About the School of Public Affairs and Administration

The School of Public Affairs and Administration (SPAA) at Rutgers University-Newark, dating to 1975, is highly recognized for its knowledge and competence in public service and administration, with particular attention to the fields of performance measurement, management, and improvement.

Guided by the principles of knowledge, competence, diversity, and service--with an emphasis on public service values and competencies for effective performance--SPAA promotes accountability, transparency, and performance in the public and nonprofit sectors.

Compared to some 300 schools and programs in the United States, Rutgers–Newark SPAA is highly ranked (overall seventh in public management and administration) by U.S. News & World Report and has been accredited by NASPAA--the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration since 1989. Its rankings in specialty areas are also exceptionally higher: fourth in information and technology management, 10th in public finance and budgeting, 11th in city management and urban policy, 18th in nonprofit management, 23rd in public affairs, and 24th in public policy analysis.

Today, Rutgers SPAA educates and motivates over 1,000 students to choose careers in public service and administration through its innovative and comprehensive undergraduate programs in public and nonprofit administration (B.A.), Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.), Executive M.P.A., Ph.D., and professional and graduate certificate programs:

• Over 25% of SPAA students are international, representing over 30 countries.
• SPAA graduates are teaching and gaining tenure at dozens of universities and holding executive-level positions in the nonprofit and public sectors in the United States and around the world.
• The school's faculty generates knowledge and best practices in public service and administration, and collaborates with public and nonprofit sector organizations and professionals throughout the United States and the world.
• SPAA has over 25 members of the faculty whose areas of expertise include public and nonprofit management and administration, public performance measurement and reporting, public budgeting and finance, economic development, health, and urban affairs. Five are members of the Congressionally chartered National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA).
• In the last three years, SPAA faculty have published over 40 books.
• Members of the SPAA faculty have been presidents of the major organizations in the public administration field, including the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA); the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA); and the Public Management Research Association (PMRA).
• SPAA faculty have won major awards in the field, including the ASPA Dwight Waldo Career Research Award; the ASPA Joseph Wholey Distinguished Scholarship Award (two faculty); the NASPAA/ASPA Distinguished Research Award (two faculty); the ASPA Charles H. Levine Award for Excellence in Public Administration Research, Teaching, and Service (two faculty); and the American Political Science Association's Herbert Simon Award for Best Book.