UT Tyler MPA Program Admitted to National Membership

July 31, 2002

UT Tyler MPA Program Admitted to National Membership

The public administration program at The University of Texas at Tyler has been admitted to membership in the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration, Dr. Donna Dickerson, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, announced.

The mission of NASPAA is to promote excellence in public service education. Admission to membership requires approval by the organization's executive council. NASPAA includes university programs in public affairs, public policy, public administration and nonprofit management.

UT Tyler offers the master of public administration degree.

"Membership in NASPAA is a preliminary step toward becoming an accredited member of the organization. Accreditation indicates that a program has met a set of standards regarding curriculum, administration, program mission, student admissions, faculty quality, student services and placement and facilities," said Dr. Kenneth Wink, UT Tyler associate professor of public administration.

Within the next two years, UT Tyler's MPA program will prepare for NASPAA accreditation by going through a rigorous process of self study, accreditation commission review and an extensive on-site campus visit by a team of experts.

More than 135 graduate programs in public affairs are currently accredited by NASPAA.

The master's in public administration degree is the professional degree for graduate students who want to enter the public service at the management level. MPA graduates work in a wide variety of public service fields including federal, state, local and regional government, nonprofit and not-for-profit organizations and in the international arena, as well as the private sector.

For information about the MPA program at UT Tyler, please contact Dr. Wink at 566-7434.

Contact:
Beverley Golden
566-7303