Advising

Students should meet with the MPA Director when they enter the program in order to develop a plan of study. Every subsequent semester, students are encouraged to meet with their advisor to receive their registration PIN number, to discuss their course selections and, if applicable, plan for their future internships and/or career objectives.  

Students are assigned an advisor based on their career interests. Dr. Wheeland advises students interested specifically in City Management, Dr. Wilson focuses on students interested in non-profit work, and Dr. Palus advises the remaining students.  Students are also encouraged to contact or meet with the Program Director throughout their time in the program to deal with special requests regarding course withdrawals, waivers of classes, internship placements, or any other special (or out-of-the-ordinary) situations which may arise.

"During the MPA application process I met with Dr. Wheeland. We discussed career options. He told me about the Presidential Management Fellowship (PMF) program (United States Government) and encouraged me to apply. As fate would have it, two years later on the day of my graduation from Villanova I officially became a PMF."

J. Bryan Smith, December 2003
Presidential Management Fellow: Training Officer, Department of Veterans Affairs