It’s not exactly half way through the Spring Semester, but last week was Spring Break.  It’s not how I remember it when I was younger, that’s for sure!  I took some time off work so I could work on assignments that are due next week: an economics problem set and a stakeholder analysis paper.  The problem set is done … the paper still needs a little work, but there’s some time left before it’s due on Tuesday.

This past Monday, registration for the Summer Semester opened.  We had been told in advance that classes fill quickly, and since there were only a handful of courses being offered, all seats were filled within minutes.  For quite a while before the registration window opened, I debated whether I should take a class this summer.  In the end, I decided against it for this year, but am leaving the window open for next summer.

On Tuesday, the class list for Fall Semester was released and we were asked to update our goals/research statements by May 19.  The confluence of these two events is actually fairly significant given the program requirements for the next couple of semesters.

• First, we are updating our goals/research statements in anticipation of a faculty meeting on May 20.  On that date, all faculty will be meeting to discuss the doctoral students and our progress in the program.  It is important that we keep these statements updated.
• Second, we are required to choose a chair for our Field Committee by the end of the third semester (which will be Fall 2011).  Because the chair for the Field Committee usually becomes the chair for a doctoral student’s Dissertation Committee, this is an important decision.
• Third, now that almost all core courses are out of the way (PUBP 800 is the final core course, and will be taken in the Fall), choice of course becomes more important.  Rather than deciding which core courses we’ll be taking, we will now choose courses based on our fields within public policy.

And finally … on a related note, the Comprehensive Qualifying Exam for most of us will be January 5-9, 2012.  This exam tests knowledge of the information covered in the program’s core courses (PUBP 800, 801, 804, 805).  The “comp” is one of two major exams before the dissertation (the other is the Field Exam).

So yes, it was Spring Break this week … I think! 🙂

On Friday, I participated in the first part of a two-part series on teaching methods.  While it is not a required part of the PhD curriculum, I found it really worthwhile.  The session lasted almost the full two hours it was scheduled and there was a high level of interaction between the two who team-taught and the students who attended.  We covered a lot more material than I expected and in areas I wouldn’t have considered otherwise.  Topics such as how to create a lesson plan, strategies for ensuring understanding of the material, and how to keep students interested were covered.  While I don’t teach professionally now, I gained a lot of insight into what is needed to be effective.  I’m really looking forward to the next session on March 25!

Last week I received my academic advisor assignment for the PhD program.  I think this is going to be a good fit.  My advisor is an Associate Professor of Public Policy and Enterprise Engineering.  He has expertise in the areas of electronic commerce and supply chain integration, international telecommunication, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system implementation and design, and ERP-based Business Process Engineering methods.

Though it sounds a bit technical, this is all good stuff.  A lot of what I do in my job relates closely to my advisor’s areas of expertise.  Here is an excerpt from the Statement of Purpose I wrote to accompany my application to the PhD program:

I am applying for admission to the GMU PhD program in Public Policy because I am interested in gaining the skills and background necessary to conduct advanced research into Information Technology policy and its effect on organizations.  In these days of ever-tightening budgets, government agencies are being asked to do more with less.  Government leaders are constantly challenged to find newer, more creative ways to accomplish the mission of government.  When used properly, Information Technology is a powerful force multiplier.  How Information Technology is used within an organization depends greatly on organizational structure, policy, and processes.  I am committed to achieving a greater understanding of these focus areas and how to apply that understanding to maximize their interrelated strengths.

In my current capacity as a supervisory enterprise architect in the Federal Government, I am acutely aware of the impact Information Technology makes on an organization.  One of the challenges I face on a daily basis is how to align the organization’s enterprise architecture with policy and doctrine.

I believe that the GMU PhD program in Public Policy (with a concentration in Organizational and Information Technology) would be of great value in my efforts to achieve the understanding necessary to increased organizational effectiveness. It would provide me the ability to focus my analytical and management skills in analyzing government’s Information Technology challenges and would possibly open new areas for research.  Upon completing the PhD program, I would like to apply my newly acquired skills to discover new and innovative ways to affect organizational structure and policy within the government.

So I’m looking forward to working with my academic advisor – I think it’ll be a really good fit!

Here it is – the letter that begins my journey in earnest.  None of it was real until I received this letter from GMU’s School of Public Policy …

Well, here goes nothing!  Late last fall, I applied for the PhD in Public Policy at George Mason University and I recently found out that I was accepted.  So I’ve decided to track my progress through the (hopefully only) four year journey toward earning my PhD.  I start classes this fall, but I’ll be posting some updates between now and then to set the background for what I’m betting will turn out to be a very intense experience.  Come along for the ride!