cHallenging gOOd managers TO BecOme eXTraOrdinary leaders
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WHO EARNS A KEY EXECUTIVE MPA? senior federal executives state and local government executives nonprofit and private sector executives
THE KEY ADVANTAGE Learn to be an authentic leader who works collaboratively, creates change, acts with integrity, and inspires others to act.
Study with leading scholar-practitioners in the public sector who challenge you to put public administration principles into real-world practice. Work with a cohort of peers in a mutual learning environment and share information, make connections, and form lifetime friendships. Expand your knowledge about public administration principles and develop leadership skills through readings, course work, and conversations with professors and peers—and apply those principles to the workplace.
Experience action learning through a project that challenges you to identify a major problem in your workplace and manage a team of colleagues to find a solution.
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STUDENT BENEFITS ■■
Explore such contemporary issues as the management of technology, private-public partnerships, contracting out, outsourcing, selling of government services, team management, leadership, and conflict management.
Learn how to produce results through strategic planning and the implementation and evaluation of programs and policies.
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Position yourself to take advantage of promotion opportunities.
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Take courses linked to OPM Executive Core Qualifications.
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Study with distinguished faculty who are experts in executive talent development.
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Share knowledge and experiences with talented peers from diverse agencies.
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Earn the only fully accredited executive MPA in the country—in a program ranked sixth in the nation.
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HOW KEY BENEFITS YOUR AGENCY
prepares team leaders and managers to tackle twenty-first century challenges in a real-time learning environment
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enables participants to continue to work while enrolled in the program
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builds your cadre of emerging leaders who have the training and skills to fill high-level positions
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gives participants the know-how to develop and implement your organizational vision by integrating goals, priorities, and values
fosters the ability of participants to maximize human potential and exhibit high ethical standards
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emphasizes new initiatives in response to ongoing changes in government
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focuses on major activity areas required to certify candidates for careers in the Senior Executive Service
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AMERICAN.EDU/SPA/KEY
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS ■■
graduate application
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$55 nonrefundable application fee
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official undergraduate and graduate transcripts
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two letters of recommendation, including one from sponsoring agency
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résumé, including awards, special recognition, and accomplishments
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personal statement
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writing sample
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endorsement letter from sponsoring agency
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interview with director of Key Executive Leadership MPA Program
The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is not required for admission. Apply online: american.edu/spa/key/mpa_application.cfm
FEES The Key Executive Leadership MPA is a 36-credit-hour program completed in 22 to 24 months. You may pay the fee in full, or pay in installments each semester or over three federal fiscal years. For more information, call 202-885-3857 or 202-885-3217.
STUDENT LOANS Student loans are available to all Key students. Applicants must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form, available at the Financial Aid Office or online at fafsa.ed.gov.
OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT (OPM) CREDIT Agencies use the Key program to meet their and OPM’s requirements for Senior Executive Service (SES) candidates. Individuals who have completed nine qualifying credits (OPM-sponsored courses) may meet their Key course requirement with 30 credits.
ALUMNI ON KEY
98
81
96
70
percent would recommend the program to professionals seeking positions of responsibility
percent attribute their career success to Key
american.edu/spa/key
percent say it positioned them for upper management
percent transitioned to a job with more responsibility on completion of MPA
FEDERAL AGENCY SPONSORSHIP Federal agencies may now legally pay for academic degrees, according to Section 4107 of Title 5 of the United States Code, which was amended by the Homeland Security Act of 2002 and reads as follows: SEC. 1331. ACADEMIC TRAINING. Sec. 4107. Academic degree training (a) Subject to subsection (b), an agency may select and assign an employee to academic degree training and may pay or reimburse the costs of academic degree training from appropriated or other available funds if such training: 1. contributes significantly to: a. meeting an identified agency training need; b. resolving an identified agency staffing problem; or c. accomplishing goals in the strategic plan of the agency; 2. is part of a planned, systematic, and coordinated agency employee development program linked to accomplishing the strategic goals of the agency; and 3. is accredited and is provided by a college or university that is accredited by a nationally recognized body. (b) In exercising authority under subsection (a), an agency shall: 1. be consistent with the merit system principles set forth in paragraphs (2) and (7) of section 2301(b), take into consideration the need to: a. maintain a balanced workforce in which women, members of racial and ethnic minority groups, and persons with disabilities are appropriately represented in Government service; and b. provide employees effective education and training to improve organizational and individual performance; 2. assure that the training is not for the sole purpose of providing an employee an opportunity to obtain an academic degree or qualify for appointment to a particular position for which the academic degree is a basic requirement; 3. assure that no authority under this subsection is exercised on behalf of any employee occupying or seeking to qualify for: a. a noncareer appointment in the senior Executive Service; or b. appointment to any position that is excepted from the competitive service because of its confidential policy-determining, policy-making, or policy-advocating character; and 4. to the greatest extent practicable, facilitate the use of online degree training.
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Where do Key students come from? Federal Government Central Intelligence Agency Department of Agriculture Department of Commerce Department of Defense Department of Education Department of Homeland Security Department of Justice Department of Labor Environmental Protection Agency Federal Aviation Administration Federal Reserve Board General Services Administration Health and Human Services National Aeronautics and Space Administration National Labor Relations Board National Science Foundation Nuclear Regulatory Commission Office of Management and Budget Office of Personnel Management United States Air Force United States Army United States Army Corps of Engineers United States Coast Guard United States Marine Corps United States Navy White House
State and Local Government District of Columbia Maryland Virginia International and NGOs Embassy of Mexico Embassy of Panama Embassy of Qatar International Monetary Fund World Bank Nonprofit AIDS Alliance for Children, Youth and Families American Cancer Society George Mason University Human Rights Campaign Men’s Health Network Sasha Bruce Youthwork Shipbuilders Council of America Key Executive Leadership MPA Programs
School of Public Affairs 4400 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20016-8128 202-885-3857 key@american.edu american.edu/spa/key
An equal opportunity, affirmative action university. UP12-339