Welcome

1. A.

Program Overview

1. B.

The MPA program at UVU is 100% online.  Students will complete their coursework, attend classes, interact with professors and classmates, submit assignments, and take exams exclusively through an online platform, without the need to be physically present on campus. Classes are semester-paced, meaning they begin and end on the same semester-based schedule that all of UVU's classes follow. 

Most students begin the program during the fall semester as part of a cohort.  Students may enroll in the program as full-time or part-time students.  The program requires completion of 36-credits.  Completion will take between 15 months and 2 years, depending on how many credits are taken each semester.

The learning management system (LMS) used at UVU is Canvas.  Canvas has help tools embedded into the program and students have access to Canvas support 24/7.  For more information about Canvas, visit https://www.uvu.edu/canvas/students/.

Additionally, UVU has a general help desk that can be reached at 801-863-8888.  Students who call this number will be forwarded to the appropriate department depending on the nature of the concern.

Program Learning Outcomes

1. C. 

Students graduating with a Master of Public Administration will have achieved the following learning outcomes:

• Generate evidence-based strategies for public service-related problems in a dynamic and constantly changing environment.

• Prepare public service budgets using public finance principles and procedures.

• Evaluate the legal, regulatory, human resource, and ethical issues surrounding public service delivery.

• Develop leadership and organizational skills for all career levels within public services.

• Demonstrate written and verbal communication skills to address public service-related problems.

Curriculum and Credit Requirement

2. A. 

The program consists of 36-credits.  There are 9 required core classes and 3 electives.  Each course is offered one time during the year, so classes should be taken in the recommended order.  Course descriptions can be found in the UVU catalog.  

Course Schedule

2. B. 

Full-Time Course Schedule

Part-Time Course Schedule 

Course Descriptions

2. C. 

Course descriptions can be found in the UVU catalog.  

Elective Options

2. D. 

Following is a current list of the electives offered through the MPA program.  Each class is only offered one time each year.  Students may be able to choose electives from other UVU graduate programs with prior approval.  Electives offerings are subject to change depending on demand.

ESMG 6110: Disasters/Vulnerabilities/Impacts (Fall)

CJ 6220: Contemporary Issues in Criminal Justice (Fall)

HLTH 6200: Issues in Public Health  (Fall)

CJ 6230: Criminal Justice Policy (Spring)

MPS 6400: Program Development (Spring)

ESMG 6140: Homeland Security (Spring)

CJ 6210: Information-Based Decision Making (Summer)

ESMG 6120: Emergency Planning and Response (Summer)

*MPS 679R: Special Topics (Spring, Summer, Fall)

*Topics may include Non-profit Management, Study Abroad, Grant-Writing

Graduate Certificates 

2. E. 

Students may choose to use their elective credits to earn a Graduate Certificate in Healthcare Managementor in Emergency Management/Homeland Security  Students who are interested in this option will take the courses required for the certificate as their MPA electives.  Students must receive approval and register in the Healthcare Management certificate program through the Woodbury School of Business, or the Emergency Management/Homeland Security program through the Emergency Services department.

2.F.

New graduate certificates in higher education, public health, and from other departments  are on the horizon.  Check with MPA program manager or director for more information.

Capstone Project 

2. F. 

Students entering the MPA program in Fall 2023 or later  will be completing a portfolio as their capstone project.  All core classes must be completed prior to registering for the capstone class.  Students graduating fall semester may take the capstone (PADM 690R) concurrently with their final core class.

Graduation 

2. G. 

Students will apply for graduation early in the semester in which they plan to graduate.  Part-time students will typically apply for summer graduation, while full-time students are typically eligible for fall graduation.  Students who graduate in the fall are invited to participate in the spring commencement ceremonies following their graduation.  Students who apply for summer graduation may participate in spring commencement exercises the semester prior to their graduation by indicating their intent to walk on their graduation application. 

All students must apply for graduation whether they plan to participate in ceremonies or not.  Students must be aware of deadlines in order to avoid late fees, and to make sure their graduation dates are accurate and diplomas awarded on time.

Information about applying for graduation, deadlines, and commencement/convocation details can be found on UVU’s graduation web page. 

Advising and Support

2. H. 

The MPA program manager serves as the academic advisor and primary support for students.  The program director and faculty are also available to address concerns or consult with students.  Students may contact them directly.

MPA Program Manager – Kim Sparks – 801.863.7790 – [email protected]

MPA Program Director – Dr. Steven Sylvester – 801.863.5769 – [email protected]

GPA Requirement

3. A. 

Graduate students shall maintain a minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA to remain in their graduate programs. (Policy 510, Section 4.12).

Graduate students whose cumulative GPA falls below 3.0 shall be placed on academic probation for the following semester. Students whose GPAs remain below 3.0 after the probation semester shall be suspended from their graduate program and shall not be permitted to register or attend graduate courses. (Policy 510, Section 5.10).

Credit for courses in which a student earns a grade lower than a B (core classes) or B- (electives)  will not be applied towards the MPA degree.

Student Rights and Responsibilities

3. B. 

Graduate students are subject to the Student Rights and Responsibilities Code contained in Policy 541 Student Rights and Responsibilities Code. Students are expected to know and uphold their rights and responsibilities as UVU students as stated in the Student Rights and Responsibilities code.

Student Code of Conduct

3. C. 

 Student Code of Conduct.  

Academic Integrity and Plagiarism

3. D. 

Academic integrity and plagiarism is addressed in the UVU Student Code of Conduct.  It includes the following:

Academic misconduct and other acts of dishonesty.  All forms of academic misconduct and other acts of dishonesty, including but not limited to cheating, plagiarism, fabrication, and/or possessing or providing to the University any false, falsified, altered, forged, or misleading information, materials, documents, accounts, records, identification, or financial instruments.

For more information, see Student Code of Conduct. 

Leave of Absence

3. E. 

Students who need to take a take a semester off should first speak with the program manager to revise their graduation plan. Students may request a one-semester leave of absence using the graduate leave of absence form.   Students must submit the leave of absence form for each semester they will not be enrolling in classes.  Students who need more than a year off will be withdrawn from the program and will have to reapply for admission before returning.

Graduate coursework must be completed within six years.

Petitions

3. F. 

On occasion students are faced with extenuating circumstances affecting their enrollment.  Students needing an exception to policy regarding academics, enrollment, or tuition should speak to the program manager, and use a petition with supporting documentation to make a request for an exception. 

Course registration process and deadlines

4. A. 

Students who are admitted to the MPA program are expected to register for classes upon admission.

Students entering the program during the fall semester should register for PADM 6000 and PADM 6060.  Full-time students will add an additional elective to these core classes.  The elective choices for Fall 2024 are ESMG 6110, HLTH 6200, and PADM 679R. 

Students will use their myUVU portal to add and drop classes. 

For more information about registration, visit UVU’s registration webpage. 

Students are responsible for knowing relevant dates and deadlines for registration, tuition payment, graduation application, etc. 

Textbooks

4. B. 

The books required for PADM 6000 are:

Guy, M.E. and Ely, T.L. 2022. Essentials of Public Service: An Introduction to Contemporary Public Administration. Irvine, CA: Melvin & Leigh. ISBN: 9781736040225

Ashworth, H.K. (2001). Caught between the dog and the fireplug, or how to survive public service. Washington, DC: Georgetown University Press. ISBN: 9780878408474

Also STRONGLY suggested:

American Psychological Association. 2009. Publication manual of the American Psychological Association, 7th Edition. ISBN: 9781433805615

Books required for PADM 6060 are:

American Psychological Association [APA]. (2019). Concise guide to APA style: 7^th ed.

Harris, S.R. (2022) How to critique journal articles in the social sciences, 2^nd ed. Waveland Press.

McCartan, K., & Robson, C. (2016). Real world research, 4^th ed. Wiley.

Book required for HLTH 6200:

Registration Holds

4. C. 

Once students are admitted to the program, they are eligible to register for classes.  If a student is unable to register for classes for any reason, they should contact the program manager.

Tuition Policies

4. D. 

Tuition for the MPA program is due on the same schedule as all programs at UVU.  Students are responsible to be aware of deadlines, as late tuition payment may result in additional fees.  For more information about tuition and policies, visit the UVU tuition webpage.  

Tuition rates for Utah residents and non-residents is the same for the MPA program.

The 2024-2025 rate for tuition and fees is as follows:

3-credits - $1500

6-credits - $3000

9-credits - $4500

Financial Aid and Scholarships

4. E. 

The MPA program offers a tuition waiver scholarship for Utah residents, which waives a portion of graduate tuition to selected students.  Students must be admitted to the program to apply for it.  For more information and a link to apply,  visit the graduate scholarship webpage. 

Some students may be eligible for grants or student loans.  To find out if eligible, students must submit a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).  Check out this article for  relevant information about financial aid for graduate students.  

UVU’s financial aid office is available to help graduate students with questions about financing their education. 

Library

5. A. 

The Fulton Library provides user-centered services, various learning spaces, and essential resources that support the university’s mission of educating students for success in work and life.  Online graduate students have use of all library resources including check-out privileges, access to research databases, and individualized help.  For general information about the library, visit the UVU Fulton Library website.  To learn more about resources available for MPA research or to schedule an appointment with a librarian, visit the webpage desginated for UVU MPA students. 

Graduate Writing Center

5. B. 

The Graduate Writing Center is a free service that can help writers at all stages of the writing process. While they will gladly address questions of grammar and style during tutorials, they are not able to accommodate editing requests.  Visit their website for more information or to schedule an appointment.

Canvas

5. C. 

Canvas by Instructure is the official Learning Management System (LMS) for Utah Valley University. Students use Canvas to access course syllabi, assignment requirements, important class announcements, and much more. Canvas is the place to submit assignments, take quizzes, and discuss important topics with classmates.  Students have access to Canvas support 24/7 by opening Canvas and clicking 'live help'.  To learn more, visit their website.

Canvas Support Tips & Tricks (from the Canvas website)

• Google Chrome and Firefox are the recommended browsers.
• Check the syllabus to know the preferred way to contact your instructor, either through the Canvas Inbox or their UVU email address.
• Always complete the "Identify your Testing Location" quiz if it is available in your online class.
• Did you use Respondus Lockdown browser this semester? Empty your cache at the end of every semester to break ties to Respondus before next semester starts.
• Getting "unauthorized" errors? Clear your cache and browser history, close the browser and log back in. If you still have the error - contact Canvas Support by clicking the Get Help tab in your online or hybrid course, or the general Canvas Help.
• Submit assignments or take quizzes from a computer and not the mobile app.
• When submitting an assignment make sure to leave your browser tab open until you see that the assignment if fully submitted.
• Trouble submitting directly from Google Drive? Save the file to your hard drive first, then upload the submission.
• If using Apple software or Google Drive to create documents, please export them as their Microsoft Office equivalent onto your hard drive. Upload that version to Canvas.
• Check the Grades page regularly and contact the instructor concerning missing scores.
• Use the checkbox "Calculate based only on graded assignments" on the Grades page to toggle between reviewing your grades based on graded or unsubmitted assignments.

Service Desk

5. D. 

The UVU Service Desk is available to help with technical problems, admissions, registration, financial aid and more.  They can be contacted through phone, chat, walk-in, appointment, etc.  Visit the Service Desk webpage to find out more.  https://www.uvu.edu/servicedesk/ 

Career Services

5. E. 

The Career and Internship Center has resources to help you find internships and employment opportunities and to develop your career skills. They can assist in preparing your job search documents.  An internship is not required for the program but is encouraged for students with limited career experience.  For more information, speak with the program manager.

About UVU Campus

5. F. 

Utah Valley’s main campus in Orem, Utah is a vibrant and sprawling educational hub nestled against the majestic Wasatch Mountain Range.  Online students are welcome to visit the campus and take advantage of all resources available to face-to-face students, including the library, computer labs, writing center, wellness center, study areas, campus store and restaurants, and more.  For more information, visit the campus life webpage.  

Professional Organizations

5. G. 

NASPAA

NASPAA stands for the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration.  It is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting excellence in public service education and training.  NASPAA is a global association of universities, colleges, and programs that offer degrees in public administration, public policy and related field.

Joining NASPAA can be beneficial for students pursing degrees in public administration, public policy, or related fields.  For more information visit NAASAP.org.  https://www.naspaa.org

ASPA

Dr. David McEntire is the faculty representative for ASPA.  Contact him for more information. [email protected].

Following is more information from ASPA:

Hello UVU MPS students,

As you might be aware, ASPA is a voluntary association of – and for – professionals in public agencies and nonprofit organizations in Utah. Our programs are all specifically for people like you and us who have chosen careers that will make Utah a better place to live and work.

We hope that you will consider joining ASPA – and especially joining us in the Utah Chapter. Membership offers many benefits for Utah’s public servants, for example:

-         Continuing education opportunities, like the program on Equity and Inclusion, and subscription to Public Administration Review, the premier journal in our field for reflective practitioners as well as academicians (at no extra cost);

-         Important current professional information, such as our annual Legislative Preview in January and a subscription to PATimes, ASPA’s weekly electronic newsletter;

-         Networking events with government and nonprofit professionals in Utah that can help your career;

-         Participation in presenting annual awards to honor outstanding public and nonprofit leaders in Utah; and

-         Opportunities to stay connected with your faculty and student colleagues.

Joining is easy and quite inexpensive. A student membership is $60 a year if you are currently in a professional master’s degree program, including MPA, regardless of your age or experience, and this includes Utah Chapter membership. A New Professional membership is $70 if you graduated within the last 3 years, and this includes Utah Chapter membership.

To join:

• Go to aspa.org, 
• click on “Membership,”
• click on “JoinASPA,” 
• click on “Student Member” or “New Professional Member”
• click on “UT-Utah” (for primary chapter). If you do not click on “Chapter,” you will not receive information about events in Utah.
• The next page lists “Optional Sections.” Sections are for special interests. This is your choice. You do not need to join a Section. Most sections with membership fees of more than $10 or $15 include a subscription to a leading journal, for example the Section on Public Personnel Administration and Labor Relations includes a subscription toPublic Personnel Management Review, and the Section on Public Performance and Management includes a subscription to Public Performance Management Review.

That’s all it takes!

We sincerely hope that you will consider joining us. 

If you have questions, send us a note.

Sincerely,

Utah ASPA Chapter

Faculty

5. H. 

The MPA program is interdisciplinary, employing faculty from various departments at UVU.  The interdisciplinary education prepares students to be adaptable and versatile in a rapidly changing world.  Faculty are scholars in their field, many of whom have real-world experience in their areas of expertise.

Faculty for the 2024-2025 Academic Year:

Jeff Maxfield  [email protected]

                  PADM 6000

                  PADM 6050

Steven Sylvester  [email protected]

                  PADM 6000

                  PADM 6020

James Bemel   [email protected]

                  HLTH 6200        

Rodger Broome   [email protected]

                  PADM 6060

Amy Stutzenberger 

                  PADM 6060

Tom Sturtevant

                  PADM 6400

Chris Lindquist

                  ESMG 6110

                  ESMG 6140

                  ESMG 6120

                  PADM 679R

Jonathan Westover

                  PADM 6070

Kyler Ludwig

                  PADM 6010

Melissa Noyes

                  PADM 6030

David McEntire

                  PADM 6040

See also:   https://www.uvu.edu/mpa/faculty.html

Orientation

6. A. 

For 2024, students will be sent a checklist to help them understand the necessary onboarding tasks that will prepare them to begin the program.  Students who thoroughly complete all the steps on the checklist should be fully prepared to begin class on Wednesday, August 23rd.

Graduate Recognition and Spring Social

6. B. 

Each spring the MPA program hosts a dinner reception and recognition evening for graduates of the program and for all students, both current and incoming.  We encourage all to bring a guest and to join faculty, students, and graduates in recognizing their hard work.  This is an opportunity to share experiences and challenges, to network and build connections, and to celebrate achievements.  This event is typically held the end of May.

Contact Information

7. A. 

For questions, comments, or concerns about the handbook, please contact the program manager or director.

Program Manager

Kim Sparks

[email protected]

Program Director

Steven Sylvester

[email protected]