Public Administration, MPA
Student Outcomes
Assessment of Student Outcomes
Outcome MPA 1.a MPA: Comprehend and Apply Managerial Roles
Students will use systematic reasoning to examine and evaluate
managerial roles needed within public, health and nonprofit
organizations.
Students will be able to identify the different types of managerial
styles and apply them situationally where appropriate.
Objective 1
To lead and manage in public governance. The mission of the School of
Public, Nonprofit and Health Administration is to educate students for
lives of active citizenship as contributing members of their local,
regional, national, and global communities, and for professional careers
in public and nonprofit organizations. Therefore the MPA curriculum has
been organized to meet the needs of our in-service and pre-service
students specifically by developing in our graduate's capacities for
"ethical judgment, critical thinking, and core competencies needed
to fulfill multiple roles as effective managers and public servants. To
this end, the following measures are defined: -Comprehend and apply
managerial roles. -Recognize and apply various theories and approaches
to leadership -Explain and recognize the environment of public and
nonprofit organizations.
Measure 1
2021 Status
2019 Status
2017 Status
Measure 2
2021 Status
2017 Status
Outcome MPA 1.b MPA: Recognize and apply various theories and approaches to leadership
Students will be able to identify different approaches to leadership and
apply approaches situationally where appropriate.
Objective 2
To lead and manage in public governance. The mission of the School of
Public, Nonprofit and Health Administration is to educate students for
lives of active citizenship as contributing members of their local,
regional, national, and global communities, and for professional careers
in public and nonprofit organizations. Therefore we have refined our
curriculum to meet the needs of our in-service and pre-service students
specifically by developing in our graduate's capacities for
"ethical judgment, critical thinking, and core competencies needed
to fulfill multiple roles as effective managers and public servants. .
To this end, the following measures are defined: -Comprehend and apply
managerial roles. -Recognize and apply various theories and approaches
to leadership -Explain and recognize the environment of public and
nonprofit organizations.
Measure 1
2021 Status
2019 Status
2017 Status
Outcome MPA 1.c MPA Environments of public and nonprofit organizations
Students will be able to explain and analyze the environmental and
political constraints on public and nonprofit organizations.
Objective 3
To lead and manage in public governance. The mission of the School of
Public, Nonprofit and Health Administration is to educate students for
lives of active citizenship as contributing members of their local,
regional, national, and global communities, and for professional careers
in public and nonprofit organizations. Therefore we have refined our
curriculum to meet the needs of our in-service and pre-service students
specifically by developing in our graduate's capacities for
"ethical judgment, critical thinking, and core competencies needed
to fulfill multiple roles as effective managers and public servants. .
To this end, the following measures are defined: -Comprehend and apply
managerial roles. -Recognize and apply various theories and approaches
to leadership -Explain and recognize the environment of public and
nonprofit organizations.
Measure 1
2021 Status
2018 Status
Outcome MPA 2.a MPA Public Policy Analysis: Analyze and evaluate public policymaking and its processes
Use systematic reasoning to examine and evaluate information and ideas
and then synthesize conclusions to propose new perspectives and
solutions in the development of public policy for public, nonprofit and
health organizations in the United States.
Students will:
• Assess relevant information, perspectives and assumptions.
• Construct logical conclusions based on reason and evidence.
• Formulate novel approaches or create innovative interpretations for
evaluating the effectiveness of adopted public policies.
• Evaluate the novel approaches or innovative interpretations for
developing policy alternatives for respective agencies and/or public organizations.
Objective 4
To participate in and contribute to the public policymaking process. Our
faculty believes that a working knowledge of public policy, and the
analysis of laws, regulations, and rulemaking by different agencies of
the government is essential to being a good citizen and manager of
public, nonprofit or health organizations. Further, an operational
knowledge of the financial management of public, nonprofit and health
organizations is critical to the development of public policy as the
implementation of public programs requires the expenditure of public
funds. To this end, the following measures are defined: -Analyze and
evaluate public policymaking and its processes. -Examine and apply
relationships between financial management and policy.
Measure 1
2021 Status
2018 Status
Outcome MPA 2.b MPA -Financial Management
Students will examine and apply relationships between financial
management and policy. Students will demonstrate knowledge of financial
policies for public, nonprofit and health organizations. Students will
be able to assess the organizational health of organizations using
budget data.
Objective 5
To participate in and contribute to the public policymaking process. Our
faculty believes that a working knowledge of public policy, and the
analysis of laws, regulations, and rulemaking by different agencies of
the government is essential to being a good citizen and manager of
public, nonprofit or health organizations. Further, an operational
knowledge of the financial management of public, nonprofit and health
organizations is critical to the development of public policy as the
implementation of public programs requires the expenditure of public
funds. To this end, the following measures are defined: -Analyze and
evaluate public policymaking and its processes. -Examine and apply
relationships between financial management and policy.
Measure 1
2021 Status
2018 Status
Outcome MPA 3.a MPA - Decision Making
Students will have greater insight into decision-making processes, use
that insight to make more effective decisions, possess a range of
different perspectives on what counts as an ‘effective’ decision, be
better equipped to understand and influence the decision-making
processes of other individuals and groups, and understand better how
people perceive and decide about risk within public, nonprofit and
health organizations.
Objective 6
To analyze, synthesize, think critically, solve problems, and make
decisions. To provide our students the competencies needed to think
critically, use analytical skills in routine and unanticipated instances
to solve a problem, as well as the skills to make decisions, the MPA
committee, in consultation with full-time MPA faculty further defined
the universal competencies provided by NASPAA within the context of our
curriculum. To this end, the following SLO measures are defined:
-Design and conduct appropriate research methodology to enhance
decision-making. -Utilize academic or applied literature. -Engage
multiple perspectives to assist in the management of public and
nonprofit organizations.
Measure 1
2021 Status
2019 Status
2018 Status
Outcome MPA 3.b MPA - Research Methods
Students will design appropriate research methodologies and conduct
research into questions of interest. Students will understand a general
definition of research design.
Students should know why research is undertaken, and the audiences that
profit from research studies. Students should be able to identify the
overall process of designing a research study from its inception to its report.
Students should be familiar with ethical issues in social research,
including those issues that arise in using quantitative and qualitative research.
Objective 7
To analyze, synthesize, think critically, solve problems, and make
decisions. To provide our students the competencies needed to think
critically, use analytical skills in routine and unanticipated instances
to solve a problem, as well as the skills to make decisions, the MPA
committee, in consultation with full-time MPA faculty further defined
the universal competencies provided by NASPAA within the context of our
curriculum. To this end, the following SLO measures are defined:
-Design and conduct appropriate research methodology to enhance
decision-making. -Utilize academic or applied literature. -Engage
multiple perspectives to assist in the management of public and
nonprofit organizations.
Measure 1
2021 Status
2018 Status
2018 Status
Outcome MPA 3.c MPA - Literature Review Development
Students will be proficient in finding relevant academic and/or applied
literature appropriate to questions of interest. Students will be able
to identify relevant theories, research questions, and methodological
approaches in academic and applied literature. Finally, students will be
able to conduct comprehensive literature reviews in various fields for
research projects.
Objective 8
To analyze, synthesize, think critically, solve problems, and make
decisions. To provide our students the competencies needed to think
critically, use analytical skills in routine and unanticipated instances
to solve a problem, as well as the skills to make decisions, the MPA
committee, in consultation with full-time MPA faculty further defined
the universal competencies provided by NASPAA within the context of our
curriculum. To this end, the following SLO measures are defined:
-Design and conduct appropriate research methodology to enhance
decision-making. -Utilize academic or applied literature. -Engage
multiple perspectives to assist in the management of public and
nonprofit organizations.
Measure 1
2021 Status
2018 Status
Outcome MPA 4.a MPA - Ethical Management and Leadership
Students will review competing ethical frameworks and apply these
frameworks to organizational situations, policies and social problems.
Students will demonstrate an ability to recognize, articulate, and apply
ethical principles in various academic, professional, social, or
personal contexts.
Objective 9
To articulate and apply a public service perspective. To this end, the
following SLO measures are defined: -Apply competing ethical frameworks
to organizational situations, policies, and problems. -Explain the
historical development of government and philanthropy. Ethical
competency is inherently important to public and nonprofit management.
Therefore our students are trained in different ethical perspectives
throughout our curriculum. Understanding the historical significance of
the nonprofit sector and its development within the United States is
covered in PA 520 and discussed again in PA 619, our anchor courses
within the program.
Measure 1
2021 Status
2019 Status
2018 Status
Outcome MPA 4.b MPA - Historical Development of Public, Health and Nonprofit Sector
Students will gain an understanding of the major historical developments
of government and the nonprofit sector in the United States. Students
will understand the origins of philanthropy, state and local government,
and differentiate between public and private organizations in the
American context.
Objective 10
To articulate and apply a public service perspective. To this end, the
following SLO measures are defined: -Apply competing ethical frameworks
to organizational situations, policies, and problems. -Explain the
historical development of government and philanthropy. Ethical
competency is inherently important to public and nonprofit management.
Therefore our students are trained in different ethical perspectives
throughout our curriculum. Understanding the historical significance of
the nonprofit sector and its development within the United States is
covered in PA 520 and discussed again in PA 619, our anchor courses
within the program.
Measure 1
2021 Status
2019 Status
Outcome MPA 5.a MPA - Public Personnel Systems
Students will examine public personnel systems. Students will analyze
the impacts of diversity and equal opportunity policies within public,
nonprofit and health organizations. Students will apply managerial and
negotiating techniques within the collective bargaining environment.
Objective 11
To communicate and interact productively with a diverse and changing
workforce and citizenry. To provide our students the competencies needed
today's changing workforce and to teach specific sensitivities needed in
dealing underserved, marginalized, and/or minority populations, the MPA
committee, in consultation with full-time MPA faculty further defined
the universal competencies provided by NASPAA within the context of our
curriculum. To this end, the following measures are defined: -Explain
and examine public personnel systems, diversity and equal opportunity
and the collective bargaining environment. -Connect human resource
management to strategic management. -Demonstrate effective
communication, written and oral skills in professional settings.
Measure 1
2021 Status
2019 Status
Outcome MPA 5.b MPA - Strategic Management
Students will link theory and practice; develop an understanding of how
to use strategic management tools to initiate and implement
problem-solving processes. Students will identify management strategies
which are appropriate to various scenarios and evaluating alternatives
in terms of available relevant criteria. Students will evaluate and
analyze facts to identify opportunities and threats in the external
environment and strengths and weaknesses within the organization.
Objective 12
To provide our students the competencies needed today's changing
workforce and to teach specific sensitivities needed in dealing
underserved, marginalized, and/or minority populations, the MPA
committee, in consultation with full-time MPA faculty further defined
the universal competencies provided by NASPAA within the context of our
curriculum. To this end, the following measures are defined: -Explain
and examine public personnel systems, diversity and equal opportunity
and the collective bargaining environment. -Connect human resource
management to strategic management. -Demonstrate effective
communication, written and oral skills in professional settings.
Measure 1
2021 Status
2019 Status
Outcome MPA 5.c MPA - Written Communication
Write effectively for multiple purposes and audiences. Demonstrate
effective communication, written and oral skills in a professional context.
Students will:
• Develop content that is appropriate to a specific disciplinary or
professional context, drawing upon relevant sources.
• Organize written material to suit the purposes of the document and
meet the needs of the intended audience.
• Express ideas using language that meets the needs and expectations of
the intended audience.
• Use conventions of grammar, punctuation, usage, formatting, and
citation appropriate to the specific writing situation.
Objective 13
To provide our students the competencies needed today's changing
workforce and to teach specific sensitivities needed in dealing
underserved, marginalized, and/or minority populations, the MPA
committee, in consultation with full-time MPA faculty further defined
the universal competencies provided by NASPAA within the context of our
curriculum. To this end, the following measures are defined: -Explain
and examine public personnel systems, diversity and equal opportunity
and the collective bargaining environment. -Connect human resource
management to strategic management. -Demonstrate effective
communication, written and oral skills in professional settings.
Measure 1
2021 Status
2018 Status
2017 Status
