike are required to:

The curriculum of the MPA Program is therefore grounded in the best traditions of public service—emphasizing leadership, integrity, accountability, inclusion, openness, and the application of professional and critical thinking skills.  

 

—MPA Program Strategy and Goals—

Strategy  #1 (Teaching): “Advancing Excellence in Public Service through High-Quality Instruction in Public Management Knowledge, Values, Skills, and Dispositions to Pre-Service and In-Service Students”

v     Overarching Goal: Provide students with the knowledge, skills, values, and dispositions necessary to lead successful and enriching careers in public service.

v     Goal 2 (Knowledge): Provide students with the knowledge in contemporary theories and practices of public administration necessary to effectively manage in the public and nonprofit sectors.

v     Goal 3 (Skills): Provide students with the skills and dispositions required to lead and manage 21st-century public service organizations.

v     Goal 4 (Values): Impart students with the values (especially professional ethics, diversity, and globalism) necessary to be effective public service leaders.

v     Goal 5 (Continuous Improvement): Remain a cutting-edge program with a state-of-the-art curriculum.

Strategy #2 (Service):  “Advancing Excellence in Public Management through Service to profession, university, and community”

v     Goal 6 (Service): Participate in community service which benefits the administration of public, nonprofit and private organizations.

Strategy #3 (Research):  “Advancing Excellence in Public Service through Scholarship that fosters ethical practices, administrative and political accountability, responsiveness to citizens, and effective public service leadership”

v     Goal 7 (Scholarship): Engage in applied research which addresses key issues and problems in both our profession and our community.

 

—Assessment of MPA Program Goals, Outcomes, Objectives, & Strategies —

Strategy  #1 (Teaching): “Advancing Excellence in Public Service through High-Quality Instruction in Public Management Knowledge, Values, Skills, and Dispositions to Pre-Service and In-Service Students”

v     Overarching Goal: Provide students with the knowledge, skills, values, and dispositions necessary to lead successful and enriching careers in public service.

v     Alternative Goal Wording (Old Dominion University): To create a vibrant and challenging learning environment where students can develop the theoretical knowledge and applied skills to better meet the challenges posed by a rapidly changing and dynamic environment and are sought out by public employers to become their future leaders.

Ø      Outcome (U. Nevada, Reno): All MPA students are expected to develop critical thinking, writing and communication skills that will enable them to succeed after graduation. 

Ø      Outcome (U. Nebraska, Omaha): Students completing the MPA Degree will increase their opportunities for employment or advancement in public service management professions.

Ø      Outcome (Valdosta State MBA Program): Graduates will be satisfied with the education they receive.

§         Objective (Florida State): To enhance career placement and career development, as a springboard to new levels and job promotions; to provide for a lifetime of professional development.

§         Objective (Florida State): To assist pre-service students in obtaining appropriate internships and career placements.

§         Objective (UNC, Charlotte): Enable students to complete the program in a timely fashion.

§         Objective (UNC, Charlotte): Offer students with professional networking opportunities.

§         Objective (UNC, Charlotte): Offer classes meeting student and alumni needs.

§         Objective (UNC, Charlotte): Offer high quality courses and instruction.

Ø      Strategy (Northern Illinois): Strengthen faculty teaching skills.

Ø      Strategy (Northern Illinois): Develop Faculty Knowledge.

Ø      Strategy (Northern Illinois): Promote the Professional Development of Faculty.

Ø      Strategy (Northern Illinois): Employ state-of-the-art teaching tools, techniques, and learning methodologies.

v     Goal 2 (Knowledge): Provide students with the knowledge in contemporary theories and practices of public administration necessary to effectively manage in the public and nonprofit sectors.

v     Alternative Goal 2 Wording (San Francisco State): Train students to develop an understanding of the theoretical and intellectual knowledge underpinning the discipline of public administration - the history and theories of the field, the importance of social, economic, and political institutions, and the public policy process.

v     Alternative Goal 2 Wording: Combining the conceptual and practical application of administrative knowledge and skills in the classroom and through internships.

§         Objective (Valdosta State): MPA graduates will demonstrate knowledge of information systems, budgeting, inter-governmental relationships, organizational behavior, finance, policy analysis, human resources, statistics, and strategic management.

§         Objective (Valdosta State MBA): MPA graduates will demonstrate the ability to evaluate the organizational environment, then choose and utilize the quantitative or decision making technique that is appropriate for the given situation.

§         Objective (Florida State): Students will learn to understand organizational, policy and management theory, and apply it to relevant situations.

§         Objective (Florida State University): Students will develop an understanding of the public, private and non-profit sectors, and the challenges of governance across the sectors to promote community and a healthy society.

§         Objective (Florida State): Students will be able to define organizational and policy problems, develop reasonable alternatives, present them in the policy decision making process, and implement them.

§         Objective (UNC, Charlotte): Prepare students to identify problems, collect, analyze, and organize information to solve problems, and write correctly and appropriately.

v     Goal 3 (Skills): Provide students with the skills and dispositions necessary to lead and manage 21st-century public service organizations.

Ø      Outcome (Valdosta State MBA): MPA graduates will demonstrate oral and written communication skills.

Ø      Measure: Annual departmental skills assessment (2001-2002)

Ø      Outcome (Valdosta State MBA): MPA graduates will demonstrate leadership ability and team building skills.

Ø      Measure: Annual departmental skills assessment (2002-2003)

§         Objective (San Francisco State):  Train students in the essential professional skills necessary to succeed in public administration—research skills, budgeting and policy analysis skills, skills in organizational development and change, and skills in personnel management.

§         Objective (San Francisco State):  Train students to write effectively and concisely for an audience of professional public administrators.

§         Objective (San Francisco State):  Train students to make effective oral presentations to small and larger groups, provide both experience and the opportunity to develop confidence while speaking in public.

§         Objective (San Francisco State):  Train students to work in groups and teams, providing positive experiences and the opportunity to assess the importance of using teams to accomplish organizational tasks.

§         Objective (San Francisco State):  Train students to utilize the predominant computer and Internet applications as tools appropriate for the public and nonprofit workplace.

§         Objective (Florida State University):  Students will be able to communicate clearly and succinctly in oral and written form.

§         Objective (Florida State University):  Students will know how to apply technology (including information management skills, spreadsheets, data analysis and word processing) to the work environment for management, analysis and problem solving.

§         Objective: Instruct students in the professional standards relevant to applied research.

Ø      Strategy: Expanding educational access with distance learning in Western New York.

v     Goal 4 (Values): Impart students with the values (especially professional ethics, diversity, and globalism) necessary to be effective public service leaders.

§         Objective: Encourage diversity among those who participate in our education program (Alternative wording, Penn State, Harrisburg: “To recruit and retain a high quality, diverse student population”).

§         Objective: Teach diversity, ethics and globalism in each class, where appropriate.

§         Objective (Old Dominion University): To provide students with a firm grounding in the responsibilities, values and ethical concerns of public service in order to better meet the needs of a diverse and multicultural society.

§         Objective (Penn State, Harrisburg): To foster an organizational climate of openness, trust, support, and mutual respect which leads School members to value diversity.

§         Objective (San Francisco State): Train students in the issues of public sector ethics and diversity, focusing attention upon critical thinking and independent evaluations about these important topics.

§         Objective (UNC, Charlotte):  Provide an educational environment and climate reflecting the diversity of public administration practitioners and clientele.

 

v     Goal 5 (Continuous Improvement): Remain a cutting-edge program with a state-of-the-art curriculum.

§         Objective: Be a learning organization; continually analyze and assess the program in order to improve the degree and adapt the curriculum to changing constituencies, needs, and resources.

§         Objective: Responding to environmental changes that impact the needs and demands of our students.

§         Objective (Northern Illinois): Foster curriculum development.

§         Objective (Northern Illinois): Conduct periodic reviews of curriculum.

§         Objective (San Francisco State):  Improve and enhance the management of the Public Administration Program itself, thereby enhancing our effectiveness and stretching existing resources.

§         Objective (San Francisco State):  Recruit and retain high quality students in both the public and the nonprofit sectors

§         Objective (San Francisco State):  Continue to evaluate the Program and its successes and failures in order to improve its operation and education.

§         Objective (San Francisco State):  Seek out new, innovative ways of accomplishing our mission, goals, and objectives.

§         Objective (San Francisco State):  Seek to distinguish ourselves from other public administration programs in Western New York Area in order to attract high quality students.

§         Objective (San Francisco State):  Take advantage of the Program's locations in downtown Rochester and online.

§         Objective (San Francisco State):  Engage in a continuing strategic planning process, reevaluating our accomplishments each year and revising our mission and desired goals, objectives, and outcomes as we move towards accomplishing our current goals and objectives.

Strategy #2 (Service):  “Advancing Excellence in Public Management through Service to profession, university, and community”

v     Goal 6 (Service): Participate in community service which benefits the administration of public, nonprofit and private organizations.

v     Alternative Goal 6 Wording (Florida State University): To help build a public service community between faculty, students, alumni, employers, and professional associations to help mentor and network for our students.

v     Alternative Goal 6 Wording (North Carolina State): Provide service and leadership to local, regional, and national government agencies and non-profit organizations by applying the knowledge of Public Administration to practical problems and information needs.

v     Alternative Goal 6 Wording (San Francisco State):  Work collaboratively with other departments and programs within the College, the University, and the community.

Ø      Outcome (UNC, Charlotte): Faculty will be involved in community and professional service activities, contract research and consulting with government and nonprofit organizations.

Ø      Outcome (U. Nevada, Reno): All MPA students are expected to become informed, effective and efficacious citizens.

§         Objective: Encourage professional activities of students, alumni and faculty at all levels of public, nonprofit and private organizations.

§         Objective: Utilize information technology and distance learning to enhance our community service throughout Western New York.

§         Objective (San Francisco State):  Work with community groups like the Rochester Area Chapter of the American Society of Public Administration, Pi Alpha Alpha, other local professional associations, and local governments interested in and related to public administration.

§         Objective (Penn State, Harrisburg): To increase service to the community through educational programs and public service by the faculty.

§         Objective (U. Nebraska, Omaha): Establish new and expanding community partnerships to provide outreach services in the community.

§         Objective (U. Nebraska, Omaha): To develop substantial external funding support for outreach programs in both rural and urban settings.

§         Objective (San Francisco State): Establish a support environment for faculty to become and stay meaningfully involved in community and professional service.

Strategy #3 (Research):  “Advancing Excellence in Public Service through Scholarship that fosters ethical practices, administrative and political accountability, responsiveness to citizens, and effective public service leadership”

v     Goal 7 (Scholarship): Engage in applied research which addresses key issues and problems in both our profession and our community.

Ø      Outcome (UNC, Charlotte): Faculty will contribute to knowledge in the field of public administration and nonprofit management through scholarly research resulting in publications, conference presentations, and technical reports.

§         Objective: Provide opportunities for faculty to improve research skills and to enhance teaching abilities through problem solving and consultative experiences in practical situations

§         Objective: Promote student involvement to enhance their knowledge and skills

§         Objective (San Francisco State): Establish a supportive environment for faculty to conduct useful and important basic and applied research.

§         Objective (North Carolina State): Facilitate student participation in research projects and papers.