Welcome to the IU South Bend School of Public and Environmental Affairs

Dear SPEA Students:

Many of you have heard that there will be some administrative restructuring of SPEA in the coming months. I'd like to share with you what we know at this point so that you have facts. As further decisions are made, we will share those with you.

First and foremost, it is the university's obligation to provide courses so that all currently enrolled students can complete the degree they started. This means that, whether you are an undergraduate or a graduate student, you can complete your degree following the requirements that were in place when you started your program at IUSB.

There are two reasons for these changes. First, a study group appointed by President Herbert last summer looked at all the university-wide schools and ultimately recommended that SPEA not be continued as a system school. President Herbert asked each campus to discuss administrative options for SPEA, Social Work, Nursing and Allied Health Professions, and other system-wide schools that don't exist on our campus. Vice Chancellor Guillaume appointed a special Faculty Senate committee and asked them to make recommendations about SPEA and the other system schools. His charge to that committee focused on SPEA and suggested that SPEA would not continue as we have been. After considering options since last September, that committee, the SPEA faculty as a group, and several individual SPEA faculty members made recommendations to VC Guillaume. After considering all those recommendations, he decided on the following changes to become effective July 1, 2008. We in SPEA will work diligently to make the transitions for all of us as seamless as possible.

Criminal Justice will become a new department in the School of Liberal Arts & Sciences staffed by the current CJ faculty (Professors Peat and Xu and Mr. Seniff), possibly one new faculty member, and Cindy Vukovits as the Student Services Coordinator.

The BSPA and the Health Systems Administration & Policy MPA concentration, along with some part of the nonprofit management concentration will move to the Department of Political Science. along with Professors Candler and Trottier. The MPA Nonprofit Administration & Policy and Government Administration & Policy concentrations will be in Political Science.

The undergraduate BSHSM will move to the School of Business and Economics along with Professors Singh and Hall.

This much is clear: Courses will be offered for the next several years that will allow you to complete your degree. Requirements will NOT change for currently enrolled SPEA students. The MPA, if you have begun that degree, will remain a 48 credit degree. Undergrads will complete the degree with the requirements listed when you started in SPEA.

There are many details and additional changes that will be determined during the next few months. Course numbers will likely change by the fall semester of 2008 to reflect the new schools; you will be advised of these changes. We will let you know who your advisor will be after the dissolution of SPEA. The schedule of classes that we have posted for spring 2008 will be offered by SPEA. Beginning with the summer sessions in 2008, our courses will be offered by either LAS or B & E but there will not be details about those classes for several months. Your advisors will be prepared to assist in degree planning in time for the spring registration dates when you will choose summer and fall 2008 classes.

I regret the dismay and consternation this announcement may cause. Please understand that I have described the coming changes as clearly as is possible today. The faculty and deans involved heard this announcement only a few days ago, and we have not met to begin deciding the next steps and making the myriad of decisions that will be necessary over the next few weeks and months. We will keep you informed as we move forward together.

Sincerely,

Leda McIntyre Hall

Campus Dean & Program Director

The School of Public and Environmental Affairs (SPEA), at the undergraduate level, provides a liberal education with a professional orientation. The SPEA program at IUSB is part of the Indiana University system wide School of Public and Environmental Affairs, the largest school of its kind in the United States.

The SPEA program represents a multi-disciplinary approach to education in the fields of public affairs and public service management. The academic program integrates the school's mission – providing relevant training, technical assistance, and other public service activities – with its obligation to undertake both basic and applied research. This unique approach provides students with the opportunity to learn in situations beyond, as well as within, the traditional classroom setting. Students are encouraged to assist in research projects, participate in public service efforts, and seek on-the-job training through internships and practicums.

The mission of the School of Public and Environmental Affairs Master of Public Affairs program is to prepare students to lead and manage community organizations.

General Information

The School of Public and Environmental Affairs at IUSB offers a Bachelor of Science in Public Affairs, a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, a Bachelor of Science in Health Services Management and Certificate programs in urban studies, public health, and public affairs.

In the Bachelor of Science in Public Affairs degree program, students select one area of concentration from among four options: criminal justice, management, and specialized study in public and environmental affairs.

The Bachelor of Science in Public Affairs, the Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, and the Bachelor of Science in Health Services Management all require 120 credit hours, or the equivalent of four years for a student attending on a full-time basis.

Undergraduate courses are normally scheduled both during days and evenings and occasionally on weekends. Students should consult the regular Schedule of Classes published each semester to determine the exact time, place, and format of each class.