Andrew Cuomo,
Secretary,
Office of Public Affairs,
Department of Housing and Urban Development,
Washington, DC 20410

FOR RELEASE
Tuesday, August http://www.puaf.umd.edu/oep/HUDFellows/. HUD AND UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND TO OFFER MASTER'S DEGREE IN PUBLIC HOUSING WASHINGTON - Housing and Urban Development Secretary Andrew Cuomo and University of Maryland President C. D. Mote, Jr. announced today that this January the University of Maryland School of Public Affairs will become the first in the nation to offer a HUD-sponsored master's of public policy in public housing administration. "HUD is fundamentally transforming public housing, tearing down the high-rises, opening the doors to opportunity for residents and re-connecting once isolated enclaves of the poor and dispossessed to the cities and economies around them," said Cuomo. "It's a huge challenge, particularly for those on the ground and running our public housing authorities. This new master's program - the first in the nation - will insure that, in the decades ahead, we have a superbly-trained corps of public housing executives ready to meet today's challenges and tomorrow's." Since 1994, the Maryland School of Public Affairs has partnered with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in several executive education programs for housing professionals in the areas of Housing and Community Development. "The University of Maryland is pleased to once again partner with HUD and to be at the forefront in educating public housing managers in this much-needed area of study," said Mote. "This nationally-recognized Master's Degree will provide the 'best and the brightest' housing professionals with the expertise needed to lead and manage public housing authorities." The first class of 25 master's candidates will enter the university in late January, 2001 for a 12-month curriculum of courses in housing finance, asset management, community development, quantitative analysis, delivering social services, negotiating techniques and microeconomic analysis. To attain the degree, candidates will be required to have completed 13 courses or 39 credit hours in one of three specialized areas - Advanced Housing Finance, Managing Difference: Interest Based Negotiations, or Evaluation of Welfare Reform. "The program fits squarely into the School's mission as a community dedicated to providing current and future leaders with the knowledge and skills they will need to craft and implement public policies in a complex policy environment," said MSPA Dean Susan C. Schwab "This new partnership is a logical extension of the School's long term association with HUD and other professionals from the housing and community development community." They will also be required to complete a "capstone project" in the form of a study of an issue of concern to HUD and a housing authority. Course work will be supplemented by field trips, meeting with members of Congress, senior HUD staff or representatives of the housing sector and field trips to affordable housing developments. Each candidate will have a private sector mentor experienced in housing development or management. To be considered for the program, a candidate must have at least five years of experience in public housing, have graduated from a four-year college or university with at least a 3.0 grade point average, have the potential for promotion within their authorities or HUD and be committed to remaining in the profession for the long term. The estimated per student cost is $21,500, which includes tuition set at the standard out-of-state rate, fees and books. HUD will cover the full cost of tuition and books for each candidate while their agencies will be expected to give candidates leave with pay and to provide funds for student lodging and any travel, if necessary. HUD's financial contribution will be structured as a forgivable loan, with one-third of the obligation retired in each of three successive years following completion of the degree that the candidate serves a housing authority. The Maryland School of Public Affairsærated by U.S. News and World Report as among the top 20 schools of public policy and managementæ 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.

The first class will be selected jointly by the University and HUD, with applications due September 29, 2000, admissions decisions expected by October 27th and classes to start on January 29, 2001. For further information contact Monica Moody Moore, Director of Admissions at 301-405-7360. You may also access the HUD Fellows website at http://www.puaf.umd.edu/oep/HUDFellows/.