The School of Public Policy has earned first-time accreditation for its Master of Public Policy (MPP) and reaccreditation for its Master of Public Administration (MPA), recognizing the quality of its graduate programs and its role in preparing students for public service careers.
"Accreditation is a testament to our MPA and MPP program's substantial conformity with the highest academic and professional standards in the discipline, enabling us to meet our School's mission of serving the state of Connecticut and beyond," says Eric Brunner professor and graduate program director of public policy. (UConn Photo/Sean Flynn)
The University of Connecticut School of Public Policy's Master of Public Policy (MPP) program has earned accreditation for the first time from the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs and Administration (NASPAA), while its Master of Public Administration (MPA) program has been reaccredited. With the recognitions, UConn now offers Connecticut's only NASPAA-accredited MPA and MPP programs.
The MPA program has prepared public service professionals to manage and lead public and nonprofit organizations for 53 years and has been accredited since 1983. Launched in 2016, the MPP program gives students the contextual knowledge and skills needed to lead, manage, and conduct policy development, analysis, and evaluation in an increasingly complex and interconnected society.
"NASPAA accreditation is a culmination of the efforts and dedication of our faculty and staff who are committed to advance the quality of our MPA and MPP programs," says Eric Brunner, professor of public policy and director of graduate programs. "Accreditation is a testament to our MPA and MPP program's substantial conformity with the highest academic and professional standards in the discipline, enabling us to meet our School's mission of serving the state of Connecticut and beyond."
With accreditation, the MPA and MPP programs are part of a global network of more than 200 accredited programs, strengthening connections among peer institutions across the world. NASPAA accredits programs that meet its seven standards, which examine the program's mission, commitment to public values, positive student outcomes through immersive academics, significant scholarly work from faculty, and satisfactory facilities and resources.
The accreditation process includes self-studies completed by the program, as well as a site visit from peer leaders in the field.
"Receiving NASPAA accreditation is a significant and well-deserved milestone for our MPA and MPP programs," says Angela Eikenberry, professor and director of the School. "Accreditation helps to ensure our programs are high-quality, rigorous and relevant to the realities and responsibilities for public service careers."
The UConn MPA and MPP programs are offered on the Hartford campus, with some courses available in Storrs and Stamford. The MPA Executive Track is also available in both Hartford and Stamford. Current UConn undergraduates can also pursue accelerated MPA and MPP degrees through the fast-track master's program.
Designed for both pre-service and in-service students, the MPA and MPP programs focus on real-world academic experiences, while offering complementary experiential and co-curricular opportunities through professional internships.
About the UConn School of Public Policy
The School of Public Policy (SPP) is housed in the UConn College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and is dedicated to solving pressing societal problems through cutting-edge scholarship, high-quality instruction, and impactful service to the profession and society.
U.S. News & World Report ranks the UConn School of Public Policy #12 in the nation in public finance and budgeting and #24 in nonprofit management. It's also ranked #42 (tie) among all public affairs programs in the U.S. (#2 in New England).
In addition to the MPA and MPP, the School offers graduate certificates in leadership and public management, nonprofit management, and public budgeting and finance. It also offers an array of non-credit programs and trainings, and is home to the Institute for Municipal and Regional Policy (IMRP).
