• What are the goals of the Missouri Public Affairs Academy?
• When and where does the Academy convene?
• How are students selected?
• What is the curriculum for the Academy?
• What is the cost to student?
• What supervision is offered for participants?
• What extracurricular and recreational activities are available during the Academy?
• Do students have unscheduled time?
• Are participants allowed to leave the Academy or have visitors?
• Are participants allowed to bring vehicles?
• What health services are available?
• What can students expect from residence hall life?
• What personal items should students bring?
• What is appropriate dress for the Academy?
• What unacceptable behaviors will result in immediate expulsion?

What are the goals of the Missouri Public Affairs Academy?  Top of page
The MPAA brings together talented and aspiring students from throughout the state to develop their understanding of public affairs:  civic engagement through government and the private sector.  It is a great opportunity to benefit from a talented and accomplished group of political and community leaders in the state.  The Academy combines presentations by guest speakers with hands-on projects, field trips and
service projects.  The MPAA has three main goals:

• To help students understand their role as citizens working “for the greater good”
• To provide a forum for discussion with distinguished speakers including community leaders, government officials, the media, and the university
• To provide students with the leadership skills necessary to become actively involved in their communities 

 

When and where does the Academy convene?     Top of page
The dates for the 2009 Academy are Saturday, July 11 through Sunday, July19.  The Academy is held on the campus of Missouri State University in Springfield, MO.

 

How are students selected?     Top of page
The Academy is open to Missouri residents who are current sophomores and juniors in high school who meet the following criteria:

• GPA of 3.0 or higher
• record of community involvement
• willingness to attend the entire Academy (July11-19, 2009)

Students who meet these requirements are invited to submit the 2009 Application
(available on this website).  With the application, students are required to submit the following:

1) a list of service activities (service to school, place of worship, or community),

2) a letter of recommendation from school counselor or teacher, and

3) a personal essay (3-5 typed paragraphs, double-spaced) explaining their interest in public affairs and why they would like to attend the Academy. 

The application deadline is April 6, 2009, but applications may be submitted at any time.  The Academy staff chooses academy participants; students will be notified no later than April 15th regarding acceptance to the Academy.

What is the curriculum for the Academy?     Top of page
The MPAA is designed to provide students with intensive instruction on public affairs. To this end, Academy topics include:

•  The social contract
• Social issues in American society (Focus issue:  poverty)
• Global issues (Focus issue:  HIV/AIDS)
• The role of media and public opinion
• Leadership skills
• Community partnerships
• Developing a personal commitment to civic engagement

The Academy curriculum is taught through a variety of highly interactive methods.  Guest speakers from Missouri government, the media, and political parties will meet with participants to lectures and to engage in dialogue.  A field trip to Jefferson City will include tours of major government buildings along with sessions with representatives from the executive, legislative and judicial branches of state government.   The Academy theme of personal community involvement, “For the Greater Good,” will be carried out as students plan, publicize and implement a service project.

 

What is the cost to students?     Top of page
A non-refundable $50 registration fee is due after students have been accepted to the Academy.  All other funding, including room, board, and all Academy activities, is provided by Southwest Missouri State University. Travel to and from the Academy is not provided.

 

What supervision is offered for participants?     Top of page
The MPAA staff consists of the Director, and Assistant Director, and five Assistant Coordinators.  The Director is Candace Fisk, Associate Professor at  Missouri State University.  The five Assistant Coordinators (ACs) will be named in the spring of 2009.  The ACs will be college-age adult staff members who will supervise Academy participants 24 hours a day:  through all classes, recreational activities, field trips, and in the residence halls over night. 

 

What extracurricular and recreational activities are available during the Academy?     Top of page
Extracurricular activities are an important part of the Missouri Public Affairs Academy.  A full schedule of diverse activities is offered during afternoons, evenings and weekends to enhance the Academy experience.  Each night a movie is shown in the residence hall before lights out.  Scheduled events include a game night in the MSU Plaster Student Union game center, an evening of Springfield Cardinal baseball, and tours of local museums.  In addition, informal recreational times will be scheduled when participants may utilize a variety of MSU facilities for sand volleyball, tennis, basketball, bowling, pool, ping-pong, and video games.

 

Do students have unscheduled time?     Top of page
Students have limited unscheduled time.  The nine-day Academy boasts a full schedule of curricular and extracurricular activities.

Are participants allowed to leave the Academy or have visitors?     Top of page
The Missouri Public Affairs Academy program is concentrated and intensive. Classes and enrichment activities are scheduled from morning through late evening for all nine days of the Academy, including weekends.  Participants must be able to register by 10:30 am on Saturday, July 11 at the beginning of the program, remain in residence for the duration, and will be dismissed by noon on Sunday, July19, after the closing ceremony.

Departures from the Academy, as well as visitors, are disruptive and may compromise the safety and security of Academy participants, and are not allowed.  Participants are not excused to attend personal or family events, except in the case of extreme emergency, and only then with prior permission from the Director.  It is impossible to accommodate requests for late arrivals or early departures, or for leaves of absence, without jeopardizing the quality of both curricular and extracurricular programs and the security of students.  If a student is not able to attend all nine days of the Academy, he or she will not be accepted as a participant.

 

Are participants allowed to bring vehicles?     Top of page
The private use of automobiles, bicycles, motorcycles and other kinds of vehicles are prohibited.  Students who drive themselves to the MSU campus will be asked to surrender their car keys upon arrival on July 11th and will receive them back at the closing ceremony on July 19th.Noncompliance with this rule will result in expulsion from the Academy.

 

What health services are available during the Academy?     Top of page
University health services are available to Academy students, if needed.  The Taylor Health and Wellness Center, located on the Missouri State campus, will bill the student’s family for such services.  Any charges from physicians, hospitals, or pharmacies are the family’s responsibility.  Contact information for university health providers is detailed in mailings to families of students who are admitted to the Academy.  A medical release form is required for all participants.  If a student has special health or dietary needs and/or medication requirements, Academy staff must be notified prior to the start of the Academy.

 

What can students expect from residence hall life?     Top of page
Academy participants live in the newly renovated Blair-Shannon Residence Hall, located in the heart of the Missouri State campus, within easy walking distance of all Academy sessions.  Academy participants are assigned by gender to 6-person suites, with three 2-person rooms, a rest room, and a common sitting area.  Each student shares a room with another Academy participant.  Academy staff makes room assignments.  Each student is issued a key to his/her room.  The six staff members  each of whom works closely with a small cohort of 7 students,  provide supervision of the residence hall.  In addition, regular university security procedures ensure a safe environment for participants.

A coin-operated laundry and vending  machines are available in the residence hall.  The university supplies fresh bed sheets, pillow cases, and towels on designated days.  A blanket and pillow for each bed is provided.  Students are expected to keep their rooms in reasonable order.  Room inspections are conducted periodically.  Cooking is not allowed in the room, but small amounts of food may be kept in closed containers.  There is a small refrigerator and microwave in student living quarters.  Academy students are served three meals each day.  Students may want to bring non-perishable  snacks and/or small amounts of money for snacks.  Dining hall and multiple menu selections will be available for most meals.

The Academy provides an identification badge for each student, which each student is required to wear.  The identification badge is required for meals, for using the university library, and for participating in other campus activities.  Students are advised to bring one additional form of identification.

 

What personal items should students plan to bring?     Top of page
Students should bring personal clothing to include casual dress (jeans or modest shorts are acceptable) for daily activities; a jacket/sweatshirt/sweater; swim wear and towel; athletic shoes; rain gear; nightwear; personal items; at least one set of dress clothes.  Each student will receive an Academy t-shirt.

Useful personal items might include:  laundry bag and detergent, postage stamps, radio, alarm clock, clothes hangars, hair dryer, extension cord, small personal sports equipment, camera, etc.  Academy students are NOT allowed to bring TVs, roller blades, or personal computers.

Students may bring cellular phones to the Academy, but their use is firmly restricted to scheduled recreational times.  Cellular phones are NOT permitted in regular Academy sessions or curricular events where their use could disturb others.  Details about the specific expectations regarding cellular phone use will be provided in the MPAA Student Handbook, and will be reviewed in house meetings.

Basic classroom needs such as pencils, paper, notebooks, etc., will be provided by the Academy. 

The residence hall is air conditioned, but the Academy staff has no access to temperature control.  Students are advised to bring an extra blanket.

 

What is appropriate dress for the Academy?     Top of page
The Missouri Public Affairs Academy offers a quality learning environment.  Student appearance is an important aspect of this environment.  Casual dress is appropriate for most Academy activities, however, students are expected to dress tastefully.  Students wearing inappropriate clothing will be asked to change.  Professional-style dress clothes are required for a day-long trip to Jefferson City where students will meet with state elected officials including a member of the Missouri Supreme Court, a Congressman/woman, and a member of the Governor’s staff.

 

What unacceptable behaviors will result in immediate expulsion?     Top of page

• Possession or use of illegal drug, alcoholic beverages, or tobacco products
• Possession or use of firearms, other weapons, or fireworks
• Destruction or theft of property
• Breaking any state or federal law
• Use of motor vehicles
• Leaving residence hall after lights out
• Breaking Academy rules and regulation
• Refusal to comply with Academy staff
• Behavior that might place students at risk

A complete list of rules and expectations is provided in the MPAA Student Handbook.