The current status of Ohio’s economy calls for leaders in local and state administration who can provide guidance and promote growth. The recent six-year reaccreditation of The University of Toledo’s Master of Public Administration Program is testament to UT’s continued commitment to prepare leaders for the challenges of public service.
The National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration Committee on Peer Review and Accreditation granted reaccreditation to the program through the 2016-17 academic year, following a three-day site visit and an extensive review of the program’s curriculum, research and community outreach.
The master of public administration is one of several programs in the Department of Political Science and Public Administration at The University of Toledo that prepare students for leadership positions in the public and nonprofit sector.
“We were given in-depth overviews of all areas of public administration, including budgets and urban planning. It was a great foundation for students to explore all areas of public service,” said Jen Sorgenfrei, public information officer for the Toledo Mayor’s Office and graduate of the Master of Public Administration Program.
“We had expectations to perform; each class made us work independently or in teams that developed our leadership abilities and helped hone certain skills.”
Reaccreditation by the national body “demonstrates that we are able to meet the high standards for educating professionals in local, state and national governments as well as in the management of nonprofit organizations,” said Dr. Lynn Bachelor, UT associate professor of political science and director of the Master of Public Administration Program. “We prepare students for entry-level positions in the public sector, as well as provide education for many current employees of public and nonprofit agencies.”
Many local public servants and leaders of nonprofits are graduates of the reaccredited program, including police chiefs, city managers and budget directors in cities and towns throughout Ohio, Michigan and the Midwest, as well as executive directors and staff members of many nonprofit agencies.
