Department Story

The Stene Public Administration Program Story:

Past, Present, and Future

September 7, 2001

The 1940's were a period of reform in local government. One of the most visible reform movements in the country took place in Kansas City, Missouri when the infamous Pendergast machine was replaced with a professional council-manager form of government.  Similar local government reform was occurring on a national scale and there was a growing need for a new cadre of professional city managers.

When, in 1948 the KU Political Science department obtained a grant from the Carnegie Foundation to initiate an MPA program with a focus on local government administration, conditions were very favorable. A large number of older former servicemen with GI Bill benefits were available as potential students and the reform movement in local government and the development of suburban American provided demand for graduates. The development, in the 1950's, of an interdisciplinary undergraduate curriculum in personnel administration gave KU a popular undergraduate program to compliment its graduate program, which was already known as one of the nation's best in city management.

After over twenty years of stability, the 1970's marked an era of growth, experimentation and change.  Increasing student enrollment required additional Political Science faculty.   Some faculty continued to focus on public administration and others chose other political science disciplines. The general growth of governments at all levels and an explosive growth in the health care industry created demands for more professionally trained managers, and Kansas State employees expressed an interest in a part-time easy access alternative to the full-time program.

During this period two new tracks, general management and health administration, were added to the traditional program, and off-campus part-time programs were initiated in Kansas City and Topeka.  By the end of the 1970's, the program was over-extended and its fundamental strengths were being strained.  In addition, it became increasingly difficult to obtain internships for so many full-time students each year.

A period of reflection, reduction and return to the basics began in the 1980's and continued through the 1990's.  The health option was spun off to become a freestanding department.  The general option was eliminated. The program recommitted its focus to preparing  local government managers  and retained the off-campus programs serving career option students. Faculty strength was significantly enhanced with the establishment of the Stene Distinguished Professorship.  The Political Science department was split into two departments -- Political Science and Public Administration -- under an administrative structure called the Division of Government.  The existing doctoral program remained in Political Science, as did the Political Science undergraduate major.  Under continuing scrutiny over its academic rigor, the undergraduate personnel administration major was discontinued in unrelated and uncontested action. Thus, the new department ended the era strongly recommitted to the original MPA program focused on local government and the part-time off campus format in Topeka and Kansas City but with no doctoral or undergraduate programs. In the 1990's, the department focused its energy on getting better, not bigger.  Emphasis was placed on scholarly research and teaching.

The Present

Presently the program enjoys national prominence.  Faculty members participate on several editorial boards, hold leadership positions in several professional organizations, and have received prestigious awards from scholarly associations. The Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory (JPART), established by Professor Fredrickson is well respected in the field.    US News and World Report currently ranks the program number one in the nation for local government education. The stature of the public administration department within the university has risen commensurately, and several faculty members have been appointed to significant leadership positions in the university administration.

The Future

The Department intends to maintain its focus on the full-time local government program into the foreseeable future.  Although recognizing the possibility of a weakening demand for city managers, it feels there will always be a need for people trained in community leadership.  Any change in emphasis would be subtle and evolutionary. The department will remain committed to the career option programs in Kansas City and Topeka and explore new course formats that could expand the geographic service areas of those programs.

In order to consolidate its leadership position in the field of public administration the department will seek to establish a doctoral program and strengthen an undergraduate public administration minor.  It will also expand and develop its research, teaching and service activities in the Kansas City Metropolitan area.

To accomplish these goals, new resources will be developed.  Faculty recruitment efforts will emphasize more diversity, commitment to scholarly research and teaching, and potential to attract extramural support.

The future of the Stene Public Administration program is bright.  Building on over a half century of experience, growth will be flexible and responsive to changing demands.  But the fundamental values of collegiality, excellence in teaching, research, service, experiential learning and commitment to alumni, will continue to be the hallmarks of the program.

Prepared by: Marvin Stottlemire
Developed through a faculty retreat: August, 2001.