Masters Degree Transportation Policy, Operations

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Masters DegreeTransportation Policy,Operations
Logistics

• Jonathan L. Gifford, Director
• School of Public Policy
• George Mason University
• 3401 N. Fairfax Dr., MS 3B1
• Arlington, VA 22201
• Tel. [phone] / fax [phone]
• jgifford_at_gmu.edu / transport.gmu.edu

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Changing Context of Transportation Services

• Emergence of supply chain management
• Shift from design construction to operations
  management
• Integration of planning, design, construction
  operations (asset management)
• Intermodalism

• New institutional forms
• Public-private partnerships
• Consortia
• Contracting out
• Deregulation
• Technological innovation
• Supply-side transportation facilities services
• Demand-side just-in-time, supply chain
  management
• Need for multiple skill sets, multiple disciplines

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Degree Background

• New Professional
• Broad, multidisciplinary approach
• Not mode specific
• Public and private sector
• Multidisciplinary faculty
• Housed in School of Public Policy

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School of Public Policy

• 10-year transportation research program
• Home of the National ITS Implementation Research
  Center
• 4 endowed chairs
• 2 university chairs

• Jonathan Gifford, TPOL program director
• Kenneth Button
• Roger Stough
• Laurie Schintler
• Brien Benson
• Jon Obenberger
• Mark Maggio
• George Donohue

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George Mason University

• Established in 1957 as branch of UVA
• Independently chartered in 1972
• 23,000 students
• (7500 graduate)
• 900 faculty
• 3 campuses
• Budget
• 184m Education/General
• 37m Research

• Tier 2 research university
• Degree programs
• 54 undergraduate
• 48 masters
• 13 doctoral
• Hallmark
• Community linkages
• Entrepreneurial culture
• You can do anything you want to do, as long as
  you do it yourself.

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Degree Requirements

• 6 Required Courses
• 4 Professional Studies courses
• MNPS 700, 702, 703, 704
• PUBP 723, Metropolitan Transportation Policy
• PUBP 722, Practicum (taken at end of program)
• 5 Electives
• GMU courses
• 2 at 500 level
• Consortium of Universities of the Washington
  Metropolitan Area
• AU, GW, Georgetown, Catholic, UDC, Maryland
• GMU tuition rates
• With permission

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Student Profile

• 18 students Fall 00 31 students Fall 01
• Multidisciplinary background
• civil, business, merchant marine, public
  administration, English
• Diverse student body
• 4 women (22), 2 African American (11)
• Appalachia/SW Virginia (4), state capitol (7),
  world capitol (7)
• Recently completed SWOT analysis with 50
  discrete observations on the program

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Delivery Locations

• GMU Arlington
• Richmond
• Blacksburg
• Abingdon

Arlington
Blacksburg
Abingdon
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Technical Setup
Abingdon
Video Bridge
ATM Network
ATM Network
384 kbs ISDN
GMU Arlington
Richmond
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Program Highlights

• Strong partners
• VDOT covers tuition (100) and bridge cost
• SW Virginia Higher Ed Center sponsored faculty
  visit, waived fees, supported marketing
• Enthusiastic response from enrolled students,
  applicants, employers

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Future Plans

• Propose degree as MS Transportation Policy,
  Operations and Logistics (2001/2002)
• Acquisition of dedicated videoconference room.
• Expand linkages to employers for recruiting,
  placement
• Expanding/sustaining Abingdon market outreach
  to KY, TN, WV, NC, SC via Appalachian Regl Com,
  other
• Outreach to education/training establishment
• NHI, Defense Management Systems College
• Expand delivery locations
• Hampton Roads, VA in 2002 (?)

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Concluding Observations

• Strong partners have been essential
• Need for face-to-face meetings with all students
• Instituted faculty visits (2 to Abingdon, 2 to
  Richmond in spring 01) for socializing,
  advising, recruiting, originating classes