Associate Professor Brenda J. Bond, Suffolk University; University of Massachusetts Lowell Researchers Melissa Morabito, Wilson Palacios, Robin Toof and Melissa Wall; Lowell, Massachusetts Police Department

Funded by the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance, these are a series of action research projects focused on the introduction of strategic and operational changes to support crime and community safety outcomes.  The second SPI project evaluates the process and outcomes associated with the creation of an interagency response and intervention unit focused on the opioid crisis.

Professor Marc Holzer (Suffolk University) and Professor Patria Julnes (Penn State University)

This study will present the findings of a research project aggregated from interviews from a sample of MPA degree holders.These degree holders are asked to respond to a series of questions related to the usefulness of their MPA training and degree. Our objective is to elicit perceptual data as to the utility of the MPA degree and the relevancy of the curricular components in MPA programs

Professor Marc Holzer (Suffolk University), Professor James Melitski (Marist College), and Professor Aroon Manoharan (University of Massachusetts-Boston)

This research addresses the following questions:

• How are we teaching and training future public administrators who will be joining an increasingly digitized workplace?
• Are we providing students multiple perspectives of efficiency, effectiveness and equity, as they begin to implement e-governance initiatives?
• Is there a significant divide between the teaching and practice of e-government, and if so, how can we address this gap?

Joint project of the Institute for Public Service-Suffolk University and the American Society for Public Administration

Professor Marc Holzer (Suffolk University) and Suffolk MPA Graduate Brandon Roberts

The purpose of this project is to emphasize the concepts of civic engagement and the common good, to foster an understanding of the spirit of service already evident among many citizens, and to suggest a broad array of pathways to public service by identifying and publishing quotations that speak to the call to public service overall, and more specifically to compassion, motivation to serve, quality of life, purpose, ethics, citizenship and volunteerism.

Joint Project of the Institute for Public Service-Suffolk University, the School of Public Affairs and Administration-Rutgers University and the American Society for Public Administration

Professor Marc Holzer (Suffolk University)

The field of public affairs and administration has a plethora of rich information resources. Often times, these print, electronic and multimedia “gems” are invisible to practitioners, students and even academics.

To help those looking for appropriate and valuable insights into the field, the Institute for Public Service at Suffolk University, the School of Public Affairs and Administration at Rutgers University-Newark and the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) have teamed up to launch the Public Administration Gateway. This online initiative is a comprehensive portal where users can access thousands of core resources in public affairs, public policy and public administration.

These resources, many of which can be accessed at no charge, can help public managers deliver services to citizens as promised. Students will also find the portal helpful as they find and build successful careers. Additionally, academics will now be able to access and utilize expanded sets of quantitative and qualitative data for their research.

Users can explore over 20 pathways, including statistical data, government publications, case studies, international resources, teaching resources and career information.

Professor Marc Holzer (Suffolk University) and MPA Graduate Ian Gawron

A compendium of strategies that public and private sector bureaucrats can use to counter illegal or unethical actions of large organizations. This book (in progress) covers such options as: formal whistleblowing, releasing information, the use of imagery, going over your supervisor, building your case, and cultivating interest groups.

Professor Marc Holzer (Suffolk University) and Professor Stephanie Newbold (Rutgers University)

This project is an analysis of government’s promises to the citizenry that are inherent in such documents as the Declaration of Independence; the Constitution and Amendments beginning with the Bill of Rights; Federal Legislation; Supreme Court Rulings; and State and City analogs.

Professor Marc Holzer is leading the Suffolk MPA student team of  Stacey Reiling, Corey Silvia, and Blair Haney. Practitioner-in-Residence, Scott Lussier from the Center for Urban Ecology & Sustainability, is lending his Geographic Information Systems (GIS) skills to the team.

BGCB sought assistance from a graduate student team to drive their strategic planning efforts.  They are particularly interested in updating data on neighborhoods, demographics, unmet youth needs and other youth serving organizations in their target areas.  Their primary focus is the youth aged 6-18, and the resources available to those youth through after-school programs.  From their mission statement, BGCB is here “to help young people, especially those who need us most, build strong character and realize their full potential as responsible citizens and leaders.”  Their project goal is to deepen and broaden their impact.  Compiling this information regarding the neighborhoods in and around Boston will be helpful to BGCB in identifying and evaluating new growth opportunities in the years to come.

Associate Professor Brenda J. Bond (Suffolk University) and Professor Erika Gebo (Suffolk University)

Funded by the National Institute of Justice, this study will test the effects of a deliberate strategy to bolster organizational change on goal achievement of a specific violence prevention strategy. Crimesoluations.gov lists the Comprehensive Gang Model (CGM) as a promising strategy to reduce gang and youth violence. Barriers to CGM goal achievement have most often been attributed to problems with collaboration, leadership, and data. This research will provide an intervention on the organizational change dimensions of the model to better understand if organizational change-targeted guidance affects change in stated CGM and community goals.