Date: July 26, 2007
Contact: Lindsay Gladstone
Governors State University
Phone: (708) 534-7090
Fax: (708) 534-8399
Email: l-gladstone@govst.edu
For Immediate Release
University Park, IL July 26, 2007 – Students at Governors State University will again have the opportunity to learn first hand what it means to formulate and implement public policy from a professor who not only knows and understands the process, but lives it every day.
Senator Debbie Halvorson, majority leader of the Illinois State Senate and long-time senator representing the 40th district, will teach Topics in Policy Analysis at GSU this fall. Last fall, she taught her first class at the university.
“We are pleased that Senator Halvorson has agreed to teach this course,” said Dr. Eric Martin, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. “The students who took her course last year were both enlightened and enriched as she brought together the academic aspects of public policy and her practical experience serving in the Illinois legislature.” The course is a three credit hour graduate level, Topics in Policy Analysis, is offered is in the Political and Justice Studies program. The class is also open to students in other degree programs as well as undeclared students until the maximum enrollment is reached.
“The development and implementation of public policy goes beyond what can be learned from books. Public policy issues should be studied from all sides and perspectives. I hope to bring the issues to life through my experiences in government,” explained Halvorson.
“To create a viable, effective public policy, many issues and opinions need to be analyzed. Financial and practical limitations need to be considered. Public policy involves so much more than just wanting to do the right thing. It involves negotiation and compromise,” added Halvorson. “”In this course, I will illustrate that public policy and politics are ultimately the art of compromise.”
In addition to her desire to share her knowledge with her students, Halvorson is also pleased to be back at Governors State University. Having earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from GSU, she has a great deal of respect for the university.
“I was able to raise my children, be a State Senator, and go to school to earn my degrees all at the same time because of Governors State University. The flexibility of class scheduling enabled me to gain the education I had long desired.”
The course will be held on Mondays from 4:30 to 7:20 p.m. in the Fall Trimester beginning on September 4. Currently, applications and registration are being accepted.
Governors State University is located at 1 University Parkway, University Park. For more information, call (708) 534-4010, or visit www.govst.edu/cas.
