Date of Award

Spring 3-1-2014

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Public Administration (MPA)

Abstract

Based on the findings from the literature review of this study, there is a belief among some public administrators that members of the general public are ill-prepared and unknowledgeable when it comes to participation in the public policy process. This paper looks to examine the potential benefits that a civic engagement program at Contra Costa College (CCC) may have in improving and facilitating public participation from both the side of the public administrator and the side of the public. A literature review will examine the lack of attention that public administration education programs give to the subject of public participation and various aspects and findings about civic engagement in individuals. As a counterpoint, the relative worth of public participation will be examined to question whether such a focus on public participation in educational programs is worthwhile. Survey data was collected from CCC students and members of the public gauging their overall knowledge of public policy and their opinions on the worth of civic engagement and public participation. Interviews were conducted with public officials and administrators of already existing civic engagement or similar programs to gauge their thoughts concerning public participation. Analysis of the data will attempt to connect the insights and impressions of students and administrators with the findings of relevant literature to gauge the overall worth of a civic engagement program at Contra Costa College. The importance of this study lies in the contributions that public participation can bring to the development and implementation of public policy. Citizens can bring local insights to the design and direction of public policy, so it seems prudent to try to study avenues to increase and improve public participation. A civic engagement program at CCC is one such avenue to research. The researcher behind this study is Louis Tamillow, a graduate student at Golden Gate University pursuing a master’s degree in public administration. He previously attended the University of California Berkeley where he received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics. He currently works as a substitute teacher for CCC, the locale of this study.

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