Student Handbook

College of Urban & Public Affairs (CUPA)

The College of Urban & Public Affairs (CUPA) houses two schools, the Mark O. Hatfield School of Government, and the Nohad A. Toulan School of Urban Studies and Planning, as well as six total academic units. In addition to academic departments, the College has several research institutes, centers and public service units. Full descriptions can be found on the College of Urban & Public Affairs website.

 Mark O. Hatfield School of Government (SOG)

The Public Administration Department is affiliated with the Mark O. Hatfield School of Government. Locally renowned, the Hatfield School and its affiliated programs have gained national prestige as one of the top Public Affairs graduate programs in the nation, according to the U.S. News and World Report rankings.

Accreditation

The MPA program is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA). 

Vision Statement

The Department of Public Administration’s vision is to be an agent of change to develop and enhance public leadership through education, scholarship and service. Building upon Portland State University’s commitment to community-engaged scholarship and service, the Department of Public Administration is uniquely placed to prepare current and emergent leaders in local, regional, national and global communities.

We recognize that solutions to contemporary problems require innovative approaches and alliances among governments, nonprofits and businesses. We encourage our faculty and students to engage in multidisciplinary and collaborative approaches to advance the public interest.

We aim to contribute to the integrity, effectiveness, and transparency of the next generation of trusted public leaders.

Mission Statement

The Department of Public Administration at Portland State University is dedicated to preparing individuals for ethical, competent and effective public service in a range of roles in policy, management and leadership. We seek to improve practice by facilitating learning through community engagement, promoting scholarship, and encouraging reflection as we develop and work with leaders representing diverse communities across all domains of public service.

Value and Belief Statements

We recognize that public service professionals work within a complex set of constitutional, institutional, sociocultural, and legal structures. We believe that they must understand the ways in which economic and political interdependence, both global and domestic, shape the exercise of administrative leadership and management. Our collective efforts support the educational and professional preparation of public service professionals and new scholars.

Based on this recognition, we are guided by the following values which encompass our commitment to integrated, rigorous and relevant teaching, learning, and scholarship, all geared toward the sustainability of our increasingly diverse and rich communities:

• We believe that the integration of theory and practice is essential for successful management and leadership in public, nonprofit and health organizations, and that reflective practice enhances this integration. 

• We believe that a public service education that integrates ethics and experience is essential to our society. 

• We seek to model in ourselves and develop in our students the values of public service and provide mechanisms through which students can explore potential roles for engaging the public in their work.

• We are committed to addressing the life-long learning needs of our graduates and career public service professionals.

• We value scholarship that is both rigorous and relevant.

• We value Portland State University’s commitment to community-engaged teaching and scholarship.

• We are committed to collaborating with public and nonprofit organizations and communities to create rich learning experiences that both assist the community and prepare graduates for productive public service careers.

• We believe that public service professionals must understand the ways in which a multiplicity of interests help to shape, and in turn are shaped by, the underlying values of our systems of democratic governance.

• We believe that understanding the dynamic social relationships in diverse and global communities is essential for public service leaders and managers.

Learning Competencies 

Students in the Master of Public Administration (MPA) program will attain the following competencies by graduation, as evident through their demonstrated ability to:

• Articulate and exemplify the ethics, values, responsibilities, obligations, and social roles of a member of the public service [nonprofit] profession. 

• Identify and apply relevant theories and frameworks to the practice of public service.

• Respond to and engage collaboratively with diverse local and global cultures and communities.

• Identify and engage with the key elements of the public policy process.

• Employ appropriate qualitative and quantitative techniques to investigate, monitor, and manage resource use. 

• Create and manage systems and processes to assess and improve organizational performance.

• Conceptualize, analyze, and develop creative and collaborative solutions to challenges in public service [nonprofit] leadership, management, and policy. 

• Assess challenges and explore solutions to advance cross-sectoral and inter-jurisdictional cooperation in public [nonprofit] programs and services.

• Demonstrate verbal and written communication skills as a professional and through interpersonal interactions in groups and in society.

• Think critically and self-reflectively about emerging issues concerning public service [nonprofit] leadership, management, and policy.

All students have the responsibility to themselves, their fellow students and the faculty to adhere to the highest standards of academic honesty and integrity. This is particularly true of those who will one day serve the public and teach and act as role models for others.

The University assumes that students are honest, that all course work and examinations represent their own work, and that all documents supporting their admission and graduation are accurate and complete. Academic honesty is a requirement for all graduate activities, and any violation is grounds for disciplinary sanctions as provided by the University Student Conduct Code. Violations of this policy include, but are not limited to:

• Cheating on examinations and course assignments: The willful use, or provision to others, of unauthorized material in written or oral examinations, or in course assignments.

• Plagiarism: The appropriation of language, ideas, or products of another author or artist and representation of them as one’s original work; failure to provide proper identification of source data; use of purchased or borrowed papers in graduate courses without complete identification of the source.

• Selling or offering to sell course assignment materials: Knowing, or under circumstances when a reasonable person has reason to know, that all or a substantial part of the material is intended to be submitted by another person in fulfillment of a course requirement.

Any situations regarding academic honesty that cannot be solved within the College will be referred to the Associate Vice‐Provost and Dean of Graduate Studies. If the Associate Vice‐Provost and Dean conclude that the policy may have been violated, the situation will be moved to the Graduate Council.

Students are encouraged to read the University Bulletin for more information about academic honesty. In addition, the PSU Library has a tutorials on plagiarism, citations, and other topics that may be useful including the use of AI in coursework.

• Forms required by the Graduate School can be found here. 

• Departmental forms can be found in the Student Resource Drives linked above. Please reach out to the PA staff (publicad@pdx.edu) if you need assistance finding or completing any of these forms. 

Email Account

Students are required to use their pdx.edu email account for university business. Students are advised to check this email account regularly (or forward to a personal email) as all PSU communications will be sent to pdx.edu addresses. 

Students not enrolled for 6 months may have their account deactivated.

Canvas

Some courses utilize Canvas, PSU’s online learning management system. Students can access support and tutorials here. Students should be sure to check with their instructors to see if they will use Canvas and its email feature. 

Google Groups

Upon acceptance into the department, students are added to the PA Google group, used for communicating with students. All current students are added to the following list: PA-CurrentStudents-group@pdx.edu.

The Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree focuses on preparing students for administrative and leadership positions in governmental and nonprofit organizations. The program is structured as follows:

• 54 credits total 

• Foundations of Public Service and Administration (15 credits)

• Organization Management and Leadership (12 credits)

• Analytic Methods (8 credits)

• Electives / Graduate Certificate Options (15 credits)

• The Public Service Capstone (4 credits)

PA 509  (The Public Service Capstone Project) consists of hands-on applied field projects in collaboration with public, nonprofit, or health service organizations. During this time, students will work on administrative or management issues confronting these organizations.

At the end of the project, a culminating project report or other substantive deliverable (set of deliverables) should be submitted to the community partner and the university. The deliverable(s) typically include(s) description of the work completed, detailed written documentation developed for the organization (as relevant), and may include recommendations, conclusions, and/or policies.

Students are required to attend the PA 509 orientation (offered Fall, Winter and Spring terms) to learn about the requirements and expectations. They then consult with their faculty advisor and develop a draft of the learning agreement in conjunction with the faculty advisor and the potential community partner, before contacting the designated PA 509 Faculty. 

Students should begin arrangements with the community partner no later than the quarter prior to registering for PA 509. Students may not begin the project until the faculty advisor has approved the draft learning agreement, and the student, field supervisor, and PA 509 faculty instructor have all signed the student's final learning agreement. 

The Course Planning Guide lists all of the courses PA plans to offer during the current Academic Year. This Course Planning Guide is subject to change based on instructor availability, course enrollment, etc.

• • • • Course Planning Guide

The Degree Completion Worksheet for the MPA is an important document for tracking progress toward degree completion. Students should maintain their worksheet term by term and have it on hand for their advising appointments. This worksheet ensures that students have met (or will meet) all the requirements for the degree. 

• The Degree Completion Worksheet can be found in the Student Resource Drive.

Students are assigned an advisor upon admission to the program. Remember to meet with your assigned advisor regularly to plan and update your program of study.  

Students may switch advisors at any point in the program. Please reach out to the department staff (publicad@pdx.edu) if you have any questions about your advisor assignment or our course offerings.

The following are guidelines for working with faculty advisor:

• Initiate contact with faculty advisor and meet at least once per quarter. Students should try to see the faculty advisor early in the term, and follow-up as necessary to confirm the decisions about course selections. Also note that the faculty advisor must approve the students’ program of study before graduation. Faculty members typically maintain regular office hours for advising, however if this conflicts with a students’ schedule they can contact the advisor for accommodations. 

• Check email regularly for notices and other important communications. All students should have a PSU email account, and the faculty and university administration offices will use PSU email addresses as a main channel of communication with the students.

• Faculty advisors receive large amounts of email and other contacts each day. It may take a few days to a week for the faculty advisor to get in touch with the students. If the faculty member does not get back in a reasonable period of time, feel free to send an email reminder. If there is an urgent need for information, also contact the department staff. Please note: many faculty are not on contract during the summer months (June 16 to September 15) and may not be available for advising.  

• In the event of any problems or changes in student status and course planning, students are encouraged to inform the faculty advisor as soon as possible. 

The student is responsible for knowing all regulations and procedures required by the University and the graduate program being pursued. In no case will a regulation be waived or an exception granted because of ignorance of the regulation or of the assertion that the student was not informed by the advisor or other authority.

We will provide information on key policies and procedures below, but students should also consult relevant pages in the Portland State University Bulletin.

Minimum Enrollment

Students must be continuously enrolled for at least one credit per term (excluding summer term), unless on an approved Leave of Absence. If unable to maintain continuous enrollment, they are required to request a Leave of Absence (LOA) from the department. The student should email their advisor and copy the department (publicad@pdx.edu) to begin the request process. Leaves may be granted for a period of one to three terms with the approval of the student’s faculty advisor. Students may request more than one leave of absence but all leaves combined cannot exceed six terms.

Students failing to register or complete a LOA for three (non‐summer) academic terms will have their admission status revoked by the Graduate School. Students will need to contact the department and submit a Graduate Re-Enrollment Request Form in order to return and complete the degree.

Full-Time vs. Part-Time Status

Students taking the recommended maximum credits per term can expect to complete the degree in two years, with the inclusion of summer terms. Students can switch between full-time and part-time status without needing to contact the department. 

Grades

All admitted graduate certificate and degree students at PSU must maintain good academic standing during the course of their graduate program. Good academic standing is defined as maintaining a cumulative graduate GPA of 3.00 or higher in all graduate credits earned at PSU. Students who fail to do so will be placed on immediate probation until a B average is once again attained (see PSU Bulletin for the removal of probationary status). No student may have more than two “probations.” Any student placed on probation a third time will be automatically dropped from the program. 

A student must have a minimum 3.00 GPA on the courses applied to the program of study, as well as a minimum 3.00 GPA in all graduate-level courses taken at PSU, in order to graduate. Departments may establish a more rigorous standard. Although grades of C+, C, and C- are below the graduate standard, they may be counted as credit toward a master’s degree with the specific written approval of the department if taken at PSU after the term of formal admission to the graduate program.

Time Limits

According to PSU’s Graduate School, all work toward a graduate degree must be completed within seven years, and no coursework that is more than seven years old at the time of graduation may be accepted towards the degree. A limited number of PSU courses that are more than seven years old at the time of graduation, but no more than 10 years old, may be used toward master’s degree requirements after a successful validation exam. The full requirements for validation of out‐of‐date graduate credits is provided on the GO‐15 form available on the Graduate School website.

“Credit By‐Arrangement” Hours

In addition to regularly scheduled courses, students may register for courses “by arrangement” with individual faculty, to complete a “reading and conference” around a specific subject or body of literature not covered in other classes (PA 505). The number of credits may vary, but it is expected that such credits will be commensurate with the demands of regular course offerings, approximately 3.5 hours of work per week for each credit hour. Students are expected to develop a proposal with specific tasks, deliverables and timelines, in consultation with the faculty member. By-Arrangement Requests can be initiated and tracked online.

Incomplete Grades

From time to time, students may need to take an Incomplete (I) grade in a course where unforeseen circumstances preclude the student from completing essential work in a timely manner. Students do not have a right to receive or demand an Incomplete grade. The option of assigning an Incomplete grade is at the discretion of the instructor when the following conditions are met:

• Required satisfactory course completion/participation: The quality of work is satisfactory, but some essential work remains. In addition, the student must have successfully completed most of the course work at the time the student requests the Incomplete, with a minimum grade up to that point of a B‐ for a graduate course.

• Reasonable justification for the request: Reasons for assigning the Incomplete must be acceptable to the instructor. A student does not have the right to demand an Incomplete. The circumstances should be unforeseen or beyond the control of the student. The instructor is entitled to request appropriate medical or other documentation to validate the student's request.

• Incomplete grade is not a substitute for a poor grade: The Incomplete grade is not meant to create the opportunity for special or additional work for a student to raise a poor grade, or for the opportunity to take the course over by sitting in on the course in a later term without registering or paying for it.

• Written agreement: A written or electronic agreement will be endorsed by both the instructor and student. The document will specify a) the remaining work to be completed, b) the highest grade which may be awarded upon submission of remaining items, and c) the date which the missing work is due. The latter may not exceed one year from the end of the term of enrollment for the given course. A template Incomplete Contract is available from the Registrar.

• Resolving the Incomplete: Instructors may not encourage students to "sit in" an entire future course in order to resolve the Incomplete grade. If the student needs to retake the entire course, they should be given the grade presently earned, and must formally register for the future class they will be attending. If the missed portion of the course is no longer available, instructors may offer an alternate assignment. Grading weight of the alternate assignment should not exceed the original assignment. Students are fully responsible for monitoring all due dates.

Students have one calendar year to resolve an Incomplete; e.g. an incomplete taken in Fall 2016 will need to be resolved by the grading deadline in Fall 2017. After that point, the Incomplete is frozen on the student’s transcript, and will not impact the student’s GPA. With approval of the instructor and Department Chair, students may petition the Graduate Council (using the Graduate Petition Form from the Graduate School) for a longer deadline, but only in the case of extenuating circumstances.

Waivers and Substitutions

Waivers: There are situations in which students may believe that they have previously taken a course that satisfies a particular degree requirement. Students may petition to waive a class requirement if they have comparable previous experience through coursework. The student should first have a conversation with their advisor to determine how to proceed. Waiver of a required course does not waive the credit towards the degree. 

Substitutions: Students wanting to request an alternative course for the required courses should meet with their advisor for approval.

Skill Development/Elective Courses not listed in the recommended list: Students are allowed to take courses that are not listed in the department’s elective course list after consulting with their advisor. Mark the exception in your Degree Completion Worksheet and have your advisor notify the department staff (publicad@pdx.edu) indicating the courses taken outside the department’s ‘recommended’ course list, so the courses will be reflected in the DARS system.

Pre-Admission and Transfer Credits

The department prefers to limit the amount of Pre-Admission and Transfer credits to 12 (4 courses) for the Master’s programs and 6 (2 courses) to the Graduate Certificate. The Department may approve up to the maximum allowable per University policy, which is 21 credits for the Master’s programs and Graduate Certificate. The transfer credits must be graduate‐level courses with a grade of "B" or higher and were completed within 7 years of the projected graduation date. 

Approvals for transfer or pre‐admission credits, substitutions, or waivers are typically completed by the department during the fifth week of the student’s expected graduation term. These department approved changes show up in the Degree Audit Reporting System (DARS). Until then, the Degree Completion Worksheet is the best way to track degree progress. 

Pre-Admission Credits: Graduate credits taken at PSU on a post‐baccalaureate (non-degree) basis prior to admission to the program must be approved by the advisor as part of the degree. Approval of pre-admission credits can be emailed to the department at publicad@pdx.edu to be recorded and entered into the DARS system. There are no additional forms that need to be completed. 

Note: Students who completed the Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit and Public Management (GCNPM) can count all 21 credits completed for the certificate as pre-admission credits for the MPA program.

Transfer Credits: Graduate credits earned at other accredited higher education institutions within the United States may be applied toward the MPA and degree provided they were not utilized toward a degree at that institution (e.g., as a non‐degree student, or if you later withdrew from a program). In addition to being approved by your advisor, you will need to complete and submit a GO‐21M Form, available from the Graduate School website.

Course Evaluations

Students are asked to complete an evaluation at the end of each course for which they are registered. Course evaluations assist faculty and staff in assessing the quality of the courses and identifying opportunities for improvement, as well as scheduling future offerings. Evaluations are emailed in the last two weeks of the term. If you do not receive an evaluation, please contact the department staff (publicad@pdx.edu.)

PSU Library 

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The Writing Center 

Office of Information Technology

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CARE Team

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Disability Resource Center

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Women's Resource Center

The Public Administration Student Association (PASA) 

PASA provides information, opportunities and support for Public Administration students. PASA assists students from the beginning of their graduate program by providing peer support, facilitating student-faculty social interaction and helping build professional networks. Learn more about how to get involved on their website. 

International City/County Management Association (ICMA) Student Chapter

The goal of ICMA’s Student Chapter Program is to introduce and integrate students into the local government management profession and familiarize them with members, resources, and the ICMA Code of Ethics. As a part of ICMA's Next Generation Initiatives, chapters exist to establish connections between ICMA, schools, students, state associations, and managers.

Graduate study is a substantial investment of time and money and there are a number of resources available to assist you. Basic information is listed below and additional details and support may be accessed through the Graduate School or Financial Aid office.

WICHE

The Western Regional Graduate Program (WICHE) offers in‐state tuition to PSU students in the MPA graduate program who are residents of AK, AZ, CA, CO, HI, ID, MT, NV, NM, ND, SD, UT, WA, and WY. Application for WICHE tuition rates must be made through the Graduate School prior to taking classes. If you have questions about this, contact grad@pdx.edu. 

Funding Opportunities

Graduate assistantship (GA) positions provide an opportunity to work through graduate school in an instructional, research, or administrative capacity and receive tuition remission. The goal of any assistantship is to provide a service to the University and to aid the student in the successful completion of their graduate degree by providing employment related to their academic program and professional goals. Details on GA position types, eligibility, tuition and fee remission are maintained by the Graduate School. 

There is no centralized system for obtaining GA positions. Timing for GA postings depends entirely upon the scope of work and funding source. Students interested in GA positions are encouraged to talk with faculty working in their field of interest and look for announcements on email lists. 

Portland State also offers on-campus employment opportunities on the University’s internal job postings site.

Federal Loans

Direct Loans are available to Portland State University graduate students through the cooperation of the University and the U.S. Department of Education. Both interest‐subsidized and unsubsidized loans are available. To be eligible for federally‐sponsored loans, a student must complete the Free Application for Student Financial Aid (FAFSA).

More information and support is available through the PSU Office of Student Financial Aid & Scholarships and through the PSU Financial Wellness Center. 

Federal Work Study

Graduate students may be eligible for the Federal Work Study financial aid program which enables students to earn money toward college expenses by working on campus, in the government, or in selected nonprofit agencies serving the community. Students may work up to twenty hours a week while classes are in session and receive a monthly paycheck (based on an hourly wage) that they can use for educational expenses. 

PSU Graduate Scholarships

The Graduate School maintains a centralized Scholarship Manager site which allows students to apply for multiple scholarships with one application. Applications generally open in October and are due between April 1st and May 15th. 

Non‐PSU Scholarships

In addition, the Graduate School maintains a full list of In addition, there are many non-PSU scholarships and awards that can be researched here in the “External Scholarship Resources” section. The timing of these scholarships varies greatly.

• Students must apply for graduation by the first Friday of the anticipated term of graduation; see the Graduate Candidates Deadlines for specific dates. 

• Check the graduation application deadlines here.

• Students can expect information by email in the spring term about the graduation ceremonies, including cap and gown rental and hood purchasing.

• Submit your application through MyPSU (click 'Graduation Application' in the Academic Planning section). For more information, please refer to the Graduate School website. 

• Run a DARS report to confirm that you have completed all requirements toward graduation. If the report notes that you haven't yet met a requirement that doesn't apply to you, don't panic. The PA Department will have a chance to verify that you have, in fact, completed all requirements toward your degree. If you have any questions, please contact your advisor. 

• Between the time students apply for graduation and actually graduate, they need to take care of any outstanding library fines, printing fees, unresolved incompletes, etc. before the grading deadline of the term in which the students intend to graduate.

• If the students are unable to complete all the necessary degree requirements, OGS allows students to carry forward their graduation to a future term (typically the next term, but it could be at maximum up to one year in advance). 

• To request that an application for graduation be carried, students must contact OGS in writing and provide an explanation for the graduation delay. If students do not graduate a second time, the application for graduation will be dropped; they will then need to reapply for graduation by the appropriate deadline (and will be assessed a new fee).

• After all of your graduation paperwork has been processed, you will receive a confirmation email from the registration office notifying you that your degree has been awarded. This is typically several weeks after the term in which you have graduated. All diplomas will be mailed to the address provided on the degree application unless you have an outstanding student account balance or have not completed the Perkins Loan exit interview (if applicable). 

• For additional questions, please contact the Office of the Registrar (registrar@pdx.edu).

Connect with us on LinkedIn: Connecting with your peers on LinkedIn grows your network, while keeping you updated on possible career opportunities. 

Join the PSU PA Alumni Association: The PSU PA Alumni Association seeks to foster a strong collaborative network among current students, alumni, and faculty to promote the department, create a cohesive identity, and enhance opportunities for social and professional relationships in the public sector community. 

Become a Student Mentor: Reach out to the department staff if you are interested in partnering with a current student on their Capstone project.