School of Arts and Sciences
Public Administration Department
PAD Advisory Board
Meeting Minutes
Friday, November
17, 2015
I.
Call to order:
Dr. Sheila Toppin, Advisory Board Coordinator, called the meeting to
order at 2:45 pm at Clark Atlanta University, McPheeters-Dennis Hall, Room 217,
Atlanta, GA 30314.
II.
Attendees:
Board Members: Dr. Timothy Etson, Ms. Ardie
Harrison, Ms. Beth McMillan, Dr. Priscilla Oliver, Mr. Jose Bright,
Ms. Abby Turano.
Absent Board Members: Mr. Keith Barker, Ms. Angela Etson, Ms.
Bettina Gardner, Mr. Tharon Johnson, Mr. Marshall Taggart, Jr.
PAD Faculty: Dr. Henry Elonge, Dr. Rhonda Franklin, Dr. Oyebade
Oyerinde,
Dr. Sheila Toppin.
MPA Students: Mr. Godfrey
Anderson, Ms. Kimberly Brooks, Mr. Kiheem Bynum, Mr. Earl Watson, Ms. Carla
White.
III. Introductions:
Dr. Toppin provided
welcoming remarks and thanked the Advisory Board members and all in attendance
for their partnership and support. Attendees introduced themselves.
IV. Official
Business:
January 30, 2015 Minutes – Ms. Beth McMillian made a motion to
approve meeting minutes, Ms. Abby Turano 2nd the motion. Meeting minutes were
approved by the board.
Advisory Board Update: Dr. Toppin provided an overview of the
Advisory Board’s Strategic Goals, Committees, and Duties. The board was
provided a tour of the PAD Advisory Board webpage located at the following web
address: http://padadvisoryboard.blogspot.com/p/meeting-agendas.html. Board
members were encouraged to lead and/or participate in one of the following
committees:
Fundraising: Rationale: NASPAA
Accreditation Standard 6 Matching Resources with the Mission Section 6.1
Resource Adequacy: The program will have
sufficient funds, physical facilities, and resources in addition to its faculty
to pursue its mission, objectives, and continuous improvement.
Mentoring: Rationale: NASPAA
Accreditation Standard 5 Matching Operations with the Mission: Student Learning
Section 5.4 Professional Competencies: The program will ensure that students learn to apply their education,
such as through experiential exercises and interactions with practitioners
across the broad range of public affairs, administration, and policy
professions and sectors.
Recruiting: Rationale: NASPAA Accreditation Standard 4 -
Matching Operations with the Mission: Serving Students Section 4.1 Student
Recruitment: The program will have
student recruitment practices appropriate for its mission.
CAU & Public Administration Department Update: Dr. Elonge, Chairperson,
provided the following overview of Clark Atlanta University,
the Department, and NASPAA Accreditation Standards. CAU is a Historically Black
Institution and is referred to as a HBCU.
It was established in 1988 as a result of the consolidation of two
independently black institutions – Atlanta University (1865) and Clark College
(1869). CAU is also a United Methodist Church-related, private, coeducational,
residential and comprehensive urban research University. The university offers
undergraduate, graduate, professional degrees and non-degree certificate
programs. CAU has four University
Strategic Plan Priorities: 1) Attract an increased number and diversity
of students who graduate at higher rates and are equipped to succeed in their
careers; 2) Develop and enhance academic, research, and support programs
recognized for their distinctiveness, innovation, and ability to prepare
graduates sought after by employers and entrepreneurial community as well as
graduate and professional schools; 3) Increase and diversify University revenue
streams through expanded external financial partnerships and support,
entrepreneurial programs, and a broadened base of funded research grants,
contracts, and cooperative agreements; and 4) Implement a University-wide
strategic business model to enhance service delivery, value creation and sound
return on investment for successful future growth, development and
profitability.
The Public Administration
Department (PAD) exists in the School of Arts and Sciences (SAS) which is
headed by a Dean. SAS is the largest school in the University. The Department
is 40 years old- started in 1975 by Professor Emeritus James T. Jones. Presently,
enrollment stands at 65 students with the following demographics: 50% Male, 50%
Female, 30% International, 95% full-time
PAD networks with professional
organizations: American Society of Public Administration (ASPA), Southeastern
Conference of Public Administration (SECOPA), Conference of Minority Public
Administrators (COMPA), National Forum of Black Public Administrators (NFBPA),
International City-County Managers Association (ICMA), and National Conference
of Black Public Servants (NCBPS). Presently, the Department has four faculty
and one staff assistant:
Dr. Henry Elonge, Chairperson, Dr.
Rhonda Franklin, Dr. Oyebade Oyerinde, Dr. Sheila Toppin, and Ms. Terry Kight. PAD
has graduated over 600 students who hold careers in public, private,
non-profit, and international sectors. The Department has a strong student
organization, Public Administration Student Association (PASA)
The PAD is accredited by the Network
of Schools in Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA). Accreditation
occurs in 7 year cycles. The PAD has been accredited three times: 1997, 2003,
2010. The University pays annual dues to NASPAA which provides Core
Competencies for all Public Administration Programs – Nationally &
Internationally. The PAD has requested a one-year reaccreditation extension due
to leadership and staffing changes. The next accreditation visit is scheduled
for 2016-2017 academic year with the self-study in 2015-2016. The PAD expects
full Advisory Board Involvement in the Site Visit through interviews with Site
Visit Teams and having knowledge of PAD Program & NASPAAA Standards.
MPA Internship Program: Dr. Toppin, PAD Internship Coordinator,
provided an overview of the PAD Internship Program: NASPAA Public Service
Internship Guidelines. MPA Internship Requirements: 480 hours; Administrative
level placement; Identification of Problem/Dilemma for Exit Paper . Advisory
Board members were advised on the need for internships & mentorships for
PAD students. They were encouraged to explore internship or mentorship programs
in their agencies, to become mentors, and encouraged to involve their
colleagues to become mentors as well. The board was provided a tour of the PAD
Advisory Board webpage located at the following web address: http://drsheilatoppin.blogspot.com/p/internship-requirements.html.
PASA Update: MPA Students Mr. Earl Watson and Ms. Kimberly Brooks provided
an overview of the Public Administration Student Association (PASA). The 2015 –
2016 Board Members are: President – Earl Watson, Vice President – Kimberly
Brooks, Recording Secretary – Tiffany Brown, Corresponding Secretary – Jaszmine
Cowan, Treasurer – Markita Payne, Student Representative – Rozana Aljohani,
Historian – Clarence Roden, Parliamentarian – Kiheem Bynum.
PAD Concentrations & Industry Trend Breakout Groups: Attendees
participated in the following concentration-focused breakout groups:
Human Resources Management:
Dr. Sheila Toppin, Ms. Ardie Harrison, Mr. Godfrey Anderson.
International Administration
& Development Management: Dr. Henry Elonge, Ms. Abby Turano
Non-Profit Management &
Leadership: Dr. Rhonda Franklin, Ms. Beth McMillian, Ms. Ardie Harrison,
Mr. Jose Bright, Ms. Carla White.
Public Policy: Dr. Oyebade
Oyerinde, Dr. Timothy Etson, Dr. Priscilla Oliver, Mr. Earl Watson, Ms.
Kimberly Brooks.
V. Advisory
Board Recommendations:
Human Resources Management:
A.
Focus on strategic planning/management skills.
B.
Include HR Analytics/Metrics to curriculum.
C.
Enhance problem resolution skills.
International Administration
& Development Management:
A.
Focus on communication across cultures and
public speaking skills.
B.
Enhance soft skills (professionalism,
appearance, proof-reading, punctuation).
C.
Improve global awareness and sensitivity by
identifying cultural intelligence opportunities.
Non-profit Management &
Leadership:
A.
Enhance collaborative and strategic
partnerships.
B.
Focus on sustainable funding process and
systems.
C.
Implement civic engagement/volunteerism into
curriculum.
Public Policy:
A.
Focus equally on qualitative and quantitative
research methods.
B.
Increase partnerships with public and private
organizations.
C.
Implement a Speaker Series to enhance students’
learning and networking opportunities.
D.
Conduct a feasibility study for a MPA Research Boot
Camp to enhance new students’ research skills.
VI. Announcements:
Dr. Toppin advised the next
Advisory Board meeting will be held in March 2016.
VII. Adjournment:
The meeting was adjourned at 4:31
pm.
