Graduate school rankings released this past spring by U.S. News & World Report indicate NIU is one of the best universities in the country for city management and public finance.
U.S. News ranked the MPA program fourth nationally in the field of city management, ahead of programs at all public and private institutions in Illinois and at such prestigious schools as Harvard, USC and Syracuse. In addition, NIU moved up to the eighth ranking nationally in the specialty of finance and budgeting.
The university's MPA program-a division of the Department of Political Science-is one of the oldest in the state and is recognized internationally for its excellence. About one-third of Illinois city managers are graduates of NIU's MPA program, according to the directory published by the Illinois City/County Management Association.
"The U.S. News ranking is certainly impressive, but it recognizes what communities already know: Graduates of NIU's public administration program come equipped with all the skills necessary to improve the quality of life of our citizens," NIU President John Peters said." Our graduates truly make a difference.
"When we consider that about one-third of Illinois city managers are alumni of the public administration program, we begin to realize what a huge impact this program has made," Peters added. "NIU alumni are literally shaping the dynamic growth of our region and state."
Indeed, the NIU MPA program has been a major force behind efforts to professionalize municipal staffs statewide and advance the national good government movement into Illinois' political culture, said Presidential Teaching Professor Gerald Gabris, director of the NIU Division of Public Administration.
Gabris notes that NIU has long had a close working relationship with Illinois communities, particularly those in suburban Chicago.
The suburbs are the natural consumers of the program's graduates, who are at the administrative helms of such cities as Naperville, Western Springs, Hoffman Estates, St. Charles, West Dundee, East Dundee, Bartlett, Clarendon Hills, Deerfield, Burr Ridge, Orland Park, Willowbrook and Lake in the Hills.
"The NIU program is outstanding nationally, due mainly to the quality of our graduates," Gabris said. "Quality tends to produce more quality. Administrative excellence is and will remain our expected standard of performance."
Toward that end, the Division of Public Administration boasts one of the top internship programs in the country, placing future city managers in suburban internship experiences. "Right now we have nearly 50 students who are serving in administrative internships in the Chicago area," Gabris said.
Throughout its history, the MPA program has had nearly a 100 percent placement rate. In other words, within six months of graduation, nearly all of the graduates have landed jobs.
While job placements can't be accomplished through accolades alone, the rankings serve as important indicators to employers. "The rankings provide an external validation," said Frederick Kitterle, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. "Employers know that potential hires from NIU have been well-trained in a rigorous program that emphasizes research and practice, critical thinking and civic engagement, and mentoring by a corps of caring, distinguished faculty."
Professor Emeritus James Banovetz, an expert in local government whose hiring in 1963 coincided with the MPA program's launch, played a large role in its rise to national prominence.
"NIU deserves its ranking," said Banovetz, who served as director of the public administration division from 1979 to 1997. "The program provides the optimum blend of classroom education and actual work experience, and does so within a financial framework that makes such an education possible to persons from every socio-economic and ethnic background.
