Supporting Excellence in Political Science and Public Administration
If you were one of many students who benefited from scholarships, assistantships, and work-study appointments, or simply enjoyed good teaching, advising, and the fellowship of favorite teachers, you may welcome the opportunity to give something back so that future generations of students can enjoy similar benefits. Your gifts and support help broaden the opportunities, experiences, and quality of academic life for students in political science and public administration.
Priority needs
The following funds are our current funding priorities:
Certified Nonprofit Program (CNP) - The Certified Nonprofit Professional (CNP) credential is the only national nonprofit credential preparing students (undergraduate, graduate, or post-graduate) for careers in nonprofit management.
Model UN - The Model UN program is designed to educate individuals about the activities of the UN, including current events, pressing international issues, basics of international law, and diplomatic protocol/procedures.
MPA Program - The CMU Master of Public Administration (MPA) program offers a nationally accredited applied professional degree that seeks to be an internationally recognized program for enriching public service and educating practitioners and pre-service students to lead and manage in a variety of public sector settings.
Pre-Law Program (Pre-Law Center) - The Central Michigan University Pre-Law Center is here to advise and assist students and alumni alike in the preparation for careers in law. The Center has many resources available for pre-law students from all majors and disciplines across CMU.
School of Politics, Society, Justice and Public Service - This fund allows for the department to support political science and public administration students to travel within the United States and internationally.
The Washington Center (TWC) - The Washington Center provides immersive internships and academic seminars in Washington, D.C. to students from CMU.
Gift options
If you would like to make a gift or would like more information about how to make of gift of securities, real estate, or include the department in your estate plans, please visit the Central Michigan University Ways to Give website. If you would like to send a gift by mail, please make checks payable to "Central Michigan University" and denote the specific fund on the memo line of the check, and mail it to:
Advancement Office
Carlin Alumni House
Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, MI 48859
Tel: (800) 358-6903
Fax: (989) 774-7159
Department history
The Department of Political Science was created in the spring of 1966 when it was separated from the Department of History and Political Science by the Board of Trustees. The 1966-67 CMU Bulletin is the first to show an independent Department of Political Science. Dr. James Davis was the first chair. Dr. Richard Wysong had been chair of the combined department. On October 7, 1966, page 3 CM-Life reports on the creation of the new Department of Political Science. Previous to that, Political Science courses were offered by the Department of History and Civics which started in 1897. CMU Political Science classes started to be offered in 1903. In 2014, the Department of Political Science was renamed to the Department of Political Science and Public Administration. On July 1, 2022, the department merged with the Sociology and Social Work programs to become the School of Politics, Society, Justice and Public Service.