The following information should be helpful to you as you plan your move to Athens and the University of Georgia. The “to-do list” is divided into two sections— the Fall Departmental Orientation and MPA Socialization Seminar and the Spring Departmental Orientation.
Fall Departmental Orientation & MPA Socialization Seminar
Fall 2024 Socialization will be held Tuesday, August 6 & Wednesday, August 7, with Saturday, August 10 being the Socialization Service Day. A precise schedule will be made available closer to Socialization.
MPA students are required to attend all sessions, and will receive 1 hour of academic credit in Fall semester, required for graduation. Attendance will be taken at all scheduled events. The MPA Socialization Seminar is a three-day event structured to orient new students to the MPA program, Department, University, and Athens community.
To prepare, please read Portraits of Public Service: Untold Stories from the Front Lines by Staci M. Zavattaro, Jessica E. Sowa, Alexander C. Henderson, and Lauren Hamilton Edwards. One of our seminar sessions will feature a small group discussion about the book. We encourage you to access and begin reading this book soon. We will invite you to complete a pre-assessment survey regarding the book, and will give you the opportunity to submit questions in early July. Here is a link to the book: https://sunypress.edu/Books/P/Portraits-of-Public-Service. Please watch future emails for instructions about completing the pre-assessment survey and submitting questions.
All incoming students will be advised for Fall classes after socialization, appointments will be scheduled August 8, August 9, and August 12.
Building Location
- Socialization will be held in the Special Collections Library, room 285. This building is located at 300 South Hull St. Athens, GA 30602.
Parking for Socialization
- For parking near the Special Collections Library, please use the Hull Deck (W05)
- You can find it on google maps here
- Here is a link to the campus parking map
- You will be given a code before Socialization that will allow you to park free of charge
Free Professional headshots for website biography
- A photographer will be available to take free professional headshots 7:45am – 8:30am both mornings of Socialization. If you do not have a professional headshot to submit with your UGA Public Administration and Policy website biography (see Graduate Profile for Website Form in the Socialization Handouts section below) please arrive a little early to take advantage of this opportunity.
Join us for our Fall 2024 Welcome Reception!
Friday, August 16th – 5pm-7pm
We will be in the Courtyard and Café area on the first floor of Baldwin Hall.
Drop in and say hi to faculty, staff, and other students!
Check your email for the invitation & link to RSVP before August 8!
Spring Departmental Orientation
MPA Students beginning the program in the spring should plan to attend a brief orientation session. For more information please email [email protected].
