UAS/MPA
ON-LINE NEWSLETTER
January, 2006 ---- Vol. 8 No. 5---Jonathan Anderson, editor
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- Welcome New Students!
- Admissions
- Advancement to Candidacy
- UAS Home
- Student Portfolios
- Summer Electives
- Leadership Communications
- Save Your Books and Notes!
- Conferences
- Alumni and Student News
- MPA Scholarship Fund
- Miscellany
1. WELCOME NEW STUDENTS
I want to welcome quite a few new students beginning the MPA program this semester. I encourage those more “experienced” to extend a helping hand to them as they struggle to begin the MPA without all the orientation provided in PADM 601.
2. ADMISSIONS
Please make sure you complete your Admissions file as soon as possible. Make sure your transcripts are sent directly to UAS. Give your references a copy of your resume and let them know their letter needs only to be a couple paragraphs. Check the MPA website info at http://www.uas.alaska.edu/mpa/howtoapp.htm. Contact departmental staffer Valentina Jimmerson 796-6402 or 1-800-478-9069 to find out what has been received.
3. ADVANCEMENT TO CANDIDACY
Somewhere between your 5th and 10th courses, you need to submit your Advancement to Candidacy form. Download it athttp://www.uas.alaska.edu/mpa/advtocan.htm This form lists all the courses you will use in the MPA program. It serves two purposes. First it is a planning tool. You list what courses you will take in what semester. Make sure your plan fits our regular Fall/Spring Schedule. It also is, once signed by the Dean, the official acceptance of any transfer credits.
4. UAS HOME
UAS Home is the designated server for students. You can save documents or create a website and access the files from anywere. It is especially useful to make sure you have redundant savings for any papers you are in the midst of writing. For more information on UASHome see http://www.uas.alaska.edu/faculty_support/uashome/uashome.html and http://www.uas.alaska.edu/helpdesk/documentation/uashome.html
5. STUDENT PORTFOLIOS
The Electronic Portfolio System is designed to provide students with the tools to collect and present their work online. A portfolio may be used simply to organize coursework, or items may be peer reviewed and graded directly from the portfolio system. For more information go to http://www.uas.alaska.edu/faculty_support/portfolio/index.htm. Browse other student’s portfolios at: https://uascentral.uas.alaska.edu/online/pbrowser?term=Spring-2006&behavior=UAS&session=1507997
6. SUMMER ELECTIVES
Our summer elective schedule has been finalized. Three electives will be offered.
PADM 615 Intergovernmental Relations, Thursday evenings, May 18- August 10 by Kevin Ritchie
PADM 671 Special Topics: The Public Manager and the Policy Process, Wednesday evenings, May 17 - August 9, by Kathy DiLorenzo
PADM 675 Leadership Communications, May 22 - August 1 by Jonathan Anderson (See item below)
7. LEADERSHIP COMMUNICATIONS
Oral and written communications are critical skills for public managers. Oral communications in particular is difficult to be taught in a distance format. Each Summer the MPA program has offered Leadership Communications in a partial intensive, partial independent study format. The course will include a five day intensive in Juneau from May 22-26 followed by independent study focusing on written communications, ending August 1. During the Juneau segment there is a strong emphasis on Public Speaking. Housing will be available in student housing. Details on last years class can be found at http://www.uas.alaska.edu/lci/. For those outside Juneau, we hope you will consider this a good time to visit the University campus and tour the surrounding area.
8. SAVE YOUR BOOKS AND NOTES!
MPA students should be aware that in their last class- PADM 690, the Public Administration Capstone- they will be required to review the materials from all their previous MPA core classes. I strongly encourage you to save your syllabi, note, and books for use in your final class. View previous Capstone “A” papers on the website at http://www.uas.alaska.edu/mpa/capstone.htm
9. CONFERENCES
The Public Administration Theory Network and the American Society for Public Administration both have upcoming conferences. The PATNET conference will be held in Seattle February 8-10. For more information see http://www.pat-net.org/ The ASPA Conference will be held in Denver For more information please see http://www.aspanet.org March 31 - April 4.
10. ALUMNI and STUDENT NEWS
Keren Kelley is beginning a new job as the Grants Administrator for the Central Peninsula General Hospital in Soldotna The hospital has an attractive website at http://www.cpgh.org/
Kenai student Barbara Ruckman was awarded a 2005 Businesswoman of the Year award by the National Republican Congressional Committee. Barbara is invited to a special awards presentation with Members of Congress and other Republican VIP’s at their Tax Summit in Washington DC in March. Congratulations Barbara!
11. MPA SCHOLARSHIP FUND
Several MPA alumni have expressed an interest in setting up an MPA scholarship Fund. Please let me know if you would be interested in sharing in the organization of such a scholarship and helping with contributions. I think this would be a great idea, but we need to have interested alumni involved.
12. Miscellany
- ALUMNI!!! Please send me information on your job and contact info for posting to our Yearbook!!!
- Everyone write me to share what you are doing.
- View previous Newsletters on the MPA Website.
- Help us track down MPA alumni- let me know of your contacts.
- Please let me know if you wish to be removed from this list
