The graduate program in public administration at the Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy is taking on a new name while continuing its focus on preparing the next generation of policymakers, researchers, and leaders.

The Cornell Institute for Public Affairs (CIPA) was launched in 1946 and has grown and excelled through the decades as it moved through several academic homes at Cornell. Since the fall of 2021, the program has been a cornerstone of the new Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy. Now CIPA’s name is changing to reflect that new home.

Beginning this fall, the new name of CIPA will be the MPA Program in the Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy, and the degree name will be the Cornell Brooks School MPA.

The goal of the name change is to avoid confusion and to align with naming conventions used throughout higher education. The transition is consistent with the approach used by Ivy League peers and other leading schools.  

“This news may be bittersweet because CIPA has been part of the vocabulary of alumni, faculty, staff, and students for so long,” said program director Matthew Hall. “I am proud of all we achieved under the CIPA name. However, I am also excited that this transition demonstrates the attainment of a longstanding goal – the launch of a public policy school at Cornell. While our name is changing, I want to emphasize that our dedication to offering rigorous interdisciplinary public affairs education at Cornell with a passion for engaged learning is stronger than ever.”

The MPA Program in the Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy offers two options – a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree and an 18-month, online Executive Master of Public Administration (EMPA) degree program. With an interdisciplinary curriculum, students have access to faculty members across Cornell University. Graduates pursue successful careers across a range of fields, including education, healthcare, criminal justice, sustainability, and economic policy.