<p>While the motives and timing of several of the sponsors are eyebrow-raising, this seems to be a very good idea. I hope that some day we'll be able to expand on the idea of exchanging financial aid for education for months or years of civilian service following graduation, starting with making all help to foreign students conditional to civilian service in the US. </p>
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[quote]
The U.S. Public Service Academy will be America's first national civilian university, a flagship institution designed to build a "more perfect union" by developing leaders of character dedicated to service in the public sector.</p>
<p>Modeled on the military service academies, the Public Service Academy will provide a rigorous undergraduate education followed by five years of civilian service to the country. It will develop young leaders with the character, intellect, and experience necessary to meet the challenges of the twenty-first century. </p>
<p>The Academy will offer four years of tuition-free education in exchange for five years of civilian service following graduation. The Academy will serve roughly 5,100 high-achieving students from across the United States and the world. </p>
<p>The Academy will offer a *unique curriculum that combines a broad-based liberal arts education with an emphasis on service learning and international education. * The combination of rigorous academic work with hands-on learning experiences will give our students the analytical skills, academic background, and practical experience they need to think critically and flexibly about the challenges of the twenty-first century.</p>
<p>Academy graduates will spend five years serving their nation by working as teachers, park rangers, police officers, border agents, and other critical public service jobs at the local, state, national and even international levels.
<p>Sounds pretty cool. I'd be interested in going, except the civilian service field doesn't really appeal to me. I'm sure it will be popular to some, though.</p>
<p>SOMEONE TOOK MY IDEA !!!!! (Seriously!) I was about to post this concept a couple of weeks ago on a thread (I forget the title) which concerned financial aid & its impact on college choice. I was about to say, "Why can't there be a Service Academy with service not specific to military but to other-governmental?" (And specifically designed with leadership in mind) Ha! :)</p>
<p>I really like this idea. It will be interesting to see whether the Academy takes off. I think that college graduates with extra leadership and service training would be able to do very well in the public service sectors they are placed in and will be attractive to many companies and services after their time is served.</p>
<p>Sounds terrific. The range of "critical public service jobs" cited seems dreadfully unimaginative (but maybe they were trying to state the obvious.) Not exactly clear why they need an academy, though -</p>
<p>"The Academy will offer a unique curriculum that combines a broad-based liberal arts education with an emphasis on service learning and international education."</p>
<p>There are some very fine colleges and universities, or programs within same, that make that claim already.</p>
<p>Post graduate job may very well be "Civil Service in the US Armed Forces".
Don't flame me. This is not a commentary about sacrifice or support. I just want to point out that you may not be a Grand Canyon Park Ranger after graduation. </p>
<p>What I do object to is the provision in the bill to admit and train non-US citizens for free as long as they've pre-arranged with their government to have a public service job in their own country upon graduation. How does this get enforced?</p>
<p>For US Citizens, jobs are assigned, not chosen. If you don't complete the 5 years, you pay back the cost of the Academy. Do the other US Service Academies admit international students?</p>
<p>yes, there are international students at the military academies. This is West Point but I assume they are all similar, since it's regulated by federal law.</p>
<p>"167 nations were invited to nominate candidates for the USMA Class of 2010; this expanded list of nations was the largest number in this program's history. The goal is to admit fifteen (15) International Cadets each year."</p>
<p>
[quote]
What I do object to is the provision in the bill to admit and train non-US citizens for free as long as they've pre-arranged with their government to have a public service job in their own country upon graduation.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Let's assume we need to buy some love from abroad. That provision is flawed. Stalin was wrong: we no longer sell the rope that could hang us; we give it away.</p>
<p>We -that is various U.S. govt. agencies - train thousands of foreign military and police. Originally focused on narco related issues, since 9/11 " In a speech on March 11, 2002, President Bush clearly explained the purpose of this far-reaching effort when he said, "we will not send American troops to every battle, but America will actively prepare other nations for the battles ahead." We focus on training for troops in terrorist areas.
I have great faith that, though mistakes abound in any govt. that the D of D and the like are "buying love from abroad".</p>
<p>Paula Abdul, Willie Nelson and Flea from the Red Hot Chilli Peppers support the Department of Peace and the creation of a Peace Academy. How awesome is that?</p>
<p>By the way, the proposed site for the U.S. Public Service Academy is the Walter Reed Hospital campus. </p>
<p>We're likely going to hear much more about this on the 2008 campaign trail as the PSA (not to be confused with the Prosate blood test) main sponsor in the Senate is Hillary Clinton.</p>
<p>PSA, DOD, now were talking like beltway insiders. Not long and fancy, people still call the National Foreign Affairs Training Center (NFATC) FSI, for the old moniker Foreign Service Institute.</p>