Minutes of the Graduate Studies Committee
for October 16, 2001

Present: Timothy V Fossum, Eugene Goodman, Anne Gurnack, Zhaohui Li, Lee E Ross, M. Scott Thomson, Michele V Gee, (Guests from MPA Advisory Committee, including Brad Piazza, D. Andrisino, M. Day, D. Michalowski, A. Kehl, J. Jacobson, B. Dabculovich)

Scott Thomson called the meeting to order at 8:10 AM.

After introductions, Anne Gurnack, author of the "proposal to implement," provided an overview of the MPA Program, its history, and its current status.

The Chair welcomed comments from the MPA Advisory Committee concerning the perceived benefits of the proposed MAP Program. Relying on their experiences in the previous MPA program, everyone spoke of how they benefited from courses in Public Budgeting and Financial Management, Public Personnel Administration, Behavioral Organization, and Program Evaluation. More notably, advisory members saw the proposed MPA as a "natural progression" for anyone aspiring to the ranks of agency management. All in all, the advisory committee felt the program filled an obvious void in the Racine/Kenosha area.

Tim Fossum asked "how does this program differ from an MBA program?" To Tim's satisfaction, Anne pointed out basic differences in course offerings, noting various distinctions in course content. Further differences articulated include: improved partnership with the Business Department, on-line course offerings, the potential for state wide appeal, a streamlined curriculum with fewer credits, closer ties to Business and Sociology, and yet, truly distinct from what UW-M offers.

The committee asked who would teach various courses, and whether revenues were available to hire adjunct faculty? Anne Gurnack re-emphasized that the Department (supplying adjuncts) must have replacement funds. Gene Goodman suggested that adjuncts would be staffed on re-allocation.

Following up, Gene Goodman expressed great concern that no one (department) had bought into the proposed program and questioned whether the necessary infrastructure existed to sustain the program. Goodman hypothetically asked "what if the new director should resign?" Anne Gurnack hesitated to speculate on a hypothetical, and asked the committee for guidance in the form of suggestions. This issue generated a lot of discussion where Anne agreed to revise the proposal by specifying where the program would be housed.

Michelle Gee asked whether there was a job description for the Program Director? Moreover, what are the evaluative criteria for the position, both in terms of tenure and promotion decisions?

Other committee members questioned whether UW-M would cooperate, whether a director, per se, was actually needed, whether the director could be part-time, and whether there are, perhaps, divided loyalties that mitigate against the program's success?

Anne acknowledge all of these concerns. Nonetheless, the Advisory Committee emphasized the need for effective marketing strategies to "get the word out" about the opportunities that the program presented.

The Chair thanked the Advisory Committee for their comment and support.

Before adjourning, the committee continued briefly by discussing possible departments that would house the MPA program. Anne Gurnack suggested the slight possibility of having to chair the program (initially) until a director is hired.

Toward this end, the committee's motioned to: "recommend the proposed MPA be sent to the Faculty Senate for approval, subject to the modifications of specified provisions."

Some of the provisions include:

1. Providing evidence of an administrative structure (by way of a letter from the department where the MPA program will be housed).
2. Revisions to show that the proposed budget is adequate to fund the program.
3. Addressing issues of reallocation, and
4. Providing a job description for the Director's position.

Meeting adjourned at 9:30am.

Respectfully Submitted by

Lee E. Ross,
Graduate Studies Committee