A Historic Time for the MPA Program

Dear Current Department of Public Administration Students,

The College of Public Service’s MPA program has a long and storied history at Tennessee State University and in the region. The program began over four decades ago and has been NASPAA accredited for over 30 years. Most recently the program had two significant milestones – earning a full 7-year reaccreditation from NASPAA (through 2025-2026) and being recognized by U.S. News & World Report for the first time in the program’s history. Dr. Rodney Stanley, Chair of the Department of Public Administration, said of the program’s reaccreditation, “Reaccreditation confirms that our MPA program meets the highest academic and professional standards.” In terms of the program’s landmark ranking and recognition by U.S. News & World Report, Dr. Michael Harris, College of Public Service Dean and Professor, offered “The favorable ranking reflects the many ways the program has successfully earned a high quality reputation due to the hard work of the faculty ensuring that students succeed both in the classroom and after they graduate.”

We are continuously looking to the future for how best to ensure we have a world class MPA program. Based on market research and stakeholder feedback, the MPA program will become a fully online program beginning in Fall 2020. “We have credibility and a strong reputation throughout the region and beyond, and we want to ensure that no one hesitates to earn our world class MPA due to not living in Middle Tennessee,” Harris said. Dr. Anthony Campbell, Assistant Professor, shared, “The improvements made in the distance learning space cannot be overlooked. We live in an era where teachers and students have access to equipment and resources that make online programs better than they have ever been.” Dr. Stanley emphasized how this is not just a technical transition to being online, but rather an opportunity to yet again propel our curriculum to the highest level to address the needs of our students.

Dr. Harris asserted that, “Going entirely online will not only make our program more attractive, it will ensure that we’re able to amplify the profoundly positive impact we’ve had on the quality of public service professionalism in the state, region, and world!”

Thank you for being an outstanding student in the College of Public Service!

If you have any questions, please reach out to Dr. Stanley, Chair, Department of Public Administration at RStanley1@TNState.edu or 615-963-7241.