HUD No. 00-346
Further Information:	For Release
In the Washington, DC area: 202/708-0685	Monday
Or contact your local HUD office	December 11, 2000

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HUD SELECTS FIRST CANDIDATES FOR NEW MASTERS PROGRAM IN PUBLIC HOUSING ADMINISTRATION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND

WASHINGTON - U.S. Housing and Urban Development Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian Housing Harold Lucas announced today the first candidates selected for the HUD Masters Program in public policy, with an emphasis in public housing administration, sponsored by HUD and the University of Maryland.

The 17 candidates, who come from public housing agencies across the U.S., will begin the degree program at the University's School of Public Affairs next month.

"These individuals represent the dawning of a new type of public housing," said Lucas. "Tomorrow's public housing will foster economic self-sufficiency and create safe and vibrant communities that are sources of pride for all residents. This degree program combines experience with the best education to continue this vast transformation of public housing."

The candidates were formally introduced by Lucas and Dr. Jacqueline Rogers, Senior Fellow in the Office of Executive Programs at the School of Public Affairs, during a ceremony at HUD headquarters in Washington, D.C. The candidates were selected from about 40 applicants based on their academic achievement and experience in public housing.

HUD will pay the estimated $21,500 cost of tuition, fees and books for the degree candidates, who will attend an intensive, one-year program at the University specifically designed to meet the demanding and complex needs of public housing administrators. To receive the funding, candidates have agreed to remain with their current employers, one of the nation's public housing authorities, for three years after completing the program.

Each candidate's current employer will provide the student leave with pay, and may also provide for other expenses such as lodging and travel, if necessary.

The 12-month curriculum begins next month and will include six courses in managing public housing authorities and six courses in public policy. The management courses include topics such as housing finance, asset management, community development, managing social services, leadership, principles and practices in public housing management and evaluation of welfare reform. The public policy courses include topics such as political analysis, microeconomics, finance, moral dimensions in public policy and management strategies in public organizations.

The candidates will also be required to complete a special project in an area of interest to HUD and a housing authority. Course work will be supplemented by field trips to housing developments and other sites, and meetings with Members of Congress, senior HUD staff or housing sector representatives. Each candidate will have a mentor experienced in housing development or management.

Since 1994, the Maryland School of Public Affairs (MSPA) and HUD have offered several executive education programs for housing professionals in the areas of housing and community development.

The MSPA has offered credit and non-credit courses in community and affordable housing development to more than 2,500 participants from HUD, the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Defense, housing authorities, state housing finance agencies and not-for-profit organizations such as the Local Initiatives Support Corporation, Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation and the Enterprise Foundation. MSPA has been rated by U.S. News and World Report as among the top 20 schools of public policy and management.

HUD administers federal aid to approximately 3,400 local housing agencies nationwide that serve approximately 3 million families in public housing and the Section 8 voucher programs.

The following individuals were accepted into the program:

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