Public service academy proposed
Megan Getter
Issue date: 1/23/09 Section: News
Megan Getter
Staff Writer
West Point, the United States' premier military academy, has no counterpart for civilians interested in public service. At least not yet.
Recently featured in the New York Times, the U.S. Public Service Academy will offer the first civilian service academy. The Academy would offer four years of free tuition. In return, students would give five years of service after graduation. The Academy graduates would work in areas such as education, healthcare, law enforcement and emergency management, in local, state and federal government.
"The Public Service Academy can be Barack Obama's Peace Corps," Chris Asch, co-founder of the academy, said in a recent interview with The Times. "He needs to take advantage of this moment when people are recognizing the importance of government and build institutions that will last."
The Academy first caught the attention of Senator Hilary Clinton. Clinton later introduced the bill with Republican Arlen Specter from Pennsylvania as co-sponsor.
Students would earn a Bachelor in Liberal Arts major, while specializing in an area of service. The Academy graduates will spend four years learning about service with an emphasis on service learning and international education. Supporters hope that the Academy will instill stronger bonds, more experience and longer commitment to service.
Eighty percent of police agencies in the U.S. cannot find enough qualified applicants to fill vacancies. Supporters have touted the academy as a necessity to fill empty positions in police agencies and the state department.
Known officially as S. 960/H.R. 1671, the bill has support in congress. Last year, 24 senators and 123 representatives co-sponsored the bill. Supporters will reintroduce the bill in February to the 111th Congress.
The Academy has a list of endorsements including names such as Madeleine Albright, Mike Huckabee and Sandra Day O'Connor. Many organizations, such as America's Promise, City Year, Youth Service America and AmeriCorps are also included. Well over 70 college presidents have their names on the endorsement list, including three former superintendents of West Point.
Critics argue that the cost, $250 million annually, is too much to take on in troublesome economic times. Some school administrators object to the Academy, claiming that schools are already offering the education.
Others warn that Academy will be unable to compete with private schools. Many argue that the Academy will create an exclusive group of snobby graduates.
The Academy would offer students a chance to leave college debt free. Graduates would be able to work in the public service sector free from the worry of outstanding loans.
The Academy offers a unique opportunity for women, who represent fifty-seven percent of undergrads. In military academies, women account for just fifteen percent of the total population. The Academy would seek to right the inequality by accurately representing women.
For more information, visit the Academy online at www.uspublicserviceacademy.org.
Staff Writer
West Point, the United States' premier military academy, has no counterpart for civilians interested in public service. At least not yet.
Recently featured in the New York Times, the U.S. Public Service Academy will offer the first civilian service academy. The Academy would offer four years of free tuition. In return, students would give five years of service after graduation. The Academy graduates would work in areas such as education, healthcare, law enforcement and emergency management, in local, state and federal government.
"The Public Service Academy can be Barack Obama's Peace Corps," Chris Asch, co-founder of the academy, said in a recent interview with The Times. "He needs to take advantage of this moment when people are recognizing the importance of government and build institutions that will last."
The Academy first caught the attention of Senator Hilary Clinton. Clinton later introduced the bill with Republican Arlen Specter from Pennsylvania as co-sponsor.
Students would earn a Bachelor in Liberal Arts major, while specializing in an area of service. The Academy graduates will spend four years learning about service with an emphasis on service learning and international education. Supporters hope that the Academy will instill stronger bonds, more experience and longer commitment to service.
Eighty percent of police agencies in the U.S. cannot find enough qualified applicants to fill vacancies. Supporters have touted the academy as a necessity to fill empty positions in police agencies and the state department.
Known officially as S. 960/H.R. 1671, the bill has support in congress. Last year, 24 senators and 123 representatives co-sponsored the bill. Supporters will reintroduce the bill in February to the 111th Congress.
The Academy has a list of endorsements including names such as Madeleine Albright, Mike Huckabee and Sandra Day O'Connor. Many organizations, such as America's Promise, City Year, Youth Service America and AmeriCorps are also included. Well over 70 college presidents have their names on the endorsement list, including three former superintendents of West Point.
Critics argue that the cost, $250 million annually, is too much to take on in troublesome economic times. Some school administrators object to the Academy, claiming that schools are already offering the education.
Others warn that Academy will be unable to compete with private schools. Many argue that the Academy will create an exclusive group of snobby graduates.
The Academy would offer students a chance to leave college debt free. Graduates would be able to work in the public service sector free from the worry of outstanding loans.
The Academy offers a unique opportunity for women, who represent fifty-seven percent of undergrads. In military academies, women account for just fifteen percent of the total population. The Academy would seek to right the inequality by accurately representing women.
For more information, visit the Academy online at www.uspublicserviceacademy.org.
Be the first to comment on this story