The University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service will enroll 46 new students in its Master of Public Service (MPS) degree program this fall.
Located in downtown Little Rock on the grounds of the William J. Clinton Presidential Center and Park and in the River Market District, the Clinton School is the nation’s first to offer an MPS degree, both in a classic campus setting and online.
Since opening in 2004, the school has attracted students from more than 40 countries and over 200 universities. Individual members of this year’s class come from 16 different states and Ghana and Nigeria. Thirty-seven different degrees and 30 colleges and universities are represented among the incoming students.
Thirteen different Arkansas colleges and universities are represented in the enrolling class.
“We’re very proud to welcome the new Clinton School class. As the nation’s first to offer a Master of Public Service degree, we continue to attract individuals with a wide range of backgrounds and interests, but with a common purpose to uplift others,” said Clinton School Dean James L. “Skip” Rutherford III. “Over the next two years, the public service projects these students will complete will have a significant positive impact.”
The enrolling students boast work and volunteer experiences with national organizations such as Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, City Year, The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and Habitat for Humanity. Many have completed work with local organizations such as Our House Shelter, Lucie’s Place, and Arkansas Foodbank.
Several students have completed or are in ongoing government internships, including work with the Office of Arkansas Lt. Governor Tim Griffin, the Office of Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Arkansas.
This fall, first-year Clinton School students will begin team-based Practicum projects with partner organizations in communities across Arkansas. Using a HyFlex learning model that combines remote learning with classroom instruction, the students will complete core courses in field research, social change, and global development.
Throughout their time at the Clinton School, students will work on three public service projects within their particular public service interests: the team-based Practicum project, the International Public Service Project, and the individual Capstone project that culminates their degree.