January 2008

Debating the Case for a U.S. Public Service Academy

The notion of a U.S. Public Service Academy (PSA) can be traced to George Washington's vision of a national university located in the nation's capital. Such a university, Washington and his supporters believed, could develop national leadership, set a standard for academic excellence, and help bind the nation together. Today, this ambitious notion--embodied in the proposed U.S. Public Service Academy Act--has won the backing of fifteen cosponsors in the Senate and eighty-six in the House, as well as a "who's who" of notable supporters.

The proposed academy would serve as a civilian counterpart to the military service academies: a federally subsidized, four-year college education in exchange for five years of mandatory service following graduation. The PSA would offer a structured academic program focused on service and leadership, with graduates placed in public sector jobs in positions of critical need and strategic importance and in fields ranging from education to law enforcement.

Skeptics have raised concerns that it is foolhardy for the government to mimic a service that higher education already provides effectively and that it would be more efficient and effective to provide scholarships for students to enroll in targeted college and university programs. What are the merits of a PSA? What might it offer that is not available at existing institutions? What concerns does it pose? On January 9, 2008, AEI hosted a tough-minded discussion in which cofounder Chris Myers Asch addressed these issues with prominent proponents and critics.

Frederick M. Hess
AEI

Efforts to create a PSA began during the early days of the republic. Benjamin Rush initially called for the establishment of a federal university. George Washington also supported the notion. Decades later, presidents like Ulysses S. Grant and Rutherford B. Hayes carried on the vision of a PSA. Andrew Carnegie also contemplated founding a national institution in Washington, D.C., but decided that such an institution would harm existing colleges.

Today, the conversation about whether a PSA should be established in the United States continues. Although efforts thus far have been unsuccessful, proponents of the PSA are growing. In fact, Senator Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) and former governor Mike Huckabee endorse the proposed U.S. Public Service Academy Act. Nonetheless, possible problems with the creation of a national academy need to be addressed.

Chris Myers Asch
U.S. Public Service Academy

There is a need for a PSA in twenty-first century America. A federally subsidized four-year university could create a new generation of public service-minded citizens. The academy would encourage civic responsibility and prepare undergraduates for the public sector. A national public college would aid not just students who attend the university but all individuals who have an interest in a thriving public sector.

Although the vision of a national public college has existed for decades, now is the time to seriously consider the foundation of a national university directly tied to public service. One reason is that baby boomers who work in the public sector are retiring at rapid rates, and the vacancies left by these retirees need to be filled. Also, young people are eager to serve their country. The popularity of programs such as Teach For America speaks to the growing desirability of public service positions. Lastly, youths raised in the 1980s were often not interested in public service. The establishment of a PSA would make public service occupations "cool" again.

Military service academies are somewhat similar to the proposed PSA, but military institutions attract more men than women. Women, however, are extremely interested in public service. The large number of women in Teach For America, for example, reflects their eagerness to engage in this kind of work. The federal university would attract women and men who want to serve the nation but shy away from military service. The planned national institution would also be different from existing colleges because no college has a mandatory service requirement in a specified position upon graduation. The PSA thus fills a specific niche in society.

Philip I. Levy
AEI

The effort to encourage public service and foster commitment to the public sector should be supported. A PSA, however, would not adequately address these aims. The problem at stake is not the lack of trained and civil-minded individuals. Students have a degree of interest in public service positions. Instead, the problem lies with the government. Many young people are discouraged from working in the public sector because the government often rewards seniority and does not pay new employees nearly as well as individuals twenty years their senior.

Another problem with the PSA is that individuals who are forced to join the public sector after graduation could flee to the private sector after the compulsory five years. Convincing top-notch individuals to remain in the public sector after the mandatory five years is a difficult task. The mission should be to highlight the rewarding qualities of public sector positions and convince individuals to stay beyond their five-year terms. Rather than a national academy, student scholarships directed toward specific colleges and universities are the answer.

John Bridgeland
Civic Enterprises, LLC

Public service is central to the American identity. Individuals have the opportunity to change policy and influence millions of Americans through public service. Because 40-50 percent of federal servants are retiring in the upcoming years, the proposed PSA has the potential to fill vacancies in the public sector and instill people with a sense of civic responsibility. The U.S. Public Service Academy Act also has the ability to pass through Congress.

There are 3-4 million public service positions available, but demand for such positions is greater than available slots. There is a yearning among young people to serve in this capacity, and more people should be educated regarding the role they can play in government.

Stephen Joel Trachtenberg
George Washington University

The proposed PSA is not a good idea. Instead of being focused on creating another institution, attention should be focused on an institute or summer program that college graduates from all around the nation could attend. Also, it might be less expensive to build another program like the Reserve Officers' Training Corps or subsidize existing institutions that focus on public service initiatives. It does not make sense financially to build a new university.

The proposed academy is not well-defined. There are many questions that remain unanswered. For example, how is it ensured that graduates will obtain jobs? How would the institution attract good professors? Who would oversee the quality of education and pay for the buildings and classrooms? These questions speak to the difficulty of creating a brand new institution.

Robert Tobias
Public Sector Executive Programs, American University

The PSA is a solution to the need for leadership in the public sector. Although existing universities and colleges prepare students for public service, no school will reinforce public service to the same extent as a national PSA. The academy would create individuals who possess leadership skills and are aware of the need for change.

The distinguishing characteristic of the proposed academy is the culture that would be produced. Students of the PSA would form unique bonds as they work together to achieve the same goal. These bonds would strengthen the young workforce in the public sector.

AEI intern Jessica Farace prepared this summary.