Campus News

Martin School Open House is on Wednesday, Feb. 22

Martin School Open House - graphic
Martin School Open House on Feb. 22

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 16, 2017) The University of Kentucky’s highly regarded Martin School of Public Policy and Administration is holding an Open House from 2 to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 22. The event will be held on the 18th floor of the Patterson Office Tower and is open to all. It is intended to give potential master’s degree and doctoral degree students a close-up look at the school and its program offerings.

“This will be a terrific opportunity for students to meet and talk with faculty, as well as with current Martin School students,” said Ron Zimmer, professor and director of the Martin School and a graduate of the program. “I know from my experience here as a student that this is a special place where the faculty really care about their students, not only while they’re here but after they leave and begin working in both the public and private sector.”

Consistently ranked in the top 25 nationally among public policy programs, UK’s Martin School is in the top five for its public finance, financial management and budgeting program. With about 65 to 70 students in its master's degree offerings and 15 to 20 doctoral students at any given time, a Martin School student truly receives the personal touch.

There also are exciting developments in the school in the way of new academic offerings.

Last semester, the Martin School began offering an online, 12-credit-hour, four-course graduate level Certificate of Public Financial Management. The first two classes were taught in the fall and two more are being offered during the current spring semester. Each class in the certificate program is offered in an eight-week module. 

Two of the courses have been developed in partnership with the Von Allmen School of Accountancy, part of UK's Gatton College of Business and Economics, including a course taught by Urton Anderson, the director of the Von Allmen School.

This unique program establishes a niche serving an important national need — the enhancement of financial management processes and procedures of public and nonprofit organizations. The Certificate of Public Financial Management is designed to help individuals enhance their knowledge and career advancement.

The Martin School also is launching a 36-hour Master of Public Financial Management (MPFM) program as a result of the Council on Postsecondary Education's unanimous vote to approve the degree. Also offered completely online, the MPFM will be the school's fourth degree program and will be distinct nationally because of its focus.

Another plus for the Certificate of Public Financial Management is that students who complete the 12 hours will be able to transfer that credit to the master's program.

Long-standing degree programs offered by the Martin School are the Master of Public Administration, the Master of Public Policy, and the Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration.

Refreshments will be served at the Martin School Open House, and students who attend will have the opportunity to sit in a class.