The Student Leadership Councils (SLC) is a council of students who serve as the voice among MPA program administrators.
Both the on-campus and online formats have their own body of SLC members. Students who serve on the SLC are expected to solicit feedback and information from their peers to bring to the group and share with program administrators.
SLC members gain the following:
- Valuable leadership experiences
- Networking opportunities with faculty, staff, and fellow students
- Skill development for future work with boards and nonprofits
- Recognition at graduation for serving on the SLC
Below is format-specific information regarding the roles and responsibilities of SLC members, the application process, and current contact information.
- On Campus
Overview & Purpose of the Student Leadership Council:
The SLC’s main purpose is to represent the interests of the student body in the on-campus format of the MPA Program.
Through the establishment of an elected student council, it shall provide a platform for the discussion of issues of student concern and act as the instrument by which student interest may be voiced to the administration of the Carolina MPA Program.
Responsibilities of the Student Leadership Council:
- Serve in a student advisory board capacity to program administrators, providing the student perspective where it will be helpful to inform program decisions.
- Understand, prioritize, and advocate for the needs and interests of On-Campus Carolina MPA Students.
- Collaborate with MPA Program Office administration and faculty to continuously and iteratively enhance the on-campus Carolina MPA student experience
- Attend three “All-Hands” meetings per term. At least one of these meetings will include the MPA Program Director.
- In advance of the “All-Hands” meetings, survey the current student body to ask for ideas on topics to bring forward at the SLC meetings for discussion.
- Communicate “All-Hands” summary of outcomes to fellow on-campus MPA students.
- Organize communication between master’s students and administration, including fielding and analyzing a comprehensive annual survey to capture current student concerns, and present the administration with ongoing student concerns as they arise.
- Lead or assist with new initiatives undertaken.
- Provide representation for the Carolina MPA program at the Graduate and Professional Student Federation (GPSF) (this is in specific reference to the GPSF Senator elected position that also serves on the SLC).
- This is a two-year commitment.
Qualifications:
- Good academic standing
- Excited about the program
- Committed to being an engaged member of the Student Leadership Council
- Able to represent and communicate the diverse interests and perspectives of current MPA students in a constructive and productive manner
Election Process:
- The Student Leadership Council member is an elected position. The election will be in the form of an online ballot. Each first year class will elect two SLC members. Additionally, the elected GPSF Senator will automatically serve as the third SLC member.
- Candidates self-nominate.
- All first-year MPA students are eligible to vote for the SLC member position.
- Greater than 50 percent of first-year student cohort must participate in the election vote for the results to be binding. The two students with the most votes wins the election.
- Any ties in the SLC member election will be broken by the current second-year SLC members.
- All elections shall be overseen by the MPA Program Office.
- As this is an elected position, the campaigning rules are as follows:
- The platform submitted and included on the ballot is the main part of the campaign.
- If current students approach candidates with questions about their candidacy, they can answer them. Otherwise, candidates are not to initiate conversation about their candidacy nor campaign in the formal sense.
- No class time should be used to campaign.
- Formal MPA listservs should not be used to campaign.
Questions or feedback for the SLC members?
- Contact the members of the SLC with feedback and questions at mpaatunc_SLC@sog.unc.edu.
- Online
The MPA@UNC Student Leadership Council works to guide programming, assist with marketing, and serve as the student voice to program administrators for the Carolina MPA program.
The SLC for MPA@UNC meets each term with MPA Program Office staff. Notes from those meetings are shared broadly with the student body.
Responsibilities of MPA@UNC SLC members Include:
- Assist with programming:
- Serve as panelists in webinar sessions for recruitment and current student programming
- Lead the Happy Hour Series on the platform each term
- Serve as a student ambassador for the program and speak with prospective applicants
- Serve as informal mentors to current students early in the program
- Serve in a student advisory board capacity to program administrators, providing the student perspective where it will be helpful to inform program decisions
Communicate with the SLC! If current students have questions or feedback for the program that they do not wish to share directly with the program staff, we encourage them to contact one of the SLC members. They will meet regularly with MPA@UNC staff and can bring up any positive or constructive feedback that students would like to have shared. Contact information is provided below.
Interested in joining?
- Two times per year, each cohort that has not been a part of an application cycle will be sent information on how they can apply to become a member of the SLC. Two to three students will be selected from each applying cohort, so that we continue to have a good representation of students at different points in the program.
Questions or feedback for the SLC members?
- Contact the members of the SLC with feedback and questions at mpaatunc_SLC@sog.unc.edu.
- Assist with programming: