MPA Excel Seminar in January

We’ve heard lots of feedback that students would like more Excel training, and we have planned a seminar! Dale Roenigk, who has extensive Excel experience and teaches our Decision Analysis course, will lead an in-person seminar on Friday, January 9. If you can’t make it in person, you may also join online. Below are the different topics for each session, so you can decide which portions you’d like to attend. Here’s the tentative schedule:

Date: Friday, January 9, 2026

Time: 9:30 am – 2:30 pm

Additional Details and Information: 

• Mind maps of selected topics and example spreadsheet files will be provided as part of the class.  
• Make sure you bring your computer with Excel open.  
• If you have specific questions, please bring them with you to class and we will try to cover everything.   
• If you want to send any requests to Dale Roenigk ahead of time his email is Roenigk@sog.unc.edu 

Tentative Schedule:

Session 1:       9:30am - 11:30am

• Formatting
• General Formatting
• Conditional Formatting
• Wrapping Text
• Formulas
• Key Formulas
• Sum, average, count, etc.
• Xlookup (vlookup, hlookup)
• IF Formulas
• Countif
• Sumif
• Averageif
• Etc. Statistical Functions
• Data Presentation/Visualization/Graphing

Lunch (provided for those attending both sessions in person – orders taken closer to event): 11:30-12:30

Session 2:        12:30pm to 2:30pm

• Tables
• Pivot Tables
• Managing Data

Location: KN 3301& on Zoom (link will be sent closer to event)

Student Spotlight: Atticus Graysmith & Nicole Graysmith

When Atticus Graysmith entered the UNC School of Government program, he thought it would also be perfect for his mother, Nicole Graysmith. Read more about how both joined the MPA Program this year on the UNC website.

Last Chance (for a while) to order MPA Swag!

The MPA Brandshop will be moving to a pop-up format starting in 2026, so if you've been holding off on ordering, we recommend you do so by December 31! We'll announce when our brand partner has pop-up collections in the future.

DEADLINE TODAY! Apply for the NASPAA Student Simulation Competition Wildfire Mitigation

Since 2015, NASPAA has hosted a yearly Student Simulation Competition to help students network, compete, and learn through experience. This year NASPAA will host the latest VIRTUAL competition on the topic of Wildfire Management on Saturday, March 7^th and 14^th 2026, for students across the globe. Participants will only need to be available one Saturday of the competition and will be placed on a team after acceptance by NASPAA. Please visit the website for more information on this year’s competition. 

NASPAA, or the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration, is the global standard in public service education and serves as our accrediting body. It currently has more than 300 member programs located in the US and 14 countries around the globe. They have a twofold mission to “ensure excellence in education and training for public service and to promote the ideal of public service.” The simulation allows them to carry out this mission and allows students to tackle real-world scenarios while networking with MPA/MPP students from across the world.

The UNC MPA Program will guarantee sponsorship of one on-campus and one online student (with the potential opportunity of additional students as well as we may nominate up to five students). This sponsorship would include payment of registration. It is a wonderful experience to network with other MPA students from across the globe and gain real-world relevant experience. In the past, we have had several site winners and one global winner representing the UNC MPA Program! 

If you are interested in participating in this year's competition, please take a moment to complete this short form. The submission deadline is Friday, December 19, 2025. The selected students will be chosen by Director Willow Jacobson for nomination to NASPAA. If you have additional questions, please feel to reach out to Elizabeth Langefeld directly.

2026 NCCCMA Winter Seminar Details

We’re excited to invite you to attend the NCCCMA Winter Seminar January 28-30, 2026, events surrounding the Seminar, and to apply for the new Pilot NCCCMA Lodging Fund.

2026 NCCCMA Winter Seminar: Register today!

Register for the 2026 North Carolina City & County Management (NCCCMA) Winter Seminar in Winston Salem, NC by Friday, January 9. The UNC MPA program has historically had strong participation at this event, and we know you will gain knowledge and great networking opportunities, so we hope you will attend!

On behalf of the MPA faculty, staff, and alumni, you are strongly encouraged to attend as much of the Seminar as your schedule permits. It will be at the discretion of faculty to cancel any classes on the days of the conference. If your class is not canceled, it will be your responsibility to communicate with your instructor regarding expectations of missing class and/or assignments. We expect that you will attend the UNC MPA Alumni Breakfast, 7:30-8:30 am, on Thursday, January 29. This is an excellent networking opportunity.

Registration Information:

• Please click this registration link to RSVP for the 2026 North Carolina City and County Management Winter Seminar, scheduled for January 28–30, 2026 at the MC Benton Convention Center in Winston-Salem, NC.
• The agenda and more information are available here: https://www.sog.unc.edu/courses/nc-city-and-county-management-association-winter-seminar (please do not register via this link, as the MPA program will send all student registrations together).
• The student registration fee for the conference is $0 and the alumni breakfast is $23.
• The MPA program will cover the cost of the alumni breakfast, so it is very important that you attend should you register for the event.
• This is an opportunity for you to learn, apply concepts from class, and network with local government leaders from across the state. Take full advantage of this opportunity!
• There is a Happy Hour Hub for students, alumni, faculty, and staff being planned for Thursday, January 29 from 5:00-7:30pm at Small Batch. Register here!
• PLEASE REGISTER, we need to let the bar know how many folks are attending to ensure they create enough space for us!
• Small Batch, 241 W 5th St, Winston-Salem, NC 27101

Speed Networking Event:

You’ll also notice on the draft agenda the opportunity for speed coaching on Thursday afternoon. On the RSVP form you will have the opportunity to indicate your intent in participating in the speed coaching. Please only indicate if you are certain you will participate, as the Seminar planning committee will need to make sure there are enough coaches (managers). Students have said year after year that this speed-coaching event has been one of the most helpful aspects of the Seminar!

From both the professional development opportunities presented through the NCCCMA Winter Seminar and financial commitments from MPA program, we hope you consider attending the Seminar. We want to underscore that the Seminar offers something for everyone – in terms of both substance and networking opportunities. NCCCMA is committed to recruiting the next generation of local managers and leaders, and this event is a key component of the Association’s strategy. The Seminar expects a large number of managers to attend and thus is an excellent opportunity for students seeking government positions to make contacts that could help create a larger network leading to increased opportunities for internships and jobs. For those who are focusing on non-profit organizations, the Seminar provides a way to get acquainted with local government managers with whom you might be working in the future.

Pilot - NCCCMA Alumni Sponsored Lodging Fund: Apply today!

The MPA program is piloting a NCCCMA Alumni Sponsored Lodging Fund created and supported by alumni to provide funding specifically for lodging at the NCCCMA Winter Seminar. The process for the NCCCMA Alumni Sponsored Lodging Fund pilot is outlined below and in the attached document.

The process for the NCCCMA Alumni Sponsored Lodging Fund pilot is outlined below:

• Complete the application form prior to the NCCCMA Winter Seminar.
• Please note lodging expenses will be reimbursed after the Seminar is complete and receipts submitted. Lodging expenses are only reimbursable if students apply and are approved for funding before the NCCCMA Winter Seminar.
• The MPA program and its donors expect students to attend and actively participate in all events, including the UNC MPA Alumni Breakfast and UNC MPA Happy Hour Hub.
•  Once the application is received, the MPA program will determine if funds will be awarded based on the following criteria:
• Student is registered for the Seminar
• Student indicates a willingness to engage in the Seminar and with MPA alumni, faculty, staff, and fellow students
• Any preparation workshops will be required of students receiving this money. Inability to attend will forfeit approved funds
• After completion of the NCCCMA Winter Seminar, students must fill out the post seminar lodging fund survey to be reimbursed.
• Reimbursement is for lodging only
• The survey must be completed within 30 days of the NCCCMA Winter Seminar to receive reimbursement.
• Students will not be reminded to fill out the survey



The deadline to register for the Seminar is 5pm on Friday, January 9, 2025. If you do not complete the RSVP before that time, you will be required to register yourself and pay the full amount.

Important Updates to Graduate & Professional Student Loans

Congress has passed new changes to graduate and professional student loans under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), with updates taking effect July 1, 2026. While we await additional guidance from the Department of Education, here’s what we know so far:

• Graduate PLUS Loans will be eliminated for new borrowers after June 30, 2026
• New Unsubsidized Loan limits (with increased limits for professional students)
• Adjusted federal loan options for part-time enrollment
• Fewer federal student loan repayment plans

To help you plan ahead, The Office of Scholarships and Student Aid has created a PDF Quick Guide that outlines these changes, including which programs count as “professional.” You can also explore a historical list of private lenders used by Carolina students through ELMSelect, a searchable database available to all.

The UNC Federal Updates website will continue to be updated as more information becomes available.

Reach out to the Office of Scholarships and Student Aid with any questions.

Call for Papers: North Carolina Political Science Association Conference

Conference will be held March 20, 21, 2026 at Elon University. Call for papers due January 15, 2026. Email Thomas Kerr for more information.