UAS MPA
ON-LINE NEWSLETTER

December , 2006 --- vol.9 no.4 --- Jonathan Anderson, editor

• NEW REGISTRATION RULES!
• WEB MEETING/ ELLUMINATE AVAILABLE TO ALL STUDENTS
• PORTFOLIO-- BLOG!
• WOMEN IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
• PROGRAM FEEDBACK
• SPRING SEMESTER NOTES
• ORDER YOUR SPRING BOOKS ASAP!!!
• PREREQUISITES
• LOCAL GOVERNMENT CONFERENCE
• PERSONAL NOTES
• PUBLICATION OPPORTUNITIES
• Miscellany

Students who are not fully admitted to the MPA program must register for classes through the Department.  When you are ready to register please contact Valentina Jimmerson at 1-800-478-9069 (796-6402 in Juneau).

Students already admitted to the program can register through the web.

All UASOnline class sites have integrated a web communication tool. Web Meeting/Elluminate is a link listed under Communications on your class site. While used as the primary broadcast tool for some classes, it is available for all students at any time to share information, compare notes, work on projects or just chat. Click on the Download Software and Documentation link and then select the Participant Guide for an introduction. You will require an inexpensive headset with boom microphone. Try it out!!!

All UAS students have access to a tool called Portfolio that allows you to collect and share classwork, hobbies, social commentary or social connections. The link is at the top of all UAS Online pages. Instructions can be found at http://www.uas.alaska.edu/faculty_support/portfolio/index.htm Browse other students’ portfolios at https://uascentral.uas.alaska.edu/online/pbrowser?term=Spring-2007&behavior=UAS&session=2076679 And have fun!

The American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) has a subgroup or “Section” focused on women in public administration. Their website is at http://www.swpanet.org/ and they encourage new members to join them. “SWPA is a diverse, active group of women and men working together on projects and programs to enhance and promote awareness, equality, participation, and recognition of women at all levels and areas of public administration.” For information on membership contact Patricia Yearwood at pyearwood@aspanet.org

Please take time to send me a few sentences on how we can improve the MPA program. I’d like to hear your opinions about courses, course delivery formats, formal requirements, added features, tech support, library issues, faculty, or anything else you might think of. I would love to hear from both current students on what is happening now, and alumni on what are the most needed skills we should be developing. I really value your perspectives.

Spring classes begin Tuesday January 16. Spring Break is March 12-16. The semester ends Friday May 4. Contact Jonathan Anderson with any advising questions Spring Classes and Links to UASOnline page PADM 618 Law for Public Managers Monday 7-9:45 pm Kathy DiLorenzo CRN 36757 PADM 624 Human Resources Administration Tuesday 7-9:45 pm Jonathan Anderson CRN 36759 PADM 688 Program Evaluation Wednesday 7-9:45 pm Kathy DiLorenzo CRN 36763 PREREQUISITE PADM 604 PADM 628 Public Financial Management Thursday 7-9:45 pm Anselm Staack CRN 36761 PREREQUISITE Undergraduate Micro and Macro Economics PADM 690 Capstone Thursday 7-9:45 pm (Elluminate) Jonathan Anderson CRN 36764 If you plan to take PADM 690 this spring - and have not already done it- PLEASE contact Jonathan Anderson.

Textbooks for Spring Classes are posted on your class sites (see links above). Please order them ASAP so you are ready for class.

This is a reminder that some MPA classes have prerequisites. i) PADM 688 Program Evaluation has the prerequisite of PADM 604 Research Methods in Administration. ii) PADM 604 has a prerequisite of undergraduate statistics. iii) PADM 628 Public Financial Management and PADM 625 Economics and Public Policy have the prerequisites of undergraduate micro and macro economics. These may be two different classes or a combined topic single class. iv) An introductory class in government is a prerequisite for full admission to the MPA program. All prerequisites with the exception of PADM 604 may be met through taking CLEP or DANTES tests. For links to information see http://www.uas.alaska.edu/mpa/degreereq/prereq.html

The Alaska Municipal League held their local government conference in Juneau November 15-17. It was attended by local officials including MPA students Linda Swarner, Kirsten Vesel, and Randy Romanesko, MPA grad and Kodiak City Manager Linda Freed, and yours truly. Kirsten Vesel shares a few reactions: I thought the AML conference went very well. This is the second year that I have attended and I learned a lot and met many people throughout the State of Alaska. I think the most interesting thing about the conference is sharing case studies with other managers and public officials throughout the State. There is so much to be learned through experience and this is the conference to find experienced, long term municipal government knowledge. I also enjoy learning from other city managers and networking with them to utilize credible resources for specific projects. I was honored to get elected to the AMMA board this year and hope to work with the University to develop a mentoring program to help teach students about the role of a city manager. The grand finale of the conference is the business meeting where AML members vote on resolutions. This is also valuable to know what the collective organization is lobbying for in the state. PERS was a big discussion this year as was alternative energy. There were also some interesting workshops on conflict management, partnership efforts, the gas line, and many others. I was not disappointed and enjoyed my time in Juneau. The only unfortunate part of the trip was the weather which forced everyone to huddle inside versus walking around downtown. Regardless, I’ll look forward to next year in Fairbanks when I’m no longer pregnant. You can view the full program at http://www.akml.org/2006conference/2006overview.html

Anchorage based student Colette Slover was promoted to Area Manager of Alaska’s Boys and Girls Clubs and will manage 5 sites in rural communities. Yukon student Krista Roske has taken a new job as senior policy analyst with the Yukon Development Corporation; a crown corporation responsible for Yukon electrical energy.

The Michigan Journal of Public Affairs - a student-run academic journal of the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy - is accepting submissions for its 2007 edition. Submissions will be accepted through Monday January 8, 2007. For more information see http://www.mjpa.umich.edu/submission.php The Georgetown Public Policy Review, another student run academic journal, is accepting submissions of academic articles, commentaries and book reviews that explore issues surrounding the intersection of technology and public policy. The deadline for submissions is February 1, 2007. For more information see http://www9.georgetown.edu/grad/gppi/GPPIReview/index.cfm. Send questions to Joanna Mikulski at jmm252@georgetown.edu

* 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 at http://www.uas.alaska.edu/mpa/newsletter-directory.html * Please let me know if you wish to be removed from this list

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