UNC MPA Student Digest | April 19, 2024

UNC MPA News and Events

All MPA students, faculty, and staff are invited to the Annual Bureaucrats’ Ball, to be held at the Story Venue on W. Franklin Street. A formal invitation is attached. Heavy hors d’oeuvres and drinks (beer, wine, and non-alcoholic options) will be provided by Med Deli. Guests often enjoy dressing up for this event, from cocktail attire to Sunday best. There will be music, superlatives, a photo area, and more. Add your suggestions for the song list here.

Plus one guests are welcome, but tickets ($25 for students and $30 for faculty/staff) need to be purchased via LearningStream. You will need to set up a LearningStream account if you do not already have one from NCCCMA, a past Bureaucrats’ Ball, etc. **If cost poses a barrier to your attendance, please email Elizabeth Langefeld to receive a confidential comp code.**.

The MPA Diversity Committee invites invite students, faculty, and staff to attend a hybrid lunch workshop on April 19, 2024, from 11:30am- 1pm about Inclusive Behaviors: How to Help Others Feel Valued, Respected, and Heard. During this workshop, Sertrice Shipley, co-owner of Mattingly Solutions, will discuss what inclusive behaviors are, the impact inclusive behaviors can have, and how to measure inclusion. Lunch will be provided for in person attendees. Register to attend in person or online by completing this form.

MPA Student Profiled by University

On-campus student Richard Livingston was recently profiled on the university website regarding his journey into public service. Check out the video, below!

Young Alumnus aspires to serve people of North Carolina

Deval Patrick To Speak with MPA Students

Former Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick will speak at Kenan-Flagler Business School April 23rd as part of the Dean's Speaker Series. Several MPA students have been invited to participate in a roundtable conversation 3:15-4 pm.

The public event will take place at 5 p.m. , in the Kenan Center Dining Room.

The discussion promises a thorough look at leadership in times of crisis and volatility, Gov. Patrick’s remarkable leadership journey and his pioneering work in impact investing.

Gov. Patrick’s career includes significant roles in law, business and public service. He became the first African American governor of Massachusetts when elected in 2006 to the office, which he held until 2015. Beyond his time in government, he has led in the field of impact investing, aiming to achieve both financial return and positive social impact.

Gov. Patrick will share insights on the resilience and vision required to lead through uncertain times. His cross-sector experience in navigating both the corridors of power and the fields of impact investing offers valuable lessons for leaders aiming to make a difference in today’s complex world. A question-and-answer session will allow attendees to engage with him directly.

The event is free and open to the public, but pre-registration is required. A reception with hors d’oeuvres will follow at 6:15 in the Kenan Lounge.

UNC MPA Calendar

April 19: MPA Diversity Committee Inclusive Behaviors Workshop, 11:30-1
April 29: Classes begin for summer online courses
April 30: Last day of classes for spring online courses
May 11: MPA department graduation ceremony and lunch (10:00 am - 2:00 pm)
May 11: UNC Commencement (7:00 pm)

You may also find all calendar events on the MPA Intranet calendar or by adding "UNC MPA Student Calendar" on Outlook.

UNC events and beyond

UNC Passport Drive is Back!

The Office of the Vice Provost for Global Affairs is excited to announce the return of UNC-Chapel Hill’s annual Passport Drive!

April 24 – 25, 2024, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

4003 FedEx Global Education Center (parking only available in UNC visitor parking lots)

Officials from the U.S. Department of State will be on campus to accept new and renewal U.S. passport applications and to answer questions. Passport photos can be taken prior to the event at the UNC One Card Office ($12) or at the event ($15).

Only Carolina students, faculty and staff are eligible to participate.

Advance registration is required. Please register using the link below for the day you plan to attend (max. 175 people per day).

REQUIREMENTS AND FEES

For details on requirements, fees and forms, please review the information here.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

More information and answers to frequently asked questions are available on the Department of State’s website.

Consistent with UNC System guidance, University-affiliated travel outside the U.S. must be approved in advance, following the appropriate process.

For questions about the Passport Drive, email Melissa McMurray, associate director of global partnerships, at melissa_mcmurray@unc.edu.

FREN 601: French for Reading Knowledge to be offered this Fall

The department of Romance Studies is offering FREN 601: French for Reading Knowledge (Monday 4:40–6:10 pm) next semester, Fall 2024.

This course is designed to:

prepare students to succeed on the Foreign Language Proficiency Assessment (FLPA) exam (a requirement for many grad programs), and
help any students interested in translation and language studies develop skills in reading French and French-to-English translation. Many bodies of scholarly research include works written in French, so this course is applicable to most fields and programs.

FREN 601 is a 3-credit course, but it meets in person just once a week, so it also entails a significant asynchronous online component. The purpose of this schedule is to provide flexibility to graduate students with a wide variety of schedules.

Any questions about the course may be directed to ldemsey@unc.edu.

NCLGBA Conference & Scholarship Details

The North Carolina Local Government Budget Association is excited to announce the Summer 2024 Conference Scholarship opportunity.

The Conference Scholarship provides registration and accommodations for the upcoming Summer Conference to be held in Beaufort, July 10-12, 2024. Eligible applicants include first-time professional attendees or student attendees. Interested individuals should submit their application via e-mail to scholarship@nclgba.org with the subject line “#NCLGBA Scholarship Program”. Applications for the conference scholarship are due no later than Friday, May 24, 2024 at 11:59pm EST. Scholarship recipient(s) will receive registration and lodging accommodations for the 2024 Summer Conference.

Orange County Board of Commissioners Recruits for Planning Board

ORANGE COUNTY, NC (April 15, 2024) – One of the ways residents can have a positive impact on the future of Orange County is to serve on a volunteer board or commission.

The Orange County Board of Commissioners is currently recruiting applicants for the Orange County Planning Board.

As authorized in Chapter 160D-301 of the General Statutes of North Carolina and adopted in Section 1.6.3 of the Unified Development Ordinance, the Orange County Planning Board shall have the following powers and duties:

Prepare, review, maintain, monitor, and periodically update and recommend to the Board of County Commissioners a Comprehensive Plan, and other such plans as deemed appropriate, and conduct ongoing related research, data collection, mapping, and analysis;
Develop and recommend policies, ordinances, development regulations, administrative procedures and other means for carrying out plans in a coordinated and efficient manner;
Advise the Board of County Commissioners concerning the implementation of plans, including, but not limited to, review and comment on all zoning text and map amendments as required by NCGS 160D-604;
Exercise such functions in the administration and enforcement of various means for carrying out plans that the Board of Commissioners may direct;
Perform other related duties that the Board of County Commissioners may direct.

This board typically meets on the first Wednesday of each month at 7:00 pm.

Applicants are needed for one (1) Little River Township position. Please review the map at the following link to see Township boundaries: http://orangecountync.gov/DocumentCenter/View/2290/Township-Map-PDF.

If interested, apply at www.orangecountync.gov/Apply.

Orange County Recruits for OWASA Board of Directors

ORANGE COUNTY, NC – (April 10, 2024) One of the ways residents can have a positive impact on the future of Orange County is to serve on a volunteer board or commission.

The Orange County Board of Commissioners is currently recruiting applicants for the Orange Water and Sewer Authority Board of Directors.

The Orange Water and Sewer Authority (OWASA) is governed by a nine-member Board of Directors. The Chapel Hill Town Council appoints five Chapel Hill residents, the Carrboro Town Council appoints two Carrboro residents, and the Orange County Board of Commissioners appoints two Orange County residents. There is one upcoming vacancy for an Orange County resident.

Governing a critical public utility effectively requires a group of dedicated volunteers with a broad range of knowledge and experiences. The OWASA Board of Directors is unique in that it is in fact a governing Board and, therefore, does not simply advise the elected bodies on issues. The OWASA Board addresses a wide variety of issues including infrastructure investment, employee compensation and benefits, finance and rate setting, customer service and affordability, environmental protection, forestry, public health, and community engagement, among others. Experience in these areas can be helpful, but specific technical experience is not required; the only true qualification needed is a genuine commitment to serve the community. Former Board members have found serving on the Board to be a meaningful and rewarding experience, though this level of community service does require a significant investment of time and energy to prepare for and attend meetings.

Each appointed member must take an Oath of Office to faithfully discharge the duties of their office, to abide by the constitution and laws of the United States and of North Carolina, and to exercise their best judgment as a member of the Board of Directors.

The OWASA Board meets on the 2nd Thursday of each month at 6:00 pm in the OWASA Community Room (400 Jones Ferry Rd. in Carrboro).

Board members receive $100 compensation for attendance at each meeting of the board, special meetings, or work sessions.

Please visit https://www.owasa.org/board-of-directors/ for more information on the work of the Board of Directors. If interested, apply at www.orangecountync.gov/Apply.

Orange County Recruits for Volunteer Boards & Commissions

ORANGE COUNTY, NC – (April 3, 2024) One of the ways residents can have a positive impact on the future of Orange County is to serve on a volunteer board or commission.

The Orange County Board of Commissioners is currently recruiting applicants for the following boards and commissions: