Life as Edward Jensen

[source: Corey Schubert, media manager, ASU College of Public Programs] ASU’s College of Public Programs is accepting applications from ASU undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in any field of study dedicated to careers in the public and nonprofit sectors who want to join the Spirit of Service Scholars program.

The program addresses the present and future workforce needs in the public and nonprofit sectors by awarding prestigious $5,000 scholarships to 15 outstanding students, and providing them with extraordinary intellectual and practice experiences, a lifelong interdisciplinary network, and committed, effective mentors.

More information is available at http://spiritofservicescholars.asu.edu/; contact soss.info@asu.edu.

The deadline for applications is April 2 for the Fall 2010 semester. Applicants need not demonstrate financial need, but must show seriousness of purpose.

Well, the Spring 2010 semester begins next week for ASU students. The winter break was far too short but hey, I’ll take it.

In preparation for the start of the semester on Tuesday January 19, please note the following hours for services on the Downtown Phoenix campus:

• Enrollment Services (off UCENT lobby): open Jan 19, 20, 25, and 26 until 6pm
• Parking and Transit (off UCENT elevators, 1st floor): regular hours (8a-4.30p)
• Bookstore (UCENT, near Polk St entrance): visit the ASU Bookstore website]
• Academic advising: contact your advisor
• Library (UCENT basement): resumes regular hours Jan 19
• ASU Health Center (NHI 1 building): regular hours (8a-5p)
• Fair Trade Cafe at the Civic Space: always open Monday-Saturday 7a-10p, closed Sunday

For all of the semester’s deadlines (including drop/add periods, withdrawal deadlines, etc.), check out the ASU Academic Calendar. To get an idea of when your final exams will be (exams week is May 6-12), check the University Final Exam Schedule.

From myself and from my colleagues in the Dean’s Office of the College of Public Programs, we wish you a successful, productive, and engaging Spring 2010 semester.

-Edward Jensen

[source: Jacqueline Smith, ASU Office of University Initiatives] ASU’s College of Public Programs will host a community forum to discuss job creation in the metropolitan Phoenix area from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 11, at the A.E. England Building at Civic Space Park, 424 N. Central Ave.

The forum is a response to President Barack Obama’s recent call for public debate concerning job creation in communities across the nation. Information discussed at the forum will be compiled into a report and sent to the White House for review.

The forum will begin with brief presentations about existing community building efforts in the service and design sectors and the relationship between entrepreneurship and job creation.

Panelists include:

• Dennis Hoffman, ASU Professor of Economics; Director, L. William Seidman Research Institute; and Director, Office of the University Economist
• Debra Friedman, University Vice President and Dean, ASU College of Public Programs: How the College of Public Program’s Spirit of Service Scholars initiative will strengthen the service sector
• Russ Perry, Owner, Keane Creative: How the collaboration within our local design community supports the retention of highly qualified graduates and has the potential to attract new industry-based investment
• Audrey Iffert, University Innovation Fellow, Office of University Initiatives: The connection between entrepreneurship, social capital/networking, and job creation
• Sean Coleman, Orange Slyce, ASU student entrepreneur: How internships enhance human capital and support job creation

Following the panel, participants will break into small groups to discuss:

• What can the university do to better support and prepare our future workforce?
• What are Arizona’s strengths?  How can we leverage these strengths to create new jobs in our region?  How do we build strong communities to support job creation?
• How can we foster industry-specific collaboration to attract investment to our region?
• What are the current obstacles we face to spark job creation? How do we overcome these obstacles?

Discussion leaders include:

• Sherry Ahrentzen, Ph.D., Associate Director of Research, Policy & Strategic Initiatives, Stardust Center for Affordable Homes & the Family
• Mary E. Dawes, Ph.D., Director of Academic & Career Exploration, ASU University College
• Russ Maloney, Partner, Keane Creative
• Kitty McGrath, Executive Director, Career Services, ASU
• Bruce Mosby, C-Level Management Consulting, Mosby and Company, Inc.
• Roselyn O’Connell, Owner, My Campaign Advisor

Anticipated forum participants include leaders from the business and design communities, elected leaders, current and aspiring entrepreneurs, and ASU faculty and staff.

Also, the Greater Phoenix Economic Council will host an Arizona forum on jobs and economic growth from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 10, at the Biodesign Institute at ASU in Tempe.  In addition to the Council, participants include members of the AZ Technology Council, Science Foundation Arizona, labor leaders and nonprofit leaders.  The focus is to listen to these leaders about what they believe the White House and Congress should do to help create jobs and restart Arizona’s economy.

ASU’s College of Public Programs offers educational and research programs spanning the fields of social work, public affairs, criminology and criminal justice, and community resources and development. The College has over 3,000 students in more than 35 undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree and certificate programs. Its graduates are leaders in government, nonprofit organizations, and criminal justice and human service agencies. For information, visit http://copp.asu.edu/

The following editorial appeared in Thursday’s edition of The Arizona Republic.  It was written by Dr. Debra Friedman, the University Vice President of the ASU Downtown Phoenix campus and the Dean of the College of Public Programs.

The College is shepherding the Spirit of Service Scholars program, a bold initiative that will honor 30 outstanding graduate and undergraduate students each year who will commit their future careers to federal, state and local government and non-profit organizations in service of solving society’s most challenging problems.

Help wanted: Seeking the next icons of city government.

Why should you care that Frank Fairbanks is retiring?

Ask yourself: Who actually runs your city? Your county? Your state?

As Phoenix’s city manager ends his 37-year career of public service for the city, it’s important to consider what this transition signifies for our community and nation.

Federal, state and municipal governments are facing a major challenge: Experienced public managers of the Baby Boom generation, like Fairbanks, are retiring or soon plan to do so. And, more than ever, fewer younger professionals are in line and prepared to step into those critical roles.

Even Phoenix’s No. 2 city staffer, Alton Washington, said he plans to follow his longtime boss into retirement soon.

Fewer public administrators means a diminished cadre of qualified people to oversee essential services like public safety, water resources, waste disposal, parks, human services and others. It means potentially dramatic impacts in areas like budgets, taxes, transportation, housing, education, labor and the environment.

Among the nation’s full-time federal workforce, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management reports that nearly 61 percent will be eligible to retire by 2016. The Center for Excellence in State and Local Government reports that 34 percent of state government workers and 36 percent of local government workers are 50 or older.

This inevitable exodus means the overall quality of life in communities throughout the nation may well suffer from an inability to meet urgent public needs.

[To continue reading "Nation, schools must groom new cadre of public servants," please click here.]

-Edward Jensen

In its third year of existence, ASU’s Academic Bowl finally gets a team from the College of Public Programs (CoPP).

I hope the first few weeks of classes are going well and that you are all enjoying the energy and excitement of a new school year! Anyway, CoPP student leaders are interested in pulling together a CoPP student team for the 2009 ASU Academic Bowl. For 2009, the academic event will feature 16 teams of undergraduate students competing for college pride and scholarship money in a fast-pace, question-and-answer format. The questions will cover a wide range of subjects, including current events, history, science, sports and culture. The majority of the even takes place in October with students preparing later this month.

If you are interested in joining the CoPP team, please join us for an overview and info session this Monday, 9/14 in UCENT 580A from 3:30-4:30 p.m.

For more info on Academic Bowl, go to: http://www.asu.edu/academicbowl/.

I hope you will come show the rest of ASU what I already know, which is that our students are the most well-rounded, high quality students at ASU!

[source: Dana Newell, director, student and academic affairs]

Go Team CoPP!

-Edward Jensen

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Friend and colleague Kirsten Martin is embarking on a 30-day blog post series that chronicles a daily adventure in her life.

In her words:

I heard my friends recently talking about this project that they were doing where they were supposed to take a picture a day for 30 days and post it with a caption to share with their friends. I’ve decided to take on this project and start my own 30 day adventure.

Good luck, Kirsten, and we look forward to a fantastic series!

[Her blog is http://mssocialwelfare.blogspot.com/.]

-Edward Jensen

The College of Public Programs has entered the social media frenzy. The guiding principle behind our adventure is that our presence should be continuous, engaging, updated frequently and that it should foster discussion. This push into new media is being done for many reasons, but mainly to keep the College visible to students by fostering a sense of connection, belonging and identity. Research evidence is great that 1) this sense of connection aids in recruitment and retainment, and that 2) the next wave of public relations and outreach will be through the use of new social media.

A number of outreach methods are being implemented through the Office of the Dean as a means to this end. Through the Student Ambassadors (StARs) program, current students maintain blogs offering their unedited perspective on student life in the College, at the Downtown Phoenix campus, and even in Downtown Phoenix. The StARs are working on a video series that will introduce new students to their advisors, the campus, and the community in which they will study.

We’re asking your participation to create effective presence in a number of other applications. If you have news, events, deadlines or thought-provoking issues related to life at CoPP, please pass your ideas to any Facebook administrator. The more often we post, the more connected our “fans” will feel to their College.

Want to learn more? Check out http://copp.asu.edu/socialmediaguide.

-Edward Jensen

Last Friday (July 10th), the Dean’s Office for the ASU College of Public Programs moved, so please note our new address:

411 N. Central Avenue
Suite 650 | Mail Code 3520
Phoenix, AZ 85004-0686

Our phone number, (602) 496-0600, will remain the same.

-Edward Jensen and the Dean’s Office

Are you a transfer student to the ASU College of Public Programs?  Join us for our Transfer Students’ Welcome Days, which are great opportunities to see the Downtown Phoenix campus, set up your Fall 2009 course schedule with your advisor, and meet fellow transfer students.  Most importantly, you’ll prepare yourself for a smooth and successful Fall semester.

The first session is next week, Tuesday June 16th from 9am to 12noon, and the second session is Thursday July 9th from 3-6pm.  It’s a free event, and you’re highly encouraged to join us.  Visit http://copp.asu.edu/students/events/welcomersvp to register.

We look forward to seeing you!

-Edward Jensen