Introduction from the Dean
at the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies

The Andrew Young School had another banner year in 2004, and I am pleased to submit this annual report of accomplishments to you. The U.S. News & World Report, in its annual ranking of public affairs programs, placed us 26th of 220 schools nationally; in our flagship area of public finance and budgeting, the report placed us 5th in the U.S. In several of our other fields of concentration, we were in the top 20. Not bad for a college that was only created in 1996.

Our enrollments are strong. We saw 10,000 students in our classes in 2004, compared to 7,100 in 1997. We also continue to be proud of our diversity: 52 percent of our students are women, 52 percent are minority (African American, Hispanic or Asian) and 30 percent of our graduate students are from other countries.

Faculty scholarship is impressive and getting better. Last year, our faculty and research associates published 213 papers and books, and presented at over 183 professional meetings and conferences. Our faculty gave invited lectures at numerous universities including Syracuse, Northwestern and Tulane Universities. We edit or co-edit 12 journals and serve on the editorial advisory boards of 40 others. Last year, our faculty refereed for 129 different journals.

The centers are doing a booming business in policy analysis, and important public bodies continue to reach out to us. The Georgia Health Policy Center is becoming the advisor of choice on many matters of health policy, ranging from rural health to health care financing and children’s policy. The Fiscal Research Center has now been designated as the home of the state economist for Georgia. The Environmental Research Program continues its strong advisory work on water policy in Georgia. Research Atlanta and the Regional Leadership Forum are at home in the Andrew Young School and continue to do important outreach to the community.

We are continuing to make good on our promise to develop a global focus. Our International Studies Program continues to work all over the world, and is regularly sought after for advice on public policy matters. We hosted two important international conferences, and faculty and research associates worked in 40 countries in 2004.

We push hard to find resources to match our university budget allocation. In fact, last year we worked with a “stock” of $44 million in research money, and in 2004, for every dollar we received from the University, we raised one dollar from external funds.

When I read these pages of the 2004 annual report, I can scarcely believe how much our faculty and staff accomplished this year. All indications are that we will have an even better report for you in 2005.