2005-06 Ed.D. Handbook

A note from the department chair

MEMO TO: New EdPA Students

FROM: Michael Paige, professor and chair

DATE: June 15, 2006

RE: Welcome

We are delighted you are joining us in the Department of Educational Policy and Administration! On behalf of the EdPA faculty, I am pleased to welcome all of you to the 2006-2007 academic year.

EdPA has developed nationally and internationally distinguished graduate programs in the areas of educational administration, higher education, evaluation studies, and comparative and international development education. During your studies, you will be working with faculty members who are active scholars, authors, professional association leaders, practitioners and teachers. We are proud of our faculty and expect that regardless of the program you are pursuing, you will find your experience to be exciting, personally fulfilling, and professionally rewarding. The faculty is committed to helping you achieve those ends.

We like to think of EdPA as a departmental community and I hope that each of you will make every effort to become an active, engaged member within it. You can do this, for example, by volunteering for governance committees, participating in departmental professional and social events, and getting involved in faculty research projects. EPASA, the department's student association, is thriving under energetic student leadership and welcomes your participation.

One of the joys of graduate school is meeting and learning with your fellow students. In EdPA, our students come from a wide variety of professional and academic backgrounds, cultures, and countries. You will have many opportunities to meet each other in and outside of class.

Critically important to effective participation in our community is good communication. We want everyone to have a shared sense of expectations and responsibilities for graduate education in this department. You can get the information you need by asking questions when something is not clear, meeting with your faculty advisor periodically and at least once every semester, familiarizing yourself with the student handbook for your degree program, and reading the department electronic newsletter. EdPA's handbooks and other key materials for students are on the web, and will be updated as necessary (www.cehd.umn.edu/EdPA/). The department electronic newsletter is sent periodically to all students and faculty.

All of us on the faculty and staff want this year to go well for you. Please don't hesitate to contact us if you have questions or need assistance. My telephone number is 612 626-7456. My e-mail address is r-paig@umn.edu.

Again, welcome to EdPA!