PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION EDUCATION
LEAVES THE CAMPUS

By DR. HANK RUBIN, President, IAGPPA
Director MPA, Roosevelt University

One in six Illinois workers is employed by the public sector and the demand for special training for public sector leaders has never been greater. In response to this demand, eleven leading Illinois universities have formed a consortium — the first of its kind in the United States — to improve public administration programs on their campuses and to take that education "on the road", offering intensive seminars for mid-career and senior public professionals.

The consortium, known as the Illinois Association of Graduate Programs in Public Administration [IAGPPA], strives to improve public administration education and public service in the state. Working together, IAGPPA members have developed mid-career and senior executive programs for state and municipal government managerial personnel, have launched faculty development programs, and have sponsored special educational experiences for graduate-level public administration students from participating universities.

The cornerstone of the consortium's efforts is the Masters in Public Administration Program (MPA). Today, the MPA is recognized as the most appropriate and valuable graduate degree for public and not-for-profit administrators of all kinds. Illinois is fortunate to have MPA or equivalent programs at more a wide range of universities. In fact, students from around the world travel to Illinois to take advantage of the top-notch programs available here.

Most universities require all students to complete a set of core courses in fiscal management, organizational planning, personnel management, quantitative and research methods, and policy analysis. Many universities also offer a choice of concentrations to allow the student to use electives to specialize in a preferred field. Typical concentration offerings include Local Government Administration, Health Services Administration, Justice Administration, Regional and Urban Ecoomic Development, Not-for-Profit Management, and Public Policy and Administration.

Many students attend classes on a part-time basis, scheduling classes around work and home obligations. Other career-minded students attend full-time programs. The typical MPA class contains a mix of young, recent-undergraduates and older, more experienced mid-career administrators from government and not-for-profit agencies. Most faculties are comprised of expert practitioners and esteemed academic leaders. The availability of both full-time and part-time study on most campuses and the expansion of programs to many satellite campuses (particularly in the suburban Chicago area) puts a graduate education in public administration within reach of prospective students throughout the state.

Students in Illinois enjoy additional academic opportunities thanks to IAGPPA. In early November, MPA students from around the state were IAGPPA's guests at the regional conference of the American Society for Public Administration. Not only were students able to participate in the workshops and seminars of this professional society — they were also able to be eye-witnesses to the veto session of the Illinois General Assembly, as appropriation cuts and educational reform bills were hotly debated. The Springfield trip was the latest in a series of student enrichment programs provided by IAGPPA.

IAGPPA was launched in 1984 by eight original members: Governors State University, Northern Illinois University, Roosevelt University, Sangamon State University, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, University of Illinois at Chicago, and University of Illinois at Urbana. Illinois State University joined in 1985, Illinois Institute of Technology in 1986, and this year. Northwestern University affiliated.

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Officers of the consortium are myself (Roosevelt University), Vice-President Byron Donnelly (Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville), Past-President Osbin Ervin (Southern Illinois University, Carbondale), and Secretary-Treasurer James M. Banovetz (Northern Illinois University). Carol Zar of Northern Illinois University's Center for Governmental Studies provides Secretariat services for the consortium. Recently, the IAGPPA officers announced plans for a variety of special programs, both for students and for mid-career professionals.

In September, the consortium launched the Great Lakes Senior Executive Institute, an eight-day management development program designed for senior executives from a range of governmental settings. Coordination of this intensive program was provided by Northern Illinois University's Center for Governmental Studies. The next senior executive training program, a four day seminar, is being developed by the consortium for State of Illinois managers. Robert Rich of the University of Illinois at Urbana is coordinating this effort.

Under the leadership of Sangamon State University's A. L. Mackelprang, the consortium offers a series of one to three day management training seminars for mid-career, middle-management personnel. Programs have been held in central Illinois, and there are plans for offerings in the northern and southern parts of the State during 1988.

James Seroka of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale is responsible for the Association's faculty development efforts. The consortium has identified an opportunity to improve public administration education via micro-computer technology and is developing computer-based instructional modules for classroom use. Through this effort, faculty and students at all member universities will be able to take advantage of the latest developments in information systems technology.

IACPPA has also taken on the task of increasing awareness of the value and importance of professionally-educated public administrators. The public awareness campaign is being directed by Roosevelt University, in conjunction with all member universities.

The IAGPPA concept has been met with interest and enthusiasm by both the academic community and the government and not-for-profit community. The unique consortium is expected to be a model for similar alliances in other states.

For additional information about public administration education, about the programs at any IAGPPA member school, or about any of the special programs offered by IAGPPA, contact: Carol Zar, IAGPPA Secretariat, Northern Illinois University, Center for Governmental Studies, DeKalb, Illinois 60115. •

Page 18 / Illinois Municipal Review / February 1988