SAVANNAH – Savannah State University’s Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree program has been reaccredited by the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA) through 2015-16.

“The continued success of our MPA program reflects the commitment and dedication of the faculty to maintain academic excellence and professional relevance,” said Mary C. Wyatt, Ph.D., vice president for Academic Affairs at Savannah State. “This achievement speaks to the academic integrity of the program, which is a direct result of the hard work of all those associated with the MPA degree.”

Initially accredited in 2002 for the maximum of seven years, the MPA degree at Savannah State is one of 11 accredited programs offered in the state of Georgia and one of approximately ten offered at historically black colleges and universities throughout the country.  NASPAA's membership consists of 264 member institutions that offer undergraduate and graduate degrees in public affairs and administration. Of the total number of programs eligible to participate in a review process, 164 programs at 156 schools, or 62 percent of member institutions, have been accredited.

“Accreditation is a rigorous process that requires us to examine curriculum, administration, program mission, student admissions, faculty quality, student services, student placement and facilities,” explained Bernard Bongang, Ph.D., head of the department of Political Science and Public Affairs. 

It also involves a voluntary peer review by the Commission on Peer Review and Accreditation (COPRA).

Established in 1890, Savannah State University is on the move to become the best value-added university in the nation.  The university’s 3,450 students are enrolled in 23 undergraduate and five graduate programs in three colleges: Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, Business Administration and Sciences and Technology.