Meeting Minutes - November 16, 2017

AD Advisory Board

Meeting Minutes

Thursday, November 16, 2017

I. Call to order:

Dr. Sheila Toppin, Advisory Board Coordinator, called the conference all meeting to 12:30 pm.

           

Roll Call:

Present Board Members:  Dr. Timothy Etson, Mr. Mike Faass, Ms. Shamiah Kerney,

Dr. Priscilla Oliver, Ms. Abby Turano.

Absent Board Members: Sir Jose Bright, Ms. Beth McMillan, Mr. Marshall Taggart.

Present PAD Faculty: Dr. Henry Elonge, Dr. Rhonda Franklin, Sabrina Riles, Dr. Sheila Toppin.

MPA Students: None.

Welcome/Introductions: Dr. Toppin provided welcoming remarks and thanked the Advisory Board members and all in attendance for their ongoing participation in the PAD’s success. Attendees introduced themselves. 

II. Approval of Minutes from January 27, 2017 meeting: Board Members were encouraged to review the meeting minutes and Board updates via the PAD Advisory Board webpage @ http://padadvisoryboard.blogspot.com/.

III. Old & New Business:

A. PAD Updates:  Dr. Elonge, PAD Chairperson

Public Administration Department (PAD) has averaged 18 graduating students each year since 2015 and anticipating the same in 2018. Current enrollment is 45 students. The Department has completed the NASPAA Self-Study for the 2016 – 2017 academic year. The Self-Study report was reviewed by NASPAA’s Commission on Peer Review and Accreditation (COPRA) which is a Council for Higher Education Accreditation recognized accreditation body for MPA degree programs. The Self Study report was due by August 15^th and the Interim Report from COPRA was received in the PAD on October 30, 2017. We are pleased to report the PAD has successfully advanced to the final phase – the Site Visit in February 2018. The Department must provide a response to the Interim Report by January 15, 2018, which will focus on the following topics: implementation of the new mission statement, administrative governance, curriculum revision implementation, internship requirements, recruitment strategies, staffing and resource capacity with anticipated growth.  

The Advisory Board will play a critical role in the success of the reaccreditation process and it is imperative that all Board Members become thoroughly immersed in the PAD curriculum and programmatic outcomes. The Site Visit Team will meet with the Advisory Board members to determine 1) Advisory Board members’ knowledge and advisory role in the program; and 2) Advisory Board members’ involvement and networking within the program.  Advisory Board members are encouraged to come to campus and participate in departmental activities including the upcoming policy Cocoon at the CAU Alumni House, the NFBPA Executive Leadership Institute at CAU in December 6 – 9, 2017, and to make themselves available for guest speaking in MPA classes. The Advisory Board is encouraged to continuously provide input that will assist the PAD in promoting student success.

Lastly, the University is encouraged by the PAD and the revision to the MPA degree. As a result, the PAD was chosen as one of the four departments to pilot an online degree program as early as Fall 2018; however, the PAD deferred until Fall 2019 due to the NASPAA accreditation cycle. Drs. Oyerinde and Riles have been tasked with the proposal and implementation. The online program will parallel the MPA degree offered on ground; however, there are future plans to consider an executive program.

B. PASA Update – Dr. Sabrina Riles

The Public Administration Student Association (PASA) has been proactively planning several events. The policy Cocoon is scheduled for December 2. 2017, at the CAU Alumni House. Students, Faculty, Board members, and Alums are invited to attend to discuss public policy implications. There are three community service events being planned for the Spring with the following organizations: Habitat for Humanity, Hands on Atlanta, and another nonprofit organization. The PAD Annual Banquet is scheduled for April 14, 2018 @ 5:00 pm. The Banquet will be held in the CAU Board Room in the Thomas Cole building. The theme will be “Transitioning in Possibilities” and the keynote speaker will be Fulton County Commissioner Natalie Hall. Tickets will be available in late January. The PASA website will be updated with Banquet information soon.

C. Committee Chair Reports:

Fundraising: Chair: Dr. Oyebade Oyerinde. Members: Ms. Shamiah Kerney, Mr. Mike Faass

In Dr. Oyerinde’s absence, Advisory Board Member Shamiah Kerney advised the committee will need to anchor fundraising with a systematic plan that will include scholarships, scholarly activities, and department resources for student success. Ms. Kerney requested the Advisory Board members donate $100 each toward the first scholarly activity which will be the NFBPA conference in April 2018 in Cleveland, OH. The committee will begin the process of developing a departmental fund for contributions.

Mentoring: Chair: Dr. Rhonda Franklin, Members: Dr. Timothy Etson, Ms. Abby Turano, Sir Jose Bright

Dr. Franklin advised the committee has developed the mentoring program which will begin in Fall 2018. The program will focus on pre-service students and will coincide with the revised curriculum. As previously stated, the mentoring program will focus on connecting board members with students through strategic mentoring. All Advisory Board members are encouraged to participate in the program.

Recruiting: Chairperson: Dr. Toppin, Members: Dr. Priscilla Oliver, Mr. Marshall Taggart, Ms. Beth McMillan

Dr. Toppin advised the committee has completed the revision of the MPA brochure and a flyer to reflect the curriculum changes. The recruitment strategy will include dissemination of the brochure and flyer internally to the Graduate Admissions Office, Graduate Resource Center, and related undergraduate programs (i.e., Political Science, Social Work, Sociology/Criminal Justice, Psychology) and externally to local, state, and federal government agencies, non-profit organizations, and professional associations.

IV. Adjournment – Meeting adjourned at 1:16 pm. Next meeting scheduled in Spring 2018.