Home
New MPA Cohort Forming in Hickory
In-service personnel near Hickory who are interested in completing a graduate degree in public administration are advised that Appalachian State University is recruiting for a new MPA cohort to begin in Fall 2011.
The Master of Public Administration degree is appropriate for personnel in careers with local, state and federal government agencies and with non-profit organizations. Since its inception in 1988, the MPA program at Appalachian has graduated over 300 persons, over 100 of whom completed the degree while working full-time. The degree program involves 42 semester hours of credits. Classes will be held two evenings per week from 6-9 p.m. over seven semesters.
An informational meeting will be held for prospective students at 6 p.m. Friday February 4, 2011 in the ASU Center at Hickory. Information on application procedures, cost and the program's curriculum will be covered at the informational meeting. The deadline for applying for admission to start the degree in Fall 2011 is April 15, 2011 and requires submission of a complete application, transcripts, three letters of recommendation and scores on the Graduate Record Examination.
Distance Education Website
MPA Information
The Master of Public Administration program is designed to train persons to manage public agencies and programs and to evaluate the effectiveness of programs and agencies. Graduates of the program occupy a wide variety of jobs throughout the United States and abroad.
Appalachian's MPA program is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration and is one of seven NASPAA-accredited schools in North Carolina and one of approximately 125 programs nationally that meets NASPAA's standards for accreditation.
Appalachian State University, a member institution of the sixteen-campus University of North Carolina System, is a comprehensive university located in Boone, NC, in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains with an enrollment of more than 15,000 students. Appalachian offers degrees in 130 undergraduate disciplines and over 70 graduate programs. Appalachian State University is consistently ranked among the top regional universities in the South by U.S. News & World Report and was named College of the Year by Time magazine in 2001.
The MPA program offers evening classes in Boone and on a rotating basis in Hickory and Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
N.C. Local Government Service Corps
Applications are now being accepted for one position in the North Carolina Local Government Service Corps. Funded by a grant from the Golden LEAF Foundation, the Local Government Service Corps is a joint venture between the University of North Carolina School of Government and Appalachian State University.
The person selected will serve full-time in a cluster of towns that includes Dobson , Boonville, and Cooleemee along the Highway 601 Corridor. Work involves assisting the local town council in each of the three towns in economic development activities, writing grant applications and assisting in various administrative duties typical of smaller towns. Work will involve being at each town at least one day per week and at such other times as needed to carry out duties in each town, including attendance at town meetings. Evening work may be required. The job involves contact with the public and with other local and state government agencies in addressing local economic and other problems. Ability to maintain effective relationships with elected officials and town staff is essential. Periodic economic development courses and other workshops conducted by the UNC School of Government and/or Appalachian State University are part of the work assignment. The job works under general supervision of the N.C. Local Government Service Corps co-director at Appalachian State University.
Necessary qualifications include completion of a Master of Public Administration degree between August 2008 and December 2010. Course work and/or experience in grant writing and economic development highly desired. Experience in local government, gained through an internship or employment is required.
This job is time limited and will end on August 30, 2011. It is anticipated that work will commence during February 2011. Salary is $3333.33 per month plus benefits, including health insurance, workers compensation and retirement system contributions.
A completed application involves a resume, a statement of qualifications and a statement of vision about meeting the job expectations of the Local Government Service Corps. Email applications will be accepted, followed by hard copy application packets, submitted to Dr. Marvin K. Hoffman, Department of Government and Justice Studies, Appalachian State University, 1003 Anne Belk Hall, Boone, NC 28608, email hoffmanmk@appstate.edu. Applications will be accepted until 5 p.m. on January 20, 2011.
Appalachian State University is committed to providing equal opportunity in education and employment and does not discriminate against applicants, students or employees on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, creed, sex, gender identity and expression, age, disability, political affiliation, veteran status, or sexual orientation. Appalachian also actively promotes diversity among students and employees. Proper documentation of identity and employability will be required before the hiring process can be finalized. A criminal background check will be conducted on all finalists who are selected for an interview.
