About our Students
The Romney Institute instills fundamental management principles and skills in all students through the core curriculum. These core classes provide a solid foundation in the following areas:
- Qualitative and quantitative decision-making
- Written and oral communication
- Ethical and creative problem-solving
- Financial management
- Management and leadership essentials
Students also gain more in-depth education and experience in a specialization of their choice: local government management, financial management, human resource management, not-for-profit management/ international development, and law. Students learn specialized skills and engage in projects dedicated to their chosen field. The following summaries explain the expertise learned in each specialization and highlight some of the real-world application projects the students have accomplished.
Local Government Management
Through case analyses, field studies consulting projects and hands-on work with municipalities, the local government management track provides students with experience dealing with various local and state government issues, such as service delivery, economic development, land use, annexation, and privatization. Students also gain experience identifying and resolving legal and ethical dilemmas in addition to budgetary and financial problems.
Intern Accomplishments, Eagle Mountain, Utah
In one summer, a student intern helped finalize the fiscal year budget, created an exhaustive five-year capital facilities plan for both the parks and streets divisions, coordinated a cost/benefit analysis of the City’s fleet in relation to a possible lease option, assisted in the creation of a new in-house engineering division, and performed several benchmarking studies including a detailed analysis of a municipal health care benefits package.
Efficiency of Services, City of Mapleton, Utah
A student team conducted a cost-effectiveness analysis of the City of Mapleton’s lawn-mowing services. With the options of providing the service in-house, contracting with an outside agency, or a combination of both, the team provided the City Council with a benchmark analysis and a one-year snapshot of the costs and effectiveness of each option.
Alternative Work Schedules, Spanish Fork City, Utah
For Spanish Fork City, Utah, students conducted an analysis of a 4/10 workweek. The students reviewed the literature on alternative work schedules, developed and conducted surveys on both employee and citizen perceptions of the 4/10 workweek, and then presented their findings to the Spanish Fork City Council.
Growth Issues in the City of Syracuse, Utah
Being one of the fastest growing communities in the state of Utah, Syracuse City requested a team of Romney Institute students to evaluate what amenities the community desired and to analyze their methods of financing public services. The student team determined that the majority of citizens desired a recreation center with a swimming pool. In addition, the team concluded that the city’s current methods of funding operations would not be successful in face of their current and projected growth. The team forecasted both infrastructure and financing needs at the city’s mature size and a strategic plan to plan for those needs.
Financial Management
Students who specialize in financial management are equipped with the analytical thinking and problem solving skills to manage a variety of financial issues with which both public and not-for-profit organizations are faced, including managing cash flows, investing idle funds, managing public debt, and executing performance audits.
Intern Accomplishments, United States Postal Service
One student intern researched literature and current market/ industry trends to conduct a benchmark analysis of best-in-class Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) models. After analyzing the USPS needs, the intern determined that postal requirements were unique and would therefore need a specialized TCO model. The intern proceeded to define, design, and develop an in-house TCO model using visual basic programming skills. This tool will potentially save the U.S. Postal Services millions of dollars in contract savings.
Bond Rating Vulnerability, State of Utah
The State of Utah was facing the possibility of having lower bond ratings at the same time the state may need to provide many more public services. A team of MPA students evaluated the vulnerability of the State of Utah’s credit rating in the face of these issues.
Financial Consequences of Dividing Districts, Alpine School District
With the possibility of dividing a school district into two smaller districts, a team of MPA students evaluated the costs and benefits. The team projected future growth and needs and analyzed the complex state and local funding sources based on their projections. The team forecasted the impact the possible separation would have on citizens’ taxes. Their final conclusions that smaller school districts would be less efficient led to the final decision concerning the issue.
Human Resource Management
The Human Resource Management track provides students with an in-depth understanding of the best practices to attract, retain, and motivate employees in the public and not-for-profit sectors. Students gain experience and knowledge in human resource law, recruitment and selection practices, training and employee development, labor relations, compensation strategies and benefits. In addition, students also study the benefits of making human resources a strategic partner in the organization.
Intern Accomplishments at BYU Human Resource Development
One intern managed a new department initiative focused on providing student managers with key leadership skills for their first management role. Using department resources, personal research and experience, and team inputs, the intern created a new course that is now offered for university credit as part of the BYU curriculum. The intern has taught this leadership course as well as a variety of training workshops for students and personnel, including New University Personnel Orientation.
Efficient Organizational Structure, Utah Department of Health
Confronting the issues of increased demands and budget cuts, a student team evaluated the complex organization design of the State Health Department. After considering the department’s financial and staffing restraints, the student team developed an organizational structure that would maximize efficiency.
Retirement Planning, United States Forest Service
With the baby boomers approaching retirement age, the U.S. Forest Service wanted help from Romney Institute students to accurately forecast and plan for future regional needs. The students analyzed the current workforce in the Western region, determined the number of people planning retirement in various timeframes, and developed strategies to prepare, train, and recruit employees.
Job Analysis, Romney Institute of Public Management
A team of students conducted a complete job analysis for all staff positions in the Romney Institute of Public Management. They created and designed a questionnaire for the job incumbents, conducted personal interviews, and analyzed the complete questionnaires. They wrote accurate position descriptions and identified the necessary knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics for each position. Lastly, they compiled a list of interview questions to assess future candidates’ qualifications according to the requirements.
Not-for-Profit Management/ International Development
The not-for-profit track immerses students in every aspect of managing a non-profit organization. Through field study consulting projects, volunteer work, and non-profit agency projects, students gain experience in grant-writing, marketing, fundraising, assessing community needs, and evaluating projects and processes. While working with different not-for-profit organizations, students also are exposed to issues concerning volunteer management, social entrepreneurship, market research and board/ staff relations.
Intern Accomplishments at FINCA International
The intern assisted with computer research and text for proposals which netted nearly $100,000 of research funding and processed and analyzed databases for 11 FINCA country program poverty assessments. The intern trained research interns on the specifics of the poverty assessments, including sampling, data collection, and logistical issues. The intern then continued to supervise and coach the research interns on preparing reports to host-country management and helped them solve problems as they arose in the field.
Strategic Marketing, Families Supporting Adoption
A team of students were engaged in helping the FSA reach two main target audiences: couples interested in adopting children and birth parents facing unplanned pregnancies. After conducting surveys and focus groups, the team recommended a strategic marketing plan to improve the agency’s brochures and other forms of communication as well as to enhance the channels of contact.
Competitive Analysis and Market Research, ArtSpace
ArtSpace, a nonprofit agency dedicated to creating, fostering, and preserving affordable spaces for artists and arts organizations, employed a team of students to conduct a funding and market research study. The team also completed an analysis of competitors to compare rental rates and opportunities for children’s art programs.
Grant Writing, Volunteer Care Clinic
The help the Volunteer Care Clinic, a new non-profit alliance in Utah County dedicated to providing free medical services to people in need, three students surveyed non-profit directors in the region to determine non-profit priorities and views on the greatest needs in Utah County. In addition to surveying the non-profit directors, the student group researched various potential funding sources and wrote a grant proposal worth $15,000 for needed medical supplies and equipment to the Lawrence and Janet Dee Foundation.
MPA/JD
In addition to the four emphases above, the Romney Institute and the J. Reuben Clark Law School offer a four-year, joint degree program in which qualified students may obtain both a master’s degree in public administration and a juris doctorate degree.
