It's been a busy year at CPPA. We would like to thank our customers for giving us the opportunity to work in the following areas:

Policy Related Studies and Reports:
Utah Aging Initiative
We have evaluated the impact of the aging population on state services and developed policies to meet the needs of the state, particularly as the “Baby Boomer” generation begins to retire in 2011. We generated the following reports on aging:

• Anticipating the Opportunities and Challenges of our Aging Population provides basic demographic facts and figures about the aging of Utah’s Baby Boom population;
• Identifying Opportunities and Challenges of our Aging Population highlights the issues, suggestions and recommendations as seen by Utahns.
• Addressing the Opportunities and Challenges of Our Aging Population provides a summary of the issues and discusses ideas and recommendations for raising awareness and encouraging preparation among government agencies for the challenges and opportunities presented by Utah’s aging Baby Boom generation.

Elections
Electronic voting was introduced to Utah this year. We have produced several reports on this topic:

• The Next Big Election Challenge: Developing Electronic Data Transaction Standards for Election Administration
• Public Attitudes About Election Governance
• American Attitudes About Electronic Voting

Nonprofits
In partnership with Utah Nonprofits Association, we have looked at the economic impact of Utah’s nonprofits in our report:

• The Utah Charitable Nonprofit Sector

Education
We have looked at Utah's education system from NCLB to UPASS and generated the following reports:

• Utah Comprehensive School Reform Evaluation Report
• Criterion Referenced Tests Reporting System

Other

• Utah and the Nation: How do we compare?
• Local Government Finance Data
• Western States Budget Reports
• And of course, our Policy Perspectives newsletter

Forums
ASPA
The Utah Chapter of the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) sponsors monthly luncheons for those interested in public administration. Topics discussed this year include the Government Records Access and Management Act (GRAMA); cultural awareness in public administration; the impact of the aging boom on public services; electronic voting; economic development and business recruitment and emergency preparedness. ASPA also sponsored the annual Legislative Preview and a highly successful career fair.

UIR
The mission of the Utah Intergovernmental Roundtable (UIR) is to facilitate discussion and promote understanding of intergovernmental issues in order to enhance the cooperation and interaction of governmental entities. The Roundtable is composed of legislative, executive, state agency, city and county leaders.

After the 2005 legislative session, the members of UIR chose to focus their efforts in 2005 on redevelopment agencies (RDAs). UIR’s very successful annual Summit – RDA’s in Utah: Is Consensus Possible? – was held on September 8, 2005 and focused on furthering the dialogue on RDA’s.

Program Evaluations
Utah SSDI ‘1 for 2’
Utah is one of four states selected by Social Security Administration to conduct a pilot project – Utah SSDI ‘1 for 2’ – testing changes to Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) policies. Current SSDI rules discourage individuals from working.  Social Security Administration wants to discover how to change their policies so SSDI recipients can increase their employment and earnings without losing all of their cash benefits.  This would allow recipients of SSDI to improve their financial independence. SSA awarded the contract to Utah Department of Health (UDOH). UDOH has contracted with Utah State Office of Rehabilitation, University of Utah and Utah State University to assist in the implementation and evaluation efforts. For more information, visit the project’s webpage at www.workabilityutah.org/1for2

Outreach Services
We have enjoyed providing services for the following:

• Utah Municipal Clerks Institute and Academy - administration and instruction
• Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice - organizational development
• Utah Department of Human Resource Management - instruction for Utah's Certified Public Manager Program
• Attorney General's Office - leadership, management and organizational development services
• Local Government Land Use Program - administration and instruction
• County Clerks and Treasurers - training administration
• Utah Judicial Institute, Administrative Office of the Courts - leadership and service development instruction
• Westside Leadership Institute - community development
• Division of Parks and Recreation - leadership and management development
• Division of Water Rights - "at point" and strategic planning
• Utah League of Cities and Towns - presentation at annual conference
• Utah City Managers Association - administration and education
• Housing Authority of Salt Lake County - strategic planning
• Salt Lake County - conference presentation
• Diabetes Prevention and Control Program - conference presentation

Academic
Master of Public Policy
On June 10, 2005 the Utah State Board of Regents approved a new Master of Public Policy degree program at the University of Utah. This program is housed in CPPA and will admit students starting Fall semester 2006. The MPP is designed to develop skills in policy analysis and reflects the variety and cross sectional nature of public policy issues. For more information about the program visit the website at www.cppa.utah.edu/mpp.

Master of Public Administration
During Fall 2005 Semester, 45 new evening students, and 22 new executive students began the MPA program, for a total of 187 current students. We had an exceptionally large and strong applicant pool from which to select. As a result, incoming students in both programs have higher than average undergraduate GPAs and years of work experience. The University of Utah’s Faculty Senate is currently reviewing a proposal to offer a joint MPA/MSW degree program, beginning Fall 2006. For more information about the program visit the website at www.cppa.utah.edu/mpa