An Eight-Year Business Plan for the
Expansion of the
University of Alaska Anchorage
Master of Public Administration Program:
2011 - 2018
Julia Gray
PADM 659
Dr. Saylor
4/15/2011
Public Administration Jobs Forecast: 20082018
Healthcare Administrators with
MPAs or MPHs
•
•
•
•
•
Total number of Healthcare Administrators
Percentage of Healthcare Administrators with
MPAs or MPHs
Alaska
38 75 51%
Washington 263 487 54%
Wyoming
32 67 48%
Montana
54 123 44%
Idaho
49 124 40%
What We Know:
Total UAA MPA Graduation Statistics, 20002010
Source: (Author Unknown). “Degree and Certificate Awards Conferred by Award Type and Program.
Table 3.04.” (2010). UAA Department of Institutional Research.
Alaska’s GDP: Healthcare and Social
Assistance, in Millions
Alaska’s GDP: Government, in Millions
The Alaska Market for Academic
Programs for MPA Degrees
• Established Within Alaska:
– UAA MPA Program
– UAS MPA Program
Online Programs Competing in Alaska
-- Walden University, Minneapolis, MN
• Actively Pursuing the Alaska MPA Academic
Market
-- University of North Dakota
• Comparable in Major Emphases, Credit Cost and is
NASPAA Accredited. Rated #3 in the US as a “Best
Buy” by GetEducated.com
Does UAA’s MPA Program Meet UAA’s
Strategic Plan for 2017?
•
UAA Strategic Plan Values and Practice for 2017:
1.) and 2.) “Preparation for High-demand Careers.”
3.) “Special Attention to Advanced, Graduate Study.”
4.) “Develop Selected Programs of Distinction, Designed to Attract the Best Students and Faculty
from Alaska and Beyond.”
5.) “Distance Education.” This describes one student in our PADM 659 Class.
6.) “Organize and Expand our Internationalization and Inter-cultural Programs to Prepare our
Students to Think, Work, and Serve in a World Being Transformed by Integration and
Globalization.”
7.) “All Instruction is Centered on Current and Active Professional and Craft Practice, Academic
Research, or Creative Expression.”
8.) “Increase… Participation of our [Graduate] Students… in Professional… Practice. [I]ncrease
their Opportunities for Academic Distinction, and Sustain the Growth of Engagement with our
Communities.”
9.) “Complete the Full Implementation of Program and Institutional Outcomes Assessment.”
10.) “Systematically Review All Programs for Quality, Effectiveness, Efficiency, and Continued
Relevance to UAA’s Mission.”
Does UAA’s MPA Program Meet UA’s
Strategic Plan 2009?
• UA’s Goals and Objectives:
1.) Student Success
-- “Provide… Internship Programs.”
2.) Educational Quality
-- “Improve Collaborative Graduate Programs Across MAUs.”
-- “As New Programs are Introduced and Existing Programs are Reviewed,
Determine the Most Appropriate Location(s) and Methods for Program Delivery.”
-- “Provide additional staff support for entrepreneurial program
development.”
3.) Research Excellence
-- “Communicate the value of University Research in Terms of [UA]’s Educational
Quality and Alaska’s Economy.”
4.) Faculty and Staff Strength
-- “Routinely Use Visiting Committees and Other Peer Review
Mechanisms.”
-- “Ensure High Quality Teaching.”
5.) Responsiveness to State Needs
-- ** “Assess and Meet Alaska’s Current and Projected Workforce Needs.” **
-- Expand the Study of Public Policy Issues.”
NASPAA Accreditation and
US News & World Report
MPA Program Rankings
• Many of the Top 25-ranked, Tier I Schools Do Not Seek Out
NASPAA Accreditation.
– #1 ranked Syracuse University is not NASPAA Accredited,
just as Columbia, Johns Hopkins, and UCLA are Likewise
Not NASPAA Accredited
– US News & World Report Relies Solely on NASPAAApproved Peer Reviewers to Rank Programs. It is Not a
Transparent Ranking Procedure.
– UAA’s MPA Program is a Dues-Paying, Institutional
Member of NASPAA. UAA is Accredited, as is the College
of Business and Public Policy.
NASPAA 2009 Standards:
Where Does UAA Seek Improvement?
• Standard 1.1: UAA’s MPA Program Needs a Very Clear
“Mission Statement.”
– This Mission Statement Must Include “Employers” the
Program Intends to Serve
• Standard 2.2: At Least 5 Full-time Faculty Members or Their
Equivalent
• Standard 4.3: UAA Students Need Assistance Finding Public
Administration Internships and Job Placement Assistance.
• Standard 6.1: The Program Needs “sufficient funds” to pursue
its Mission, Objectives, and Continuous Improvement, and
More “supporting personnel.”
• Standard 7.1: The Program Must Provide Alumni with
Communications to Foment Interaction and Networking.
Marketing The MPA Program
•
•
•
Marketing the Program to Alaskans
-- Execute a Web-based Advertising Campaign in the Websites of All UA Campuses. The
Advent of Distance Education Courses Will Inevitably Expand our Presence in the
Alaskan MPA Market, Competing with UAS’ Web-based Program.
Marketing the Program to Other American Students
– Through the Expansion to Online Classes, This Segment of the Market Will Not Have to
Move to Earn a UAA MPA Degree.
– Send a Member of the Staff to Graduate School Fairs in the Lower 48 in Cities Where
Universities Participate in WWAMI Already. These are Cities Where There are Already
High Demand for Healthcare Administration Jobs, Yet the Tuition for MPAs are Locally
Higher, Even in Comparison to UAA’s Out-of-State Tuition Rates.
Marketing the Program to International Students
– Create a Budget Where one Faculty Member Travels Abroad Annually to one Developing
Country Where the US Peace Corps is Already Participating in Public Health Campaigns.
Doctors Without Borders Centers are Another Option.
Student Enrollment Projections,
2011 - 2018
Year
Alaskan Total Students
AK PM, PA, CJ Emphases
AK HCA Emphasis
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
94 120 120 120 120 120 120 120
94 94 94 94 94 94 94 94
0
26 26 26 26 26 26 26
Lower 48 and International 4
4
6
Students HCA Combined Total Emphasis
7
9
11
14
19
Total Sum of HCA
Emphasis in Program:
1
30
33
35
37
40
45
Total MPA Students:
Percentage in HCA:
98
1%
124 126 127 129 131 134 139
24% 25% 26% 27% 28% 30% 32%
PM = public management,
PA = policy analysis,
HCA = healthcare administration,
CJ = criminal justice
32
The Plan for Expanding
The UAA MPA Program
• With the Expansion of Healthcare Spending at the Federallevel as Part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
of 2010, UAA Must Maximize the Number of Students Who
Will Be Trained in the Major Emphasis of Healthcare
Administration in Alaska from the Current Number to
Approximately 139 Students/Year.
• This Expansion of the Program Would Meet the Needs of
Local, State, and Federal Healthcare Administration Jobs in
Alaska For the Next 10 Years, Making this Major Emphasis to
be the Largest Major Emphasis.
Conclusion
Questions?