Upper Iowa University MPA students publish paper in PA Times

Four Upper Iowa University master’s of public administration (MPA) students took on extra homework recently, and it paid off in a way that they never expected. All four, along with their instructor Dr. Rod Erakovich, recently became published authors with “Corruption, Ethics and Accountability: A Normative Approach to Control” in PA Times, a supplement published by the American Society for Public Administration.

Erakovich was teaching the online public administration graduate course, “Ethics in Public Service,” when the opportunity to write an article for PA Times. He opened the project to anyone in the class wanting to participate. William Carroll from Dubuque, Iowa; Chelsea Smith from Fargo, N.D.; Tunde Campbell from Live Oak, Texas; and Leo Wright from Madrid, Iowa, jumped at the chance.

In addition to their rigorous class work for the UIU MPA ethics course, Carroll, Smith, Campbell and Wright took on the extra work of researching, writing and collaborating on the article all while being fully employed and raising families.

“Taking on this important task, and exceling at it as these four adult learners have done is what being an Upper Iowa University graduate student is all about,” said Dr. Gerald Poppe, MPA program coordinator and associate professor of public administration. “Many of our students balance education along with work and family obligations. To have four students take on this extra work and have it result in the form of publication is something they can be proud of. The Upper Iowa MPA program provides students with the knowledge they need to stand out among their peers in all aspects of their careers. We couldn’t be more proud of these students.”

Their article, “Corruption, Ethics and Accountability: A Normative Approach to Control,” which appeared in the issue dated Nov. 22, 2013, can be read here.