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frequently asked questions.

How to Apply for Readmission

If less than two years have passed since you were last active in the MPA program, you should contact the Graduate Studies Office to update your graduate student status. The Graduate Studies Office can be reached by phone at 402-554-2341 or by e-mail at graduate@unomaha.edu.

A new set of application materials is required of those students who have been inactive for two or more years. This includes paying another nonrefundable application fee.

How to Delay Enrollment

If you have been admitted to the MPA program but need to delay your enrollment for a semester or two, you should contact the Graduate Studies Office and request your admission be postponed to the specified semester. The Graduate Studies Office can be reached by phone at 402-554-2341 or by e-mail at graduate@unomaha.edu.

How to Obtain Academic Advising

Upon admission, you will receive a letter from the Graduate Studies Office which includes a copy of your plan of study as well as the name of your academic advisor. Your plan of study is also readily available on e-BRUNO, and details your progress through the program. Meagan Van Gelder, Academic Program Coordinator, is also available for assistance and can be reached by e-mail at mvangelder@mail.unomaha.edu or by phone at 402-554-3480.

It may be valuable for you to sit down at least once each semester with your advisor. Graduate students will find that they need guidance at many points in their program and that they can benefit from faculty advice. Developing a relationship with your advisor can be valuable beyond academic issues of course planning (professional development, career planning, etc.). You may request a change in advisors at any time during your program, and should feel free to seek advice from other MPA faculty as appropriate.

How to Apply for Graduate Assistantships, Scholarships, and Financial Aid

The School has a limited number of graduate assistantships and also may assist in placing graduate students in internship positions funded by employing agencies. The University also offers a number of Competitive Graduate Scholarships, Regent's Tuition Waivers, and Non-resident Tuition Scholarships. Awards are usually granted beginning the fall semester and are renewable for up to two academic years. Students interested in applying for an assistantship or scholarship, should mark the appropriate section on the MPA Program Application and submit all application materials by February 1st. Those interested in applying for student loans should complete a FAFSA, available at the Financial Aid Office or online. The Financial Aid Office will contact students upon receipt of results of the FAFSA filing.

How to Use e-BRUNO

e-BRUNO is the online registration system for UNO students and is available online. Upon admission to the University, students receive a PIN which enables them to log into their e-BRUNO account to register for courses. Students may also drop/add classes, view their plan of study, and check their grades through the e-BRUNO system.

How to Add, Drop or Withdraw from a Class

Students may drop or add a course using e-BRUNO through the end of the first week of the semester. After the first week of classes, students must process a drop/add form, available at Registrar's Office. Students in the online or Lincoln program should contact the Academic Program Coordinator for assistance.

How to Change Your Concentration or Specialization

Contact your advisor if you would like to change your concentration or specialization in the program. Your advisor will contact the Graduate Studies Office who will then update your plan of study and your e-BRUNO degree audit screen.

How to Do an Internship

PA8030, Internship in Public Administration, is strongly recommended for students with little or no work experience in the public or nonprofit sectors. Students seeking to make a career change also benefit from an internship. Internships are half-time positions over the course of a semester, and count as a 3-credit hour elective toward the MPA degree. Students must complete the three beginning core courses in the program before enrolling in the internship course.

A successful internship requires lead time. Students are encouraged to discuss their internship plans with their academic advisor, as well as a Supervisor of Internships.  For MPA students except those in the local government concentration, contact Mary Hamilton, Ph.D. (402) 315.9509 or mary.hamilton@cox.net; for Urban Studies students and MPA students in the local government concentration contact Robert Blair, Ph.D. (402) 554.3865 or rblair@unomaha.edu.  The procedure for obtaining an internship is to fill out an internship program application and to submit the application, with a current resume, to Mary Hamilton or Robert Blair, prior to the start of the semester. Students will be notified of scheduled times to meet with the Supervisor of Internships to discuss other requirements and procedures. For more information, check the Internship web page.

How to Do an Independent Study

PA8920, Readings in Public Administration, and PA8940, Research in Public Administration, are independent study courses designed for advanced MPA students who want to pursue a specialized aspect of a core or concentration course. Students need to have completed 18 hours in the program to qualify for PA 8920 and 24 hours for PA 8940.

Students wanting to do an independent study must discuss this with their advisor or a faculty memeber working in their area of interest. Once a topic and plan of study for the course are agreed upon, the student will complete an independent study contract. Once this is signed by both the student and instructor, the student will be given permission to register. The independent study contract is available from Meagan Van Gelder, the School's Academic Program Coordinator.

How to Submit a Proposal for the Capstone Project

MPA students are required to obtain permission of the instructor before they can enroll in the Capstone Project course. An announcement will be sent to the MPA student e-mail list each semester to let students know when proposals for the upcoming semester are due. For more information, check the Capstone Project web page.

How to Sign Up for Comprehensive Examinations

* Note: Students admitted Fall 2011 and beyond will complete the capstone project or thesis.

Students should contact the Academic Program Coordinator at least two weeks before the exam to be put on the list. Information, such as dates for the exam and advice for taking the exam can be found on the Comprehensive Exam web page.

How to File for Graduation

During what is expected to be the semester of graduation, and prior to the posted deadline, students should complete an application for degree which is available through a student's e-BRUNO. Deadlines for application are posted in UNO's academic calendar.

How to Qualify for the Public Administration Honor Society

Pi Alpha Alpha is the national honorary society for public affairs and administration. Nationally, there are 123 chapters with a membership of over 25,000 individuals. The UNO chapter was founded in 1996 and has inducted over 100 members. Generally, membership is extended to MPA graduates whose grade point average is 3.9 or above and who rank in the top 20 percent of the graduating class.

How to Find a Job

The School does not have a formal placement program but does make efforts to assist students in finding jobs. The school maintains links to job listings on its website, makes referrals when asked for job candidates, circulates job listings on the MPA student e-mail list, and provides advice.

The SPA works closely with UNO Maverick HireWire, a comprehensive job posting system which houses student and employer profiles, student resumes, job listings, on-campus interview schedules, career event schedules, and other employment information.

Each student at UNO is entitled full access to UNO Maverick HireWire upon registering and creating a profile on the system. Registering in the system provides 24-7 access to job listings, interview schedules, and much more!

Stacey Coleman, EAB 211 at (402) 554-3672 or sccoleman@mail.unomaha.edu
Michelle Perone, Director, EAB 211 at (402) 554-3523 or mperone@mail.unomaha.edu