In May 2008 the results of a nation-wide poll was released that showed very interesting results; 57% of all Millennials responded that they would of considered applying to the U.S. Public Service Academy had it been an option when they were applying for college. Many of you are probably wondering what exactly the USPSA is. The USPSA is a non-partisan initiative that, if passed, would create a national institution with the purpose of providing a free four year education for those willing to commit five years to public service after college.
Students would be competing amongst others in their state for the spots at the school. Themed off of the military academies, such as West Point, a congressional nomination will be required to be considered. The difference will be that instead of once being nominated competing against students nation-wide, you will be competing against others from your state guaranteeing a large diversity amongst students.
Students will be able to choose any major they would like. At the same time they will have a certain aspect of public service they will be focusing on be it medical, teaching, foreign affairs, ect. Students will be required to take a foreign language, study abroad, and many other things to guarantee a well-rounded education.
Within the next five years we will be losing a vast majority of those currently serving in public service. Now more than ever this institution is greatly needed. For more information, just ask, also check out the academies website. www.uspublicserviceacademy.org There is an online petition on the site to sign in support of the Academy.
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I have a lot of questions about it, though. What are the public service options after graduation? Do people get a choice? Will they be paid during those five years after graduation, or is it the longest unpaid internship ever?
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There are MANY options as to what they will be doing afterwards. While attending they will choose what their focus will be; whether it be education, law enforcement, medical, ect. They will not be able to choose what location they are assigned as this will be done by placement to "at need" areas. But what part of public service they will be trained in and practicing will be something those chose while attending. And no, it is fortunately NOT the longest unpaid internship ever. They will be recieving pay for the work they are doing.
Interesting...
What would pay for the college? It would cost a lot of money. I don't disagree with it on principle, but, well, a lot of things have to happen to create the funds. I hope we can, without flipping over backwards...though its not like we haven't been doing that already.
Cost is always a concern when it comes to doing things; especially with the economic state we are in. The academy would be funded 80/20 (public/private) and would cost about $200,000,000 to build. Heres the good news! It would only cost 70cents per citizen in taxes per year. Just 70cents a year; thats less than many spend on a soda or bus fare daily! And the immediate return of funds that it would lead to is enough to make it worth it. Just recently a paper in Houston told of how Houston had spent over $300,000,000 in overtime for policemen, medics, and other emergeny response workers. This is just one city, for one year! Houston alone paid for one and one half acadmies in one year just in over-time for emergency response workers! The money it would take to build the academy is less than 1% of the money budgeted for educational expenses.
Yeah, if thats true, then we definitely should go for it.
Yes!
There is more information on the website. I tried to be as brief as possible but still get the full idea across. It would be GREATLY appreciated if you would sign the online petition. You won't get any spam or anything from it, it just requires some basic info. www.uspublicserviceacademy.org for all the details and to access the petition.
Honorable as this proposition is, I think that it would be better to offer college for free, instead of simply taking it up with those who have financial problems to help our foreign relations overseas. Don't we already have Peace Corps for that? Imagine if 57% of the kids in this country who went to college left for five years; we really do need more of them here, helping ourselves at home.
My understanding is that those 5 years of public service are served in the United States. The school looks like it will have a lot of focus on disaster management and law enforcement degrees.
The abroad portion is during the actual schooling, so students can have a broader education. Knowing another language and learning about other cultures (especially learning through experience) is a huge asset to working with the public.
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Your understanding is exactly correct. As you said, the studying abroad will beduring the schooling and its purpose will be learning through experience about different cultures,relations, and public work.
Sawaboof's post is right on the money. The studying abroad would be done during the schooling to help increase a diverse learning and understanding of different cultures. But the school will be deciding where to keep the workers and the very vast majority, if not all of them, will be kept within the U.S.
I obviously didn't understand it at first :D
that's a really cool program. I really like the studying abroad part, it's crucial to international cooperation. Do these students end up with a degree in the major they picked as well as a degree in law enforcement/disaster management?
The stuents come out with a degree in a Liberal Arts major of their choice, but chose a core public service sector to also recieve eduation in.
--- Megan Getter
USPSA
Florida YAC Chair