UNO's Master of Public Administration Program Receives Professional Accreditation
The University of New Orleans' Master of Public Administration program is now professionally accredited by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs and Administration (NASPAA). The announcement was made by the organization's Commission on Peer Review and Accreditation.
"This is a major milestone for our MPA students, faculty and alumni," said John Kiefer, associate professor of political science and director of UNO's Master of Public Administration program. "It's a validation of the program we offer to provide leaders in government and nonprofit management."
The NASPAA standards are the quality benchmark used by graduate public service programs around the world. NASPAA's accreditation process is mission-based and driven by public service values. Accredited programs must contribute to the knowledge, research, and practice of public service, establish observable goals and outcomes, and use information about their performance to guide program improvement. They must practice truth in advertising and ensure their students achieve learning objectives in five domains essential to public service.
The purpose of NASPAA accreditation is to promote and maintain educational quality for professional public service degrees. NASPAA accreditation recognizes that a master's program in public affairs has undertaken a rigorous process of peer review.
There are currently 172 other NASPAA accredited programs at 162 universities around the world. The UNO MPA program is one of only two programs in Louisiana ranked in the national top-tier of public affairs programs by U.S. News & World Report.
