NASPAA REACCREDITATION OF MPA PROGRAM
The mission of the Master of Public Administration program at Wayne State University is to provide the highest quality graduate education to students committed to public service. The program provides an academically rigorous curriculum relevant to public and nonprofit policy and management. It serves academically capable pre-service and in-service students and is an integral part of a major urban research university improving local and global communities. Every five years the program undergoes a rigorous re-accreditation procedure conducted by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA), a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit organization. Over a period of two years, the Director of the MPA program, Dr. Kyu-Nahm Jun, and the core Political Science faculty of the program, produce a voluminous report on all aspects of MPA activity. This report is submitted to a dedicated NASPAA committee that reviews the report and dispatches a Site Visit Team to spend three days interviewing faculty, staff, students, and administrators at WSU. The team then produces its evaluation of the program which is submitted to NASPAA for re-accreditation decision. Following are examples of statements from the report filed by the Site Visit Team:
"1) High quality faculty: strong publications, several have received awards, passion for their job and public service, dedication to students and strong individual attention to students.
2) Consistent message about value and meaning of the Wayne State MPA - recognized by all groups (faculty, students, alumni, administration, etc.).
3) Strong connections to the local community (Detroit, Wayne County and the state).
4) Commitment to an annual faculty retreat where thought is given to the program based on
assessment feedback.
5) Strong relationship with the Political Science program and faculty and great support from the
Department Chair- they recognize the value of the program.
6) Very strong dedication to the program by current and past MPA Directors."
Needless to say, with a report like that, the MPA program was re-accredited for another five-year term. Congratulations to Dr. Jun and the faculty of the MPA program for their superlative work.