Writing Across Six Time Zones: Part II
Whose Idea Was This?
By Susanne Glenn

Success breeds success, or so the popular saw goes. For Professor Jack Novack, Program Director of Public Sector Programs for Henson College at Dalhousie University, it was more than folk wisdom. The success of other national programs based at the college inspired him to begin work on what would eventually become the National Advanced Certificate in Local Authority Administration (NACLAA).

In 1999, Professor Novack took his vision of a Canada-wide professional training program for local government administrators to Dr. Edd LeSage, Director of the University of Alberta's Government Studies program. Both saw the partnership as a natural. Not only did their programs share similar values and history, but each academic brought with him a vast regional network of contacts and scholarly skill. And combining the considerable academic, technical and financial resources of two institutions only made sense. Over the course of a weekend, these experienced academics dreamed and visioned, discussed and debated. By Monday, they had a basic outline for the program.

But knowing where they wanted to go was just the first step. In a few hectic semesters, they had to gain approval from their respective institutions, hire expert staff, and tame the technology. All this while forming crucial alliances with professional associations, governments, academics and practitioners who would support and contribute to this innovative program.

With chutzpah and grit, the pieces came together. In September 2002 the first two NACLAA courses, Public Administration Professionalism and Financial Management went online to students across the country.

Professor Novack admits that there have been a few bumps since that weekend in 1999 when the first details of the program were discussed. But the success that inspired him back then now permeates the program, and NACLAA's prospects seem, well, limitless.

Next week, in Writing Across Six Time Zones: From Outline to Online -- The Role of the Curriculum Advisory Committee

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