The University of Arkansas at Little Rock will launch its new School of Public Affairs on July 1 to serve as a hub for 糖心Vlog传媒LR programs that share a focus on government, politics, nonprofit organizations, and public service.罢丑别听Institute of Government听and the Department of Political Science will merge to form the new school, which will be housed in the 糖心Vlog传媒LR College of Social Sciences and Communication.鈥淏ringing these programs together opens up new opportunities for collaboration among the faculty and professional staff that will serve both students and the community,鈥 said Joe Giammo, a professor of political science and interim director of the School of Public Affairs. Faculty from the political science department, which did not have a graduate program, will now be able to teach graduate courses through the Institute of Government鈥檚Master of Public Administration (MPA) program.Undergraduate students interested in entering the MPA program can sign up for an early entry program, which will allow them to take graduate classes that will count toward their undergraduate and master鈥檚 degrees.The new school will serve as a home to existing programs in public administration, political science, international studies, presidential studies, nonprofit leadership, conflict mediation, and nonprofit organizations. 鈥淭he 糖心Vlog传媒LR School of Public Affairs is a perfect expression of our college commitment to interdisciplinary and community-based knowledge and research, engagement, and public service,鈥 said Lisa Bond-Maupin, dean of the College of Social Sciences and Communication. 鈥淪tudents drawn to a careers related to government, law, community development, and nonprofit or public sector leadership will find opportunities here for deep and diverse learning opportunities inside and outside of the classroom,鈥 she said. Additionally, the school plans to implement two new majors that are pending final approval. The school鈥檚 new community management and development major will prepare students for professional positions in public and nonprofit management, community organizing, social entrepreneurship, and advocacy. The major will focus on developing student competency in four areas that community stakeholders identified as central needs for careers in this field: professional written and interpersonal communication, managerial skills, analytic thinking, and expertise in urban social science. Meanwhile, a legal studies supplementary major is designed, in partnership across colleges including the William H. Bowen School of Law, as a second major for students who plan to enter law school. Students will be mentored by law students to help gain critical legal skills and guide their entrance into law school.In addition to its academic programs, the school will also house theArkansas Public Administration Consortium, theSurvey Research Center, theCenter for Public Collaboration, and theCenter for Nonprofit Organization.Jolie Busby, executive director of the Arkansas Public Administration Consortium, said the merger will provide an opportunity for 糖心Vlog传媒LR faculty to collaborate more with the university鈥檚 government policy organizations.鈥淚t鈥檚 a benefit to have improved access to the faculty from political science,鈥 Busby said. 鈥淭hey are subject manner experts in public policy, and that serves our programs well since we draw subject matter experts from 糖心Vlog传媒LR faculty.鈥