The MPA Messenger

Volume 3 November 1997
NEWSLETTER OF THE MPA PROGRAM AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE , 907 786-1700

 
MPA Advisory Committee
There have been several meetings of the new MPA Advisory Council which is working in conjunction with the PADM 635 Program Evaluation class to evaluate the MPA Program. The Advisory Council is a very impressive group, including Judy Brady, Judy Gottlieb, Margaret Gressens, Allen Kemplen, Dr. Bill McDiarmid, Dennis McMillan, Walt Parker, John Peet, Dr. Sheila Selkregg, Dr. Aaron Wolf, Kimberly Williams, and Esther Wunnicke. They are strong backers of professional education for public administrators and are providing valuable input about ways we can improve our program. We truly appreciate the time they have spent assisting us.

 
Develop Skills in Public Policy
The MPA Policy Analysis Emphasis courses will develop your skills to focus and simplify policy decision problems and use qualitative and quantitative techniques to assess the alternatives, evaluate a program, or estimate economic effects. Elective courses on special topics will introduce you to current issues and key players in a broad field of Alaska public policy.

Spring course offerings include:
ECON 628 Applied Economics (Wednesdays, 7-9:45 p.m.) Taught by Professor Scott Goldsmith, this course will be a detailed study of benefit-cost analysis including topics such as discounting, adjusting for risk and uncertainty, and valuing non-market goods (including human life). We will study how benefit-cost analysis relates to impact analysis and financial analysis, as well as how distributional considerations can be incorporated into benefit-cost analysis. The theoretical foundations of benefit-cost analysis will be investigated to help us understand the strengths and weaknesses of the methodology. All this will take place within the framework of a complex Alaska public policy question amenable to analysis using benefit-cost. If time allows we may also study the history of the use of this technique. Although some quantitative skills are required, we will try to concentrate on the concepts.

PADM 671M: Children and Public Policy (Mondays, 7-9:45 p.m.—note the schedule change.) Taught by Yvonne Chase, Director of the Division of Community and Rural Development (former Deputy Commissioner of the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services), and Eileen Lally, Director of Hope Cottages, this course will examine ten issue areas concerning Alaska’s children. Readings will address the status of children, social science theory and research, policy history, survey of current programs, and program evaluation research. Community providers, administrators and advocates will fill any information gaps and open discussion on future policy. Students and guest speakers in Juneau will be linked by video conference.

Next fall, PADM 632: Policy Analysis will be offered. Taught by Dr. Sharman Haley, this course will develop your skills to focus and simplify policy decision problems and introduce qualitative and quantitative techniques to assess the alternatives.

Students are encouraged to call Dr. Sharman Haley at 786-7741 if they are considering the Policy Emphasis, or if they want to know more about these courses.

 
New MPA Emphasis Area Proposed in Criminal Justice
In cooperation with the UAA Justice Center a new MPA Emphasis Area in Criminal Justice is being proposed. Dr. Robert Langworthy, the new Director of the Justice Center plans to add some new graduate JUST courses (Administrative Law; Corrections Theory and Research; and Policing Theory and Research) which the MPA program intends to recognize as part of a new 15 credit hour emphasis area. The Criminal Justice Emphasis would provide MPA graduates with skills that will be applicable in a wide spectrum of employment areas in law enforcement and the criminal justice system. Once approved by the UAA Graduate Affairs Board, the new emphasis area will go into effect when the UAA Catalog is published next year.
 

Alumni News
Al Nyback retired March 31, 1997 from the Alaska Area Native Health Service after thirty-three years of continuous service.

Sunday Obazuaye, MPA ’88, has completed his exams and coursework and is now finishing his doctoral dissertation at the Claremont Graduate School.

Shannon Skibeness, MPA ’92, and her husband Peter Fitzmaurice had a baby boy, Skyler Reed Fitzmaurice, on February 12, 1997. Skyler weighed 7 lbs. 6 oz. And was 20.5 inches long. Shannon continues to work for the Chugach National Forest as a Forester in the recreation division in Seward.

Leslie Torrence established a scholarship at UAA for single women (C students or better) living at home or with a responsible guardian, who have a child and seek to continue their education. She is hoping to help high school single mothers who might not otherwise continue their education
 

Visiting Professor to Offer Summer Intensive Course
Dr. Ralph Brower, on the faculty at the Reubin Askew School of Public Administration and Policy, Florida State University, A UAA MPA ALUMNUS, will offer the following elective course next summer:

PADM 671 "The Learning Organization".
Introductory Session Friday May 1 6-8 p.m. (videotape and phone conference)
Session I - Thurs., Friday, Saturday June 4, 5, 6 ---8:30am - 5 pm (one hour lunch)
Session II - Thurs., Friday, Saturday June 25, 26, 27, 8:30am - 5pm (one hour lunch )
 

Spring 1998 Classes
PADM 601 001 Public Administration in the Contemporary Society
Dr. Steve Aufrecht
Thursdays, 7:00 p.m.-9:45 p.m., LIB 201

PADM 602 001 Seminar in Public Management
Dr. Steve Aufrecht
Mondays, 7:00 p.m.-9:45 p.m., LIB 201

PADM 604 001 Research Methods in Administration
Virgene Hanna and Dr. Sharman Haley
Thursdays, 7:00 p.m.-9:45 p.m., CAS 251

PADM 606 165 The Policymaking Process
Dr. Greg Protasel
Thursdays, 6:30 p.m. –8:15 p.m., Kiska Hall, Fort Richardson

PADM 610 001 Organization Theory and Behavior
Dr. Greg Protasel
Tuesdays, 6:00 p.m. – 8:45 p.m., LIB 201

PADM 618 001 Public Accountability, Ethics and Law
Dr. Steven Aufrecht
To be arranged.

PADM 624 179 Human Resource Administration
Dr. John Alexander
Tuesdays, 5:30 p.m. – 8:45 p.m., Elmendorf

PADM 628 001 Administration of Financial Resources
Dr. Greg Protasel
Mondays and Wednesdays, 5:30 p.m. – 6:45 p.m., LIB 201

PADM 659 001 Administrative Policy Seminar (Capstone course)
Intro. Friday, January 16, 5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m., LIB 201.
Class meets Fridays January 23, February 13, March 20 and April 17, from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., CAS 223.

PADM 671 001 Children in Public Policy
Yvonne Chase and Eileen Lally
Mondays, 7:00 p.m. – 9:45 p.m., ULB

ECON 628 001 Applied Economics
Dr. Scott Goldsmith
Wednesdays, 7:00 p.m - 9:45 p.m., CAS 213