Rutgers University School of Public Affairs and Administration
Encyclopedia
The School of Public Affairs and Administration (SPAA) at Rutgers-Newark
was founded in 2006 after providing doctoral and master’s public administration
education for over 30 years to pre-service, in-service, and executive students through the Rutgers-Newark Graduate School.
Guided by the principles of knowledge
, competence
, diversity
and service
, the School of Public Affairs and Administration (SPAA) educates and motivates students to choose careers in public service and administration through its innovative and comprehensive undergraduate, MPA
, Executive MPA, Ph.D. and certificate programs. The School’s faculty generates knowledge and best practices in public service and administration, and collaborates with public and nonprofit sector organizations and professionals throughout the U.S. and the world. With an emphasis on public service
values and competencies for effective performance, SPAA promotes accountability
, transparency
, and performance
in the public and nonprofit sectors.” SPAA is dedicated to “diversity and ethical values across all of its programs.”
Rutgers SPAA “seeks to provide service to governments and citizens by developing approaches to public affairs that are performance-driven: effective, efficient, equitable and accountable. Programs are continually revised to reflect the changing nature of the field.” Recent additions to the curriculum include courses on Performance Measurement, E-Government and Public Service.”
has ranked the Rutgers Newark campus #1 in Diversity for each of the last 12 years. SPAA’s rich composition in race, ethnicity, gender and nationality is considered a major contributor to the campus’ acclaim.
Compared to over 300 public affairs and administration schools and programs nationally, US News and World Report ranks SPAA:
SPAA offers the following degree programs:
Books: Faculty research efforts at the Rutgers School of Public Affairs and Administration continually advance the understanding of public administration and management. Faculty members regularly publish books that reflect the quality and importance of their research.
According to its website, SPAA has also established a strong international presence. With Renmin University and the Chinese Public Administration Society, SPAA organizes a bi-annual conference in China. In Korea, Rutgers SPAA works with the Korean Association of Public Administration, several universities and other groups on research and conferences. In South Africa, SPAA engages in regular scholarly exchanges and collaborations. And in Western Europe, the SPAA has helped develop a series of trans-Atlantic dialogues between ASPA and the European Group on Public Administration.
NCPP is a research and public service organization devoted to improving performance in the public sector. Founded in 1972, NCPP serves as a vehicle for the study, dissemination and recognition of performance measurement initiatives in government. In addition, NCPP specializes in research and teaching in the engagement of citizens.
Shared Services Project As part of its efforts to offer positive suggestions for overcoming the state’s fiscal burdens, the NCPP has presented testimony and conducted research for the state of New Jersey, which included national and international case studies to highlight the benefits of streamlining costs. Several states throughout the United States have implemented such practices, and outcomes have provided evidence that sharing services does, in fact, save municipalities time and money.
Public Performance Measurement and Reporting Network The Public Performance Measurement and Reporting Network connects groups of citizens, government officials, public and nonprofit managers, researchers, faculty and students who are dedicated to measuring, reporting, and improving public sector and not-for-profit performance. The goal of the Public Performance Measurement and Reporting Network is to promote the use
of valid, reliable data as a key element in improving the delivery of public services. With funding from the Alfred P. Sloan foundation, the Network provides members with a comprehensive, online database of resources including articles, reports, performance measures, books, manuals, websites, training opportunities and more.
E-Governance Institute According to its website, the mission of the E-governance Institute is: “to explore how the internet and other information technologies (IT) have and will continue to impact on the productivity and performance of the public sector and how e-government fosters new and deeper citizen involvement within the governing process.
“The Institute is committed through its work to supporting the gathering and sharing of knowledge, information and data in order to increase the understanding of how e-governance can strengthen the fundamental partnership between the public sector and the private citizen.”
The Institute works in partnership with the Global E-Policy & E-Government Institute of Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, Republic of Korea, to conduct surveys of municipalities in the United States and worldwide.
Rutgers-Newark
Rutgers University in Newark is one of three campuses of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, the eighth oldest college in the United States and a member of the Association of American Universities...
was founded in 2006 after providing doctoral and master’s public administration
Public administration
Public Administration houses the implementation of government policy and an academic discipline that studies this implementation and that prepares civil servants for this work. As a "field of inquiry with a diverse scope" its "fundamental goal.....
education for over 30 years to pre-service, in-service, and executive students through the Rutgers-Newark Graduate School.
Guided by the principles of knowledge
Knowledge
Knowledge is a familiarity with someone or something unknown, which can include information, facts, descriptions, or skills acquired through experience or education. It can refer to the theoretical or practical understanding of a subject...
, competence
Skill
A skill is the learned capacity to carry out pre-determined results often with the minimum outlay of time, energy, or both. Skills can often be divided into domain-general and domain-specific skills...
, diversity
Multiculturalism
Multiculturalism is the appreciation, acceptance or promotion of multiple cultures, applied to the demographic make-up of a specific place, usually at the organizational level, e.g...
and service
Community service
Community service is donated service or activity that is performed by someone or a group of people for the benefit of the public or its institutions....
, the School of Public Affairs and Administration (SPAA) educates and motivates students to choose careers in public service and administration through its innovative and comprehensive undergraduate, MPA
Master of Public Administration
The Master of Public Administration is a professional post-graduate degree in Public Administration. The MPA program prepares individuals to serve as managers in the executive arm of local, state/provincial, and federal/national government, and increasingly in nongovernmental organization and...
, Executive MPA, Ph.D. and certificate programs. The School’s faculty generates knowledge and best practices in public service and administration, and collaborates with public and nonprofit sector organizations and professionals throughout the U.S. and the world. With an emphasis on public service
Community service
Community service is donated service or activity that is performed by someone or a group of people for the benefit of the public or its institutions....
values and competencies for effective performance, SPAA promotes accountability
Accountability
Accountability is a concept in ethics and governance with several meanings. It is often used synonymously with such concepts as responsibility, answerability, blameworthiness, liability, and other terms associated with the expectation of account-giving...
, transparency
Corporate transparency
Corporate transparency is set of information, privacy, and business policies to improve corporate decisionmaking and operations openness to employees, stakeholders, shareholders and the general public. Standard & Poor's has included a definition of corporate transparency in its aimed at analysis...
, and performance
Performance
A performance, in performing arts, generally comprises an event in which a performer or group of performers behave in a particular way for another group of people, the audience. Choral music and ballet are examples. Usually the performers participate in rehearsals beforehand. Afterwards audience...
in the public and nonprofit sectors.” SPAA is dedicated to “diversity and ethical values across all of its programs.”
Rutgers SPAA “seeks to provide service to governments and citizens by developing approaches to public affairs that are performance-driven: effective, efficient, equitable and accountable. Programs are continually revised to reflect the changing nature of the field.” Recent additions to the curriculum include courses on Performance Measurement, E-Government and Public Service.”
Rankings
U.S. News & World ReportU.S. News & World Report
U.S. News & World Report is an American news magazine published from Washington, D.C. Along with Time and Newsweek it was for many years a leading news weekly, focusing more than its counterparts on political, economic, health and education stories...
has ranked the Rutgers Newark campus #1 in Diversity for each of the last 12 years. SPAA’s rich composition in race, ethnicity, gender and nationality is considered a major contributor to the campus’ acclaim.
Compared to over 300 public affairs and administration schools and programs nationally, US News and World Report ranks SPAA:
- 9th nationally in Information and Technology Management, 5th in the Northeast
- 10th nationally in Public Management Administration, 4th in the Northeast
- 11th nationally in Public Finance and Budgeting, 6th in the Northeast
- 14th nationally in City Management and Urban Policy, 3rd in the Northeast
- 18th nationally in Nonprofit Management, 5th in the Northeast
- 32nd nationally in Public Policy Analysis, 8th in the Northeast
- 32nd nationally in Public Affairs, 9th in the Northeast
Degree programs
SPAA offers a full range of advanced degree and certificate programs focused on education, research, and practice in response to increasing demand for competent, strong managers and leaders. Students are taught by award-winning faculty and frequently enjoy guest lectures by professionals in the field. Small class sizes, interactive discussions, research and hands-on applications are integral parts of the learning experience. More than 300 Master’s, Doctoral and certificate candidates are currently enrolled in a wide range of degree offerings.SPAA offers the following degree programs:
- Undergraduate Major in Public Service“The first of its kind in New Jersey and among a handful in the United States,” the BA in Public Service program—launched in 2008—connects education with students aspirations and ideals, features networking opportunities, and provides urban and global experiences through service learning internships and workshops (U.S. and worldwide). The program provides students with the substantive knowledge, analytical skills and perspectives needed to respond effectively and fairly to major contemporary social problems, with a particular focus on urban issues that affect the Newark community. In Connections, a Rutgers Newark community publication, inaugural BA student Adiatu Oladayo said that the program enables him to “apply theory and academic discourse” to his first hand public service experiences.
- Joint Bachelor/Master in Public Administration (BA/MPA, BS/MPA): This program makes it possible for qualified students to earn both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in 5 years. According to the SPAA website, “The program is designed for the highly motivated student who has decided at an early stage in his or her studies to pursue a career in public administration.” Master in Public Administration (MPA): NASPAA accredited and geared for those working in or preparing for careers in the public and nonprofit sectors, the SPAA MPA program provides students with basic competencies in the context of a broad understanding of the field. The program is offered to both part-time and full-time students. Internships are not required but are encouraged for pre-service and career-change students.
- Executive Master in Public Administration (EMPA): Tailored to meet the needs of select public and nonprofit managers with a minimum of six years experience, the SPAA EMPA “prepares seasoned managers for executive-level leadership by providing a solid knowledge base and competencies necessary for successful practice in government and nonprofit organizations.” Students stay within the same cohort and courses are scheduled on Friday afternoons and Saturday mornings to minimize work week disruptions. For added convenience, the program is offered in Trenton and at Newark City HallNewark City HallNewark City Hall, is located at Government Center in Newark, New Jersey. The building was built in 1902 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places on February 17, 1978.-History:...
. - Joint Master of Public Health (with UMDNJ and NJIT) PAA offers the MPH program with the School of Public Health at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey and the New Jersey Institute of Technology. The curriculum addresses critical health issues, including those of high-risk, urban and underserved populations.
- Master of Public Administration Joint Chinese-U.S. Program: In partnership with one of the Ministries in China, SPAA is developing a MPA program that will be offered in Beijing, China. The program will utilize Rutgers faculty who will travel to Beijing to teach courses. The curriculum “emphasizes public administration theory and practice in the United States and provides comparisons to the Chinese public administration system.”
- Doctorate in Public Administration (Ph.D.): With an emphasis on opportunities for minorities and women, this leading national program offers specializations in Public Sector Performance; Leadership; Equity and Diversity; Government Budgeting; Comparative Public Administration; Human Resources Management; and, Public Management and Urban Systems. Through disciplined research, the Ph.D. program seeks to expand the problem-solving capacities of universities, independent research organizations and government agencies. Full-time students can expect to complete the program’s 48 credits of course work, comprehensive exams and dissertation in about four years.
- SPAA Certificate Programs : To prepare students for and/or enhance professional practice, SPAA currently offers the following: Certificate in Nonprofit Management; Certificate in Urban EducationUrban EducationUrban Education is a peer-reviewed academic journal that publishes papers in the field of Urban Studies. The journal's editor is H. Richard Milner . It has been in publication since 1965 and is currently published by SAGE Publications....
LeadershipLeadershipLeadership has been described as the “process of social influence in which one person can enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common task". Other in-depth definitions of leadership have also emerged.-Theories:...
(Principal Certification); Certificate in Animals, Communities and the Law. Through its National Center for Public Performance (NCPP), SPAA also offers the: Business District Management Certificate (online); Certified Public Management Certificate (with USDA); Certificate in Public Performance Measurement (online); and others.
Faculty Expertise
SPAA currently has 12 faculty on tenured or track lines with a projected growth to 25 in the near future. One professor moved from assistant to associate professor in 2009 and that was the first granting of tenure to an assistant professor since 1994. Of the 12 full time faculty only 4 have been on the Public Administration faculty for more than 4 years, the remainder of the faculty is newly hired. Three faculty members have relocated to other divisions, two within the past year, although their lines remain in SPAA. Four faculty members are members of the National Academy of Public Administration. SPAA faculty offer expertise in: Public Administration; Public Performance Measurement and Reporting; E-Governance; Public Management; Public Service; Urban Affairs; Public Health; Health Policy; Transparency; Human Resources; Public Management; and Citizen Surveys.Research Publications
SPAA publishes four journals: Public Performance and Management Review (PPMR), Public Voices, Chinese Public Administration Review (CPAR), and the Journal of Public Management and Social Policy (JPMSP).Books: Faculty research efforts at the Rutgers School of Public Affairs and Administration continually advance the understanding of public administration and management. Faculty members regularly publish books that reflect the quality and importance of their research.
Affiliations and Partnerships
Rutgers SPAA works closely with the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA), the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA), the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA), and the United Nations Division for Public Administration and Development Management.According to its website, SPAA has also established a strong international presence. With Renmin University and the Chinese Public Administration Society, SPAA organizes a bi-annual conference in China. In Korea, Rutgers SPAA works with the Korean Association of Public Administration, several universities and other groups on research and conferences. In South Africa, SPAA engages in regular scholarly exchanges and collaborations. And in Western Europe, the SPAA has helped develop a series of trans-Atlantic dialogues between ASPA and the European Group on Public Administration.
Alumni
SPAA graduates consistently achieve positions of high responsibility and leadership at the federal, state and local levels of government and in the nonprofit sector. Doctoral graduates are teaching and gaining tenure at many universities throughout the United States.Research Centers and Public Performance Initiatives
National Center for Public Performance SPAA’s internationally renowned faculty is actively engaged in a variety of related research, and its National Center for Public Performance (NCPP)is recognized as a leading research center. According to its website, NCPP maintains close relationships with New Jersey’s local and state government agencies. As such, “students have opportunities to participate in cutting-edge studies, gain experience in the field and establish relationships to help them advance their careers.”NCPP is a research and public service organization devoted to improving performance in the public sector. Founded in 1972, NCPP serves as a vehicle for the study, dissemination and recognition of performance measurement initiatives in government. In addition, NCPP specializes in research and teaching in the engagement of citizens.
Shared Services Project As part of its efforts to offer positive suggestions for overcoming the state’s fiscal burdens, the NCPP has presented testimony and conducted research for the state of New Jersey, which included national and international case studies to highlight the benefits of streamlining costs. Several states throughout the United States have implemented such practices, and outcomes have provided evidence that sharing services does, in fact, save municipalities time and money.
Public Performance Measurement and Reporting Network The Public Performance Measurement and Reporting Network connects groups of citizens, government officials, public and nonprofit managers, researchers, faculty and students who are dedicated to measuring, reporting, and improving public sector and not-for-profit performance. The goal of the Public Performance Measurement and Reporting Network is to promote the use
of valid, reliable data as a key element in improving the delivery of public services. With funding from the Alfred P. Sloan foundation, the Network provides members with a comprehensive, online database of resources including articles, reports, performance measures, books, manuals, websites, training opportunities and more.
E-Governance Institute According to its website, the mission of the E-governance Institute is: “to explore how the internet and other information technologies (IT) have and will continue to impact on the productivity and performance of the public sector and how e-government fosters new and deeper citizen involvement within the governing process.
“The Institute is committed through its work to supporting the gathering and sharing of knowledge, information and data in order to increase the understanding of how e-governance can strengthen the fundamental partnership between the public sector and the private citizen.”
The Institute works in partnership with the Global E-Policy & E-Government Institute of Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, Republic of Korea, to conduct surveys of municipalities in the United States and worldwide.
External links
- Rutgers-Newark School of Public Affairs and Administration official website
- http://spaa.newark.rutgers.edu/home/faculty/core/norma-m-riccucci.html faculty webpage