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Posted: 7/18/13

TAMIU’s MPA Program Earns Prestigious National Accreditation

 

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Texas A&M International University’s Master of Public Administration (MPA) program joins the ranks of the nation’s top public administration programs as it received accreditation by the prestigious Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA) this week.

This inclusion by the national and international accrediting body for professional public administration programs makes TAMIU the 11th university in Texas whose MPA program receives NASPAA accreditation. TAMIU is the second university in The Texas A&M University System, aside from the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University, to receive NASPAA accreditation, said Dr. Carol Waters, associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and co-director of the MPA program.

Dr. Peter Haruna, associate professor of public administration and co-director of the MPA program, said that the NASPAA accreditation catapults TAMIU into the list of elite MPA programs in the United States and abroad that have gone through the accreditation process.

“What this means is that the quality of our professional administrative education and training program has been nationally verified and certified by NASPAA,” Dr. Haruna explained, “We applied for accreditation in Spring 2012 after 10 years of delivering courses, submitted a self study report in Summer 2012, underwent a site visit in Spring 2013 before the final accreditation decision was made this summer.”

The accreditation was achieved through the joint effort of MPA faculty, MPA Advisory Board, graduates, students and administrative staff, Haruna explained.

“I am just so excited because it has been a long and tedious preparation towards accreditation,” Haruna said, “It is the highest professional achievement for any MPA professor to have worked on getting accreditation and actually getting that accreditation.”

As a NASPAA accredited program, TAMIU’s MPA program will be included in the list of NASPAA accredited programs, be entitled to use the organization’s logo for marketing purposes and be able to seek its assistance in marketing our program,” Haruna explained,

Most importantly, TAMIU MPA graduates and students can feel proud of the University’s MPA degree, Haruna said.

Dr. Waters, who will retire in August after having served as faculty member at TAMIU for 15 years, said that the accreditation is a wonderful cap to her career.

“The MPA program has been my baby from the beginning, and achieving accreditation is a validation of the quality of the program that is a result of the efforts of all involved faculty,” she said, “The accreditation is both a validation and the beginning of a new phase of development for the program.”

She said the accreditation enhances the value of the MPA degree for past and future graduates.

“I am confident that the faculty who will be involved will take it into an even higher and better level in the future,” Waters said.

An MPA allows graduates to work in numerous capacities in local, state of federal government as well as in non-profit management and as human resources managers, Haruna said.

TAMIU’s MPA program is currently undergoing several changes, Haruna explained. For example, starting Spring 2015, all MPA classes will be offered online, Haruna said.
 This Fall, TAMIU will offer a new online, non-degree Certificate in Nonprofit Leadership and Management to bachelor’s degree holders. Participating in this certificate program will eliminate the need to take electives for those who want to continue and pursue an MPA, he said.

Also, starting this Fall students will also have to undergo an interview with MPA faculty members before enrolling in the program, Haruna said.

Aside from Waters and Haruna, faculty members who worked on the accreditation include Dr. Mehnaaz Momen, associate professor of public administration; Dr. Lynne Manganaro, assistant professor of public administration; Dr. Margaret Broxton Wynn, assistant professor of public administration; and Dr. María Reyes, visiting assistant professor of public administration.

For more information on the NASPAA accreditation, please contact Dr. Haruna at 326.2613, e-mail pharuna@tamiu.edu or visit offices located in the Dr. F.M. Canseco Hall, 313J.

TAMIU Fall Registration is currently underway through Sept. 3. Classes start Aug. 28.

For other important dates, deadlines and other information, see http://www.tamiu.edu/affairs/registrar/schedule/index-real.shtml

For more information, contact the Office of the University Registrar at registrar@tamiu.edu or 956.326.2250 or visit offices in the Senator Judith Zaffirini Student Success Center, suite 121.


Journalists who need additional information or help with media requests and interviews should contact the Office of Public Relations, Marketing and Information Services at prmis@tamiu.edu