Grambling State News

GRAMBLING, La. – August 23, 2021 – The Master of Public Administration (MPA) program at Grambling State University (GSU) has been reaccredited by the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA).

NASPAA reaffirmation of accreditation of the MPA degree program “signifies that this program is high quality and prepares graduates to be very successful in the profession,” said Dr. Connie Walton, GSU Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs.

Led by Dr. Lemmy Akoma and assisted by Dean Stacey Duhon, the Public Administration faculty worked long hours to prepare for the accreditation review, she said.

“The NASPAA accreditation team held meetings with students pursuing the degree, graduates, advisory board members, and key leaders on campus as a part of this comprehensive review,” Dr. Walton said.

“The faculty, staff, and students of the Master of Public Administration (MPA) program are overjoyed to receive the good news of our program’s reaccreditation,” said Dr. Lemmy Akoma, interim head of the GSU Department of Public Administration. “All the hard work that went into the preparation process paid off.”

The MPA program at Grambling State University was first accredited in 1997 and since then has received two reaffirmations, including the most recent.

“The reaffirmation of the program wasn’t achieved without hard work by the faculty, staff, and the dean, who worked tirelessly to prepare the Self-study Report,” Dr. Akoma said, adding that the faculty appreciates the unwavering support of GSU President Rick Gallot, Vice President Walton, the Distance Learning Office, and the MPA program’s Advisory Board Members who were represented during the NASPAA virtual site visit in October 2020.

Because the MPA program is accredited, students both past and present are confident of the quality of education offered by the program, he said.

“When a program receives accreditation, students/graduates can feel secure in knowing that the program meets recognized standards and enables transferrable credits,” Dr. Akoma said.  “Also, accreditation of GSU’s MPA program helps employers determine the validity of the program’s coursework and whether the graduates are qualified. Employers often require evidence that applicants have a degree from an accredited program.”

About Grambling State University
Grambling State University, located in Grambling, Louisiana, is a historically black university that was founded in 1901. The institution has been accredited by SACSCOC, 13 associations, and in all programs required by the Louisiana Board of Regents. A member of the University of Louisiana System, Grambling State University has the academic strengths of a major university with the benefits of a small college. Offering 43 undergraduate and graduate academic programs, the 590-acre campus is home to world-class athletics, an internationally renowned marching band, and vibrant student life that enable our scholars to grow and learn in a positive environment. For more information, visit gram.edu.