Hugo Wall School of Urban and Public Affairs Prepared for College Immersion Day Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences By H. Edward Flentje July 12, 2006

Hugo Wall School of Urban and Public Affairs Instruction: –Master of Public Administration degree –Graduate Certificate in Public Finance –Graduate Certificate in Economic Development –Graduate Certificate in City and County Management –MiniMPA Research and Community Engagement through: –Center for Urban Studies –Kansas Public Finance Center Hugo Wall School mission: Enhancing the quality of public affairs and administration through a blending of instruction, research, and community engagement

Master of Public Administration Focused on: –public management, public finance, and public policy in state and local government –nonprofit management and finance 100+ active students: –80 percent part-time/20 percent full time –average age: 32 Degrees awarded: –25 in academic year 15 female/10 male; 8 minority; 2 international –406 ( )

Master of Public Administration Addition of three endowed fellowships: 1990, 1999, 2001 Initial steps in addressing the delivery of public services by nonprofit agencies, Accreditation by National Association of Schools of Public Administration and Affairs, 2002 Surge in admissions, 2004 and 2005 Increase in admission requirements, 2006

Master of Public Administration Placement of class: –12 in local government –6 in state government –3 in nonprofit agencies –2 in federal service –2 international students Placement of class: –15 new hires –8 advancing in current position

Alumni: Master of Public Administration Local government: city managers, finance officers, department heads, program managers, economic development officials State government: agency heads, program managers, budget analysts, policy analysts, performance auditors Nonprofit sector: agency heads, program managers Other: federal service, private sector, lobbyists, elected officials

Faculty Research: Highlights Community-relevant research recently completed: –Glaser, Community Health: Voter Concerns, Investment Priorities, and Willingness to Pay Increased Taxes, 2004 –Hildreth, State of Kansas 2005 Debt Affordability Report, 2005 –Glaser, Engaging the Community in Strategic Public Education Decisions, 2006 –Wong, Kansas Tax Incidence Study, 2006 Community-relevant research near completion: –Fisher, Erosion of Property Tax Base –Wong, Erosion of Sales Tax Base –Hildreth, Local Debt Affordability Other research: 39 journal articles, books, monographs, chapters, agency reports, and other publications ( )

Community Engagement: Professional Development  Conducting and managing professional development for:  Kansas Association of City/County Management  Kansas Government Finance Officers Association  City Clerks and Municipal Finance Officers Association of Kansas  Kansas County Clerks’ and Election Officials’ Association  In fiscal year 2006, over 500 appointed and elected officials participated in one or more offerings totaling 150 contact hours of professional development.

Community Engagement: Technical Assistance  Assisting the Regional Economic Area Partnership, an alliance of 32 cities and counties dedicated to guiding state and national actions that affect economic development in the region and adopting joint actions among member governments that enhance the regional economy. Recent achievements:  legislative authorization of a downtown Wichita arena  state financial participation in affordable airfares through Mid-Continent Airport

Community Engagement: Other Highlights Midwest Regional Public Finance Conference (annually, ) Wichita Assembly –Prescriptions for Healthy Citizens (2004) –Community Reconnection: A New Beginning for Offenders (2002) Area Managers Seminar, Nonprofit Executives Seminar, Municipal Leadership Seminar, “Incubator” for Nonprofit Chamber of Service,

Faculty Highlights, Recruitment of Dr. Melissa Walker, Chicago PhD, specializing in nonprofit management and finance Professor Yeager: President’s Distinguished Service Award Professor Glaser: Incentive Award Professor Hildreth: Incentive Award Professor Hildreth: Fulbright Scholar Professors Fisher, Flentje, Pisciotte, and Platt— Establishment of 50 th Anniversary Fund Adjunct Professor Bill Buchanan: President-Elect of International City/County Management Association Adjunct Professor Joe Palacioz: WSU Alumni Recognition Award

Future Directions Addressing nonprofit governance, management, and finance Improving quality Increasing visibility Celebrating 50 th Anniversary, Expanding endowments through 50 th Anniversary Fund Preparing for faculty retirements