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PPOL Update January 19, 2006:
PPOL Students,
I hope this Update finds you all nicely ensconced in your classes and back into
the swing of things. MANY things have come across my desk since the last Update
so this is another long list of news and opportunities. Please take a moment to
read through this to stay abreast of events. And, as always, please let me know
if you have any questions (daswinde@uncc.edu).
In this issue:
1. Direct Deposit Available to Graduate Assistants.
2. Graduate School Professional Development Program.
3. Library Research Skills Seminar.
4. Graduate Student Research Fair.
5. Ethics Presentation (1/23).
6. Health Services and Policy Presentation (1/24).
7. Political Science Candidates for Chair Presentations.
8. Looking for Community Board Members (Community opportunity for PPOL students).
9. Celebrating the New Chancellor’s Installation.
10. Student Paper Award.
11. Conversation Partner Program.
12. SeCOPA Call for Papers.
13. APPAM Call for Papers.
14. NCPSA Call for Papers.
15. Dissertation Fellowship Opportunity.
16. American Enterprise Institute Fellowship.
17. University of Virginia Fellowship.
18. Congressional Budget Office Internships.
19. Job Opportunity for Regional Economist.
20. Job Opportunity in Government Accounting Office.
21. Lots of Jobs Coming in the Federal Government.
1. Direct Deposit Available to Graduate Assistants:
If you are on an assistantship, this applies to you:
Payroll is pleased to announce that Direct Deposit is now available for all
University employees. This includes temporary employees (student and
non-student), work study students, and graduate assistants. Employees may sign
up by completing the attached Direct Deposit Authorization Agreement and
submitting the agreement to the Controller’s Office, 3rd floor Reese Bldg.
Please note that the document must be accompanied by a voided check, voided
preprinted savings account withdrawal form, or official letter from your bank
denoting bank routing and account numbers in order for the agreement to be
valid. Employees who sign up by February 15th will have their March 15th
paychecks deposited directly to their bank account. Direct deposit employees
receive an email notification which links the employee to the Banner Self
Service website as soon as their pay stubs are ready for viewing. The form is
available at:
http://www.finance.uncc.edu/DirectDepositAuthorization.doc
2. Graduate School Professional Development Program:
For those in Year 3 of the PPOL program, please read on (others can skip this
item). You probably have received emails from the Grad School about this, but
let me add my two cents to encourage those of you nearing the dissertation state
to consider this. If after reading it you are interested, let me know so I can
nominate you for this.
The Graduate School has initiated a professional development program which is
intended to provide opportunities for students to learn some of the skills
needed as professionals. As part of that initiative, a course that will be
offered this spring entitled, Developing Professional Acumen. This course will
address high level people skills that will complement the students’ field of
study knowledge. This will be an eight week program during which the following
topics would be discussed:
* Interviewing skills
* Presentation skills (presence in front of a room, reading a room, handling
questions, handling adversity)
* Conflict resolution
* Appearance/Image
* Strength discovery
* Defining the job you want
This program will be taught by Ms. Lynda Wilhelm who is the owner of Packard
Learning Corporation here in Charlotte. Lynda has extensive experience in
Executive Coaching and Leadership Training in business and industry. In addition
to the eight class periods (which will consist of two-hour sessions, once a
week), each student will have the opportunity to meet with Lynda individually
for two, one-hour meetings.
Following the eight weeks, students will have gained the following:
* A better understanding of self (who are you versus who others think you should
be)
* An understanding of what life will be like when they complete their studies
* An insight into their individual strengths and how to use them to their best
benefit
* A higher level of confidence in front of groups
I realize that graduate students don’t have a lot of spare time in their lives
but this course will have a flexible schedule that should accommodate the
students and faculty member teaching it.
3. Library Research Skills Seminar:
For all PPOL students, the Graduate School Professional Development program is
also offering a library research skills seminar entitled: “Help Me Make It
Through the Night…Your Guide to Library Research Techniques.” There are two
sessions available on Saturday, January 28th at either 11am or 2pm. See the
Graduate School webpage to sign up or for more information.
4. Graduate Student Research Fair:
Niner Research Across the Disciplines
6th Annual Graduate Research Fair
Sponsored by the Graduate & Professional Student Government
Saturday, April 8, 2006 -- Cone Center
The research fair is a forum to increase awareness of research activities
performed by fellow graduate students at UNC-Charlotte. Last year, awards were
given in the amount of $750, $500, and $250 for the respective 1st, 2nd and 3rd
place winners in three presentation categories. All students, faculty, staff and
members of the community are invited.
Deadline for Abstracts: February 15th at 5:00 PM
For information and applications for 15 minute conference-style presentations,
click here.
IN ITS SECOND YEAR!!
THE GRADUATE POSTER SESSION
In addition to the oral presentations, a poster session will be held to
accommodate those graduate and professional students who wish to present their
current research in poster format instead of the oral presentation. The session
will be open to the public and presenters will be asked to stand by their
posters during a designated time to offer insight into their research and answer
questions. This session requires a
separate application (click here) and will
not offer awards.
5. Ethics Presentation:
For the first time, the PPOL program is co-hosting a special event here on
campus with the Center on Applied Ethics. Dr. Andrew Light, Associate Professor
of Philosophy at the University of Washington, will be on campus for a
presentation entitled “When We Restore Nature, What Do We Owe the Past?” The
presentation will be 4:00pm Monday, January 23 in Fretwell 121.
In addition to his positions at the UW in Public Affairs and Geography, he is
also a Research Fellow at the Institute for Environment, Philosophy and Public
Policy at Lancaster University (UK), and a Faculty Fellow at the Center for
Sustainable Development in the School of Architecture at the University of Texas
at Austin. A prolific author and editor of 16 books in environmental ethics and
policy, philosophy of technology, moral and political philosophy, and
aesthetics, he is currently finishing a book on ethical issues in restoration
ecology.
6. Health Services and Policy Presentation:
PPOL Students are invited to attend the first Health Services Research Academy
event in 2006: A Talk by Dr. Anne Doucette, a Health Services Researcher at
George Washington University, on Tuesday, January 24 at 7:30 a.m. Continental
breakfast will be served. This will be in the Student Activity Center Salon E.
Dr. Doucette, a Senior Research Scientist at GW’s Center for Health Services
Research and Policy, will speak on “The Impact of Health Services Research on
the Delivery of Mental Health Care in America” (tentative title). The challenge
of this talk is for her to explain how health services research that we all
pursue so assiduously has actually changed the delivery of mental health care in
the U.S. Although not required, it would be nice for planning purposes to have
an idea of attendance. Could you respond to Ann Davis (apdavis@email.uncc.edu)
if you think it is likely that you will be able to attend?
7. Political Science Candidates for Chair Presentations:
The interview sequence for the candidates for the Chair of the Department of
Political Science begins next week. PPOL Students are invited to attend the
research presentations of these candidates. The first candidate, Glen Hastedt,
will present on Monday, January 23 at 3:00 in the Political Science conference
room (Fretwell 445C). The second candidate, Uday Desai, will present on
Thursday, February 2nd at 2pm in the same room. The third candidate’s schedule
has not been finalized yet. I will let you know when that will be.
8. Looking for Community Board Members (Community opportunity for PPOL students):
This is a different kind of opportunity. The Provost contacted me and suggested
that perhaps one of our PhD students would be interested in serving on this
community board. Crisis Assistance Ministry recently received the Bank of
America Foundation's Neighborhood Excellence grant award. As a result, there is
to be an assessment of their emergency financial assistance program's processes.
The first phase in this assessment process (coined the "Continuous Improvement
Assessment, or "CIA") entails establishing an advisory team. Advisory team
members will meet monthly to lend their expertise; act as a liaison for their
organization; and more importantly, help insure the transparency of this
process. In an effort to strengthen Crisis Assistance Ministry's partnership
with UNCC we would like representation from UNCC on the CIA Advisory Team.
If you would be interested in this very applied opportunity (something good for
rounding out a balanced resume!), please let me know by Wednesday, January 25th.
And note that you will not be responsible for conducting the assessment. Rather,
this is a board member (governance) opportunity.
9. Celebrating the New Chancellor’s Installation:
As you all have probably heard, Friday, February 3rd at 10:30 in Halton Arena,
we will be holding the installation ceremony for the new university chancellor.
To give you an idea of how seriously the university is taking this, the faculty
have to were their robes! I do encourage you to attend. Chancellor Dubois is one
of the main reasons the PPOL program exists. He helped make it happen when he
was the Provost here at UNCC. At a meeting he was at with me a couple of months
ago, he volunteered to participate on dissertation committees! In short, we have
a good friend in the new chancellor, himself a PhD in Political Science.
In the week leading up to the installation ceremony, there are several events.
But these seemed appropriate to share with you and encourage your attendance:
The Faculty Executive Committee invites all members of the campus community to a
special lecture series in celebration of the installation of Chancellor Dubois
as the fourth Chancellor of UNC Charlotte. The lectures will be held in Cone 210
from noon until 1:00 on Monday, January 30; Wednesday, February 1; and Thursday,
February 2. The schedule is as follows:
Monday, January 30
Dr. Cindy Combs, Political Science
2005 North Carolina Professor of the Year
Wednesday, February 1
Professor Deb Ryan, Architecture
2005 O. Max Gardner Nominee
Thursday, February 2
Dr. Mark Clemens, Biology
2005 Recipient, First Citizens Bank Scholar Medal
Please join us in honoring our new Chancellor. Refreshments will be available.
10. Student Paper Award:
This opportunity is aimed at those of you working on urban policy and
urban-related issues.
Essay Competition Prize for the Best Essay on Urban and Regional Themes by Young
Authors
Foundation for Urban and Regional Studies Limited (FURS)
Deadline: May 31, 2006
A prize of £1,000 will be awarded to the overall winner, three second prizes of
£500, and three third prizes £250 will be awarded. Essays that reach the final
round of judging but that are not awarded one of the first three prizes will
receive Blackwells book prizes totalling £700. The first prize essay will be
published in the International Journal of Urban and Regional Research subject to
any changes required by the editor and will be translated if necessary. In
collaboration with the International Journal of Urban Regional Research and
Blackwell Publishers, the Foundation for Urban and Regional Studies (FURS) is
organising a fourth international essay competition for the best essay on urban
and regional themes by young scholars.
Prizes will be awarded for
1) essays written in English by native English speaking authors;
2) essays written in English by non-native English speaking authors; and
3) essays written in French, German, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish.
The essay should be no longer than 7,000 words (including footnotes and
bibliography) and be sent with a 500-word maximum summary in English. Essays
exceeding 7,000 words will be automatically excluded.
For contact and additional information, visit:
http://fundingopps.cos.com/alerts/69716?id=69716
11. Conversation Partner Program:
Applications are now being accepted for the Conversation Partner Program. The
primary focus of the program is on providing a way for U.S. American and
international students to meet each other, learn about each others' cultures, as
well as practice English language skills. (Please understand that the purpose of
the program is not to match language backgrounds/interests for languages other
than English.) More information and an online application are available at
www.isso.uncc.edu/ProgramEvents.htm
and the deadline to apply is Friday,
February 10th. Students who apply will receive more information via their @uncc.edu
account.
12. SeCOPA Call for Papers:
SECoPA, the Southeastern Conference on Public Administration, is a supportive,
student-friendly conference that provides an excellent forum for students to
share their work with others, meet and interact with academics and
practitioners, take part in discussions of issues relevant to the field of
public administration, and build relationships that will help them in their
careers. SECoPA 2006 will be held in Athens, Georgia, not only home to the
University of Georgia but also a fun city with an eclectic downtown district
filled with restaurants, shops, and a thriving nightlife. The PPOL program will
be covering the costs for those going on to this conference (which is very open
to a wide array of policy issues).
If you are interested, let me know and I will send you the official call for
paper proposals. The proposals are due no later than May 12th. The conference
will be held September 27-30.
13. APPAM Call for Papers:
The Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management, APPAM, is probably
the premier public policy conference. I strongly encourage students in their
second year and beyond to consider presenting at this one. Like SeCOPA, it is a
good mix of academics and practitioners, though the focus is far more policy
oriented at APPAM (and more methodologically sophisticated).
The Call for Proposals and other materials for the 2006 Fall Research Conference
now are available on the APPAM website at
http://www.appam.org/conferences/fall/madison2006/index.asp. The deadline for
submitting proposals is Friday, March 10. APPAM members should receive a printed
version of the Call for Proposal in the mail within a week. Electronic forms for
submitting proposals through the APPAM website will be available for use
starting later in January. For a second year in a row, APPAM will be offering
small travel grants to the conference for Ph.D. students interested in housing
and community development. Underwriting for these grants comes from the Fannie
Mae Foundation. More information may be found on the main web page for the 2006
Fall Conference (www.appam.org).
14. NCPSA Call for Papers:
The North Carolina Political Science Association (NCPSA) will have their 35th
annual one-day conference at High Point University on Friday, March 31, 2006.
This is a good, small conference to “get your feet wet” in conference
participation. The PPOL program will cover your registration costs if you would
like to participate. Since this is a local conference and only one day, we will
arrange for a university van and go as a group if there is sufficient interest
in participation. Paper proposals are due March 1. If you would like additional
application information, let me know as I have that.
15. Dissertation Fellowship Opportunity:
DISSERTATION FELLOWSHIPS IN POPULATION, REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH, AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT
$20,000 POP-ECON DISSERTATION FELLOWSHIP
The Population Reference Bureau (PRB) is now accepting applications for the
Dissertation Fellowship in Population, Reproductive Health, and Economic
Development. The two-year fellowships of $20,000 per year will be awarded by the
William and Flora Hewlett Foundation and PRB. The fellowships are open to
students currently enrolled in Ph.D. programs in the United States and Canada.
Students in economics, economic demography, geography, and epidemiology are
especially encouraged to apply.
If you are interested in more information, let me know and I will send you the
rest of the announcement. Application deadline is February 20th.
16. American Enterprise Institute Fellowship:
The program targets graduate students who are engaged in dissertation research,
as well as those interested in spending a postdoctoral year at AEI. Recent law
or business school graduates who are interested in public policy are also
encouraged to apply. Fellowship applicants participate in a competitive
selection process based on academic performance, writing samples, and
references. We are looking for students who study economics, political and
social science, law, or public policy and will give first priority to students
whose research interests are closely aligned with those of an AEI scholar. The
scope of the program is limited to domestic public policy; foreign policy
interests are excluded. Students interested in applying for a fellowship should
visit our website at www.aei.org/nri for additional information.
17. University of Virginia Fellowship:
University of Virginia
Miller Center of Public Affairs
Deadline: February 1, 2006
Upper Amount: $18,000
An applicant must be (1) a Ph.D. candidate who is expecting to complete his or
her dissertation by the conclusion of the fellowship year; or (2) an independent
scholar working on a book. This is not a postdoctoral fellowship.
In an effort to promote and disseminate scholarship in contemporary history,
public policy, and American politics, the Miller Center offers up to eight
annual Miller Center Fellowships in contemporary history, public policy, and
American politics. For Ph.D. candidates or equivalents completing a dissertation
or book, the fellowship provides a stipend to support one year of research and
writing that focuses on important public policy questions, twentieth-century
politics, and governance in the United States. Fellows are expected to complete
their dissertation or book during the fellowship year. Assistance will be
provided by the program in finding fellows an academic and policy mentor or
practitioner in a field relevant to the fellow's field of study. Applications
are judged on their scholarly quality and on their potential to shed new light
upon important public policy questions. The Miller Center encourages applicants
from a broad range of disciplines, including, but not limited to, history,
political science, policy studies, law, political economy, and sociology.
Additional information available at:
http://fundingopps.cos.com/alerts/55762
18. Congressional Budget Office Internships:
CBO summer internships provide excellent opportunities to experience and observe
the budget process and policymaking at the federal level. The internships, which
have ranged in number from 10 to 28, are located in Washington, D.C. They
normally last 10 weeks and include compensation based on academic level and work
experience. In addition to learning on the job, CBO interns participate in an
educational program that includes briefings specific to CBO's role in the budget
process. CBO interns may also participate in seminars offered by other
Congressional support agencies and in the Congressional Summer Intern Lecture
Series, which has featured speakers such as former Secretary of State Colin
Powell, journalist Cokie Roberts, former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, and
Ralph Nader. Ideal candidates for CBO internships are pursuing graduate academic
programs in economics, public policy, health policy, financial management,
mathematics, statistics, or engineering. Very strong undergraduate candidates
currently in their junior or senior year may be considered on the basis of the
applicability of their education and experience to specific CBO assignments.
Applications for the CBO Summer Internship Program will be accepted only through
the CBO Online Résumé Application system from December 22, 2005, through
February 24, 2006.
More information available at:
http://www.cbo.gov/employment/intern.shtml
19. Job Opportunity for Regional Economist:
Economic Modeling Specialists, Inc. (EMSI) is seeking a full-time economist to
work at its office in Moscow, Idaho. Applicants should be adept at applied
econometrics, and have a good working knowledge of export-base theory,
input-output analysis and benefit-cost analysis. The successful applicant will
provide economics support to our several in-house regional economic tools, and
participate in the design, completion and presentation of applied regional
analysis projects. Excellent verbal and written communication skills and a
willingness to travel are important.
Interested students should contact me for additional information on this
position.
20. Job Opportunity in Government Accounting Office:
Announcement Number: N-06-ARM-0101-44
Vacancy Description: Social Science Analyst Open Period: 12/23/2005 - 01/20/2006
Series/Grade: PE-0101-01
Salary: $41,600.00 TO $75,900.00
Promotion Potential: PE-01
Hiring Agency: Government Accountability Office Duty Locations: 1 vacancy in
Washington DC Metro Area
Remarks: This position is part of GAO's banded performance-based compensation
system. This job is assigned to the PE-I pay band and is approximately
equivalent to the GS-07 through GS-12 pay levels in the federal sector.
For more information, Contact: Blanca Santiago, 202-512-3570
SantiagoB@gao.gov
DESCRIPTION OF WORK:
This position is located in the Applied Research and Methods (ARM) team's Center
for Design, Methods, and Analysis (CDMA). Working as members of
multi-disciplinary teams, social science analysts provide guidance and
assistance in planning, designing, and conducting evaluations; develop
appropriate data collection strategies using a variety of measurement
instruments; plan and execute quantitative and qualitative data analyses;
provide advice and guidance to analyst staff in preparing report sections of
evaluations; and brief top-level officials within and outside of GAO on the
results of evaluation work. The position requires expertise in research and
statistical methods, effective interpersonal skills, strong organizational
abilities, excellent written and oral communication skills, ability to meet
deadlines while working concurrently on multiple projects, and ability to work
independently as well as in teams.
Contact me for additional information on this position.
21. Lots of Jobs Coming in the Federal Government:
Finally, here’s a recent article concerning job prospects for those interested
in applying your training in government work at the federal level.
Federal Diary: A Cornucopia of Federal Jobs May Be Just Around the Corner
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/23/AR2005112302198_pf.html
By Stephen Barr
The Washington Post
November 24, 2005
· The government may soon present a feast of opportunities for job seekers.
· The percentage of workers older than 45 is almost twice as high in the civil
service (60 percent) as in the private sector (31 percent), according to the
nonprofit Partnership for Public Service.
· The group estimates that 44 percent of federal employees will become eligible
to retire during the next five years, with 61 percent reaching eligibility in
nine years.
· Analysts at the Office of Personnel Management believe the government will
face a retirement wave, probably from 2008 to 2010. To prevent a shortage of
experienced hands, OPM leaders are urging agencies to work a little harder at
forecasting their workforce needs and recruiting young and mid-career
professionals.
· In a brief paper this month, the Partnership, which looks for ways to
reinvigorate federal service, warned that the government could face large-scale
turnover and the loss of key employees. According to the group:
· 40 percent of Department of Homeland Security managers and program analysts
will be eligible for retirement by 2009.
· 42 percent of the Senior Executive Service, the government's elite cadre of
managers and technical experts, is projected to retire by 2010.
· 87 percent of claims assistants and examiners and 94 percent of administrative
law judges at the Social Security Administration will reach retirement
eligibility by 2010.
· This week, the OPM database for job applicants listed about 19,000 openings
across the government -- for architects, air traffic controllers, accountants,
museum curators, biologists, computer programmers, law enforcement officers,
trademark examiners, engineers and geologists, to name a few examples.
· Numerous agencies are using intern programs and other hiring methods to
attract recent college graduates and workers looking to change careers or take
up the challenge of public service.
· To be sure, the federal hiring process is difficult to navigate and, according
to many readers, downright discouraging. Federal job forms appear to defy common
sense, and many agencies have earned a bad reputation for letting job hunters
slip into limbo with little or no feedback on the status of their application.
· It's possible that the projected retirement wave won't create much of a
splash. Economic downturns, stock market returns and family priorities often
keep people working longer than they had planned.
· The coming decade, however, seems to be shaping up as a time when agencies
will rethink how they use their workforces, creating jobs and improving on areas
of weakness, such as training and career development programs.
· For all the government's problems, surveys show repeatedly that the vast
majority of federal employees believe that their work is important, like what
they do and would recommend their agency as a place to work.
· On this Thanksgiving day, the government should be thankful for the dedication
and goodwill of so many federal employees. That's pretty darned important.
Dr. David Swindell, Assoc. Professor & Director
Ph.D. in Public Policy Program
3040 Colvard Bldg.
9201 University City Blvd.
University of North Carolina-Charlotte
Charlotte, NC 28223
(704) 687-4532 (Office)
(704) 687-3497 (Fax)
Previous PPOL Updates:
PPOL Update 01-06-06
PPOL Update 11-28-05
PPOL Update 11-10-05
PPOL Update 10-25-05
PPOL Update 10-7-05
PPOL Update 9-21-05
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