NASPAA - National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration

Time is drawing near for the NASPAA 2009 Annual Conference to be held October 15-17, 2009, at the beautiful Marriott Crystal Gateway Hotel in Arlington, VA. The conference program committee has worked hard to bring you an outstanding program. We are pleased to announce that we have three powerful guest speakers: John Berry (MPA), Director of U.S. Office of Personnel Management, will be the speaker for the opening plenary, Ambassador Bonnie Jenkins (MPA), Coordinator for Threat Reduction Programs at the Department of State, will be the Thursday luncheon speaker, and our Friday luncheon speaker is Michelle A. Rhee (MPP), Chancellor of the District of Columbia Public School System.

We have a wonderful host reception planned for you at Top of the Town, a beautiful venue in Arlington, VA, which our local host schools have come together to give you a Big Washington Metropolitan Welcome. If you have not done so, we encourage you to make your hotel reservation as soon as possible to secure you a room in the conference hotel. The cut-off date for reservation is September 20.

Also, get your NASPAA conference registration fee in before the September 18, 2009 cut-off date in order to get the early-bird rate. Remember that the meals are a separate fee this year, so be sure to indicate on the registration form if you will be attending the luncheons or not. The same cut-off date is for the ads, sponsorships and exhibit booths. We have sold the Gold (The Bush School, Texas A&M University) and Silver (Graduate School of Public Affairs, University of Colorado at Denver) sponsorships, and have one left, the Bronze. We would love for your school to purchase the Bronze sponsorship. There is a form on our website should you wish to do so. Or contact Scott Talan at 202.628.8965 ext 106.

We are looking forward to seeing you in Arlington for the 2009 NASPAA conference.

The Latest and Final Ballot Version of The NASPAA 2009 Standards have been approved (July 10, 2009). Click to view.

The vote on the proposed new accreditation standards will take place at the NASPAA Annual Business meeting on Friday, October 16, at the NASPAA Annual Conference in Crystal City, Virginia. As per NASPAA bylaws, only principal representatives (or their designated alternates) from NASPAA-accredited programs can vote on changes to the accreditation standards. Note that no proxy votes will be cast. Start making plans now for a representative to attend this meeting.

Executive MPA Conference-Within-A-Conference
Friday, October 16, 2009
(Three sessions at 9:15 AM, 11:00 AM, and 2:15 PM)

I. Knowing the mid-career student. This first session will address two topics – adult learner preferences and the outcomes you should expect from executive students.

II. Addressing employer needs in curriculum development. Federal, state, local, and independent sector employer groups will discuss their expectations for executive degree students who will become their next generation of leaders.

III. Delivering the curriculum. Experienced faculty will examine and share their experiences with you about a variety of techniques that they have successfully adapted to the needs of mid-career learners (action learning, the case method, reflective practice, distance learning).

Click here to register. (Please note registering for the full NASPAA conference includes access to Executive Education events. The one-day rate applies to participants who wish to register for the Executive Education events only.)