Yes, I know-- when you look outside it is hard to think of summer. However, it is time to consider your summer elective choices. Priority registration begins April 2 with general registration two weeks later.
Communications is probably the key skill set for any effective public manager. It is crucial for the success of any leader. The class consists of two parts -- a three day Juneau residency (May 17-19) and an independent study segment with several Elluminate Live class sessions. The three day Juneau residency addresses oral communication skills. It will collaborate with the Alaska Certified Manager Program focusing on three of their classes: Because of this, UAS offers PADM 675, Leadership Communications, a three credit class focusing on communication skills and taught by Jonathan.
i) Developing Your Leadership Style
ii) Coaching and Mentoring
iii) Conflict Resolution
The remainder of the class addresses primarily written communications. The residency runs 8-5 Thursday through Saturday and includes lunch. Discount lodging is available through UAS student housing. Please contact if you are interested or for more information.
PADM 125 Economics for Public Managers taught by Tim Ewest Web based 5/21- 8/3 This course satisfies the micro and macro economic prerequisite requirements for PADM 625 and PADM 628
PADM 635 Natural Resource Policy taught by Jim Powell Satellite/ Mondays 5/14-7/30 6-8:45pm
PADM 671 Non Profit Management taught by Kathy DiLorenzo Satellite Thursdays 5/17-8/2 6-8:45pm
In addition to the MPA core requirements, students must complete three electives. I encourage you to use these classes to tailor your program to your particular interests. You may use your electives to establish a concentration in Rural Development or Criminal Justice, or you may select other approved electives.
Options include:
i) PADM classes offered by UAS
Graduate PADM courses from UAS are automatically acceptable as electives. Other classes must be approved by the Program Director.
ii) Approved 400 Level undergraduate classes
Up to two 400 level classes may be applied to your graduate degree if they have not previously been applied to an undergraduate degree and are approved in advance by the Program Director.
iii) Approved graduate courses from other institutions.
Students may take graduate classes from UAA, UAF or from other accredited institutions that focus on some aspect of management and are approved in advance by the Program Director.
iv) Independent Research classes
Students may have a strong interest in an area that is not covered at UAS, nor can they find a suitable course from another institution. It may be possible to do an independent study on that particular subject. Interested students should present a proposal to the MPA Program Director.
i) The American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) has an annual conference attended by 2000-3000 practitioners and academics. This year’s conference will be held in Washington DC March 23-27. Browse through the conference sessions at http://aspanet.org/2007conference/page.cfm?name=sessions Click on a session to view the individual papers.
ii) The Public Administration Theory Network (PATNET) will hold its annual conference May 26-27 at Penn StateUniversity in Harrisburg. View the conference program at http://php.scripts.psu.edu/dept/iit/cl/spa/PATNet/Agenda.php
Find out more about PATNET at http://www.patheory.org/
iii) A conference on “Anti-Essentialism in Public Administration” sponsored by Florida Atlantic University was held March 2-3. The Conference program can be found at http://www.fau.edu/spa/conference_program.html
Papers can be viewed at http://www.fau.edu/spa/antiessenconf.html
The Advancement to Candidacy form lists all the courses you have taken and will take to complete your degree, including all electives and transfer courses. It is the official contract between the student and the University and should be submitted somewhere between students’ 5th and 7th classes in the program. It is also a good planning document and students are encouraged to fill out drafts early in their program. The form can be found at http://www.uas.alaska.edu/som/mpa/degreereq/advtocan.html
We are going through one of our regular reviews of the core classes required for the MPA. It would be extremely helpful if alumni, employers, current students, and other interested parties could let us know what courses you think must be included, and what courses you feel should be optional (and why).
Current Core
i) Introduction to Public Administration
ii) Organizational Theory and Behavior
iii) Human Resources Administration
iv) Public Financial Management
v) Law for Managers
vi) Economics and Public Policy
vii) Research Methods for Administration
viii) Program Evaluation
ix) Capstone
Other possibilities
Leadership Communications (written and oral communication skills)
Policy Process and Implementation
Lola returns! Yes, the one and only Lola Savatgy returns to Juneau next month after her gig in the Pentagon. She takes up a position as a Research Analyst for the Department of Health and Social Services.
Pat Nault (’99) campaigned and won a seat as a trustee for the ASEA-AFSCME Local 52 Health Benefits Trust. This is a state-chartered trust which administers State of Alaska employee health benefits for more than 7,000 members of the General Government Unit and their 10,000 or so dependents. Pat states “I've had loads of opportunity to apply what I learned in the MPA program.”
The following jobs have been passed on by MPA students or alumni.
i) Ketchikan is looking for a new Executive Director for its Arts and Humanities Council The successful applicant leader with solid management skills, excellent communication skills, as well as strong interpersonal, problem-solving, public relations, and fund development capabilities. Must have a commitment to the arts and community access. Please see their website for additional information: http://www.ketchikanarts.org/content/view/110/92/ Applications are due March 22nd.
ii) Are you, or someone you know, looking for a dynamic, challenging job opportunity with the Department of Natural Resources? The Southeast Regional Office of the Division of Mining, Land and Water is recruiting for a Natural Resource Specialist 2 position to authorize and monitor the use of State owned lands (including tide and submerged lands). The focus of this position is to adjudicate land use authorizations for projects in Northern Southeast Alaska around the communities of Juneau, Haines, Skagway, Gustavus, Yakutat and Angoon. Recruitment closes March 27, 2007. See Workplace Alaska http://notes4.state.ak.us/wa/mainentry.nsf/WebData/1hp1HomePage/?Open
iii) The Department of Administration at the State of Alaska is looking for a Chief Financial Officer for the Division of Retirements and Benefits, Range 23. For more information see Workplace Alaska http://notes4.state.ak.us/wa/mainentry.nsf/WebData/1hp1HomePage/?Open
* ALUMNI!!! Please send me information on your job and contact info for posting to our Yearbook!!!
* Write me to share what you are doing.
* View previous Newsletters on the MPA Website at http://www.uas.alaska.edu/som/mpa/newsletter-directory.html
* Please let me know if you wish to be removed from this list
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