Performance Management track

Now entering its eight year, the highly selective Performance Management is a unique opportunity for the nation's best graduate students in public affairs, public policy, and public administration to spend a summer in Oregon working on projects aimed at improving the performance of public and not-for-profit enterprises.

BACKGROUND

The Performance Management program's primary aim remains the attraction of outstanding graduate students to learn about, continue, and extend the pioneering work in performance measurement and management that launched in Oregon in the mid- to late-1980s. The need to focus on, achieve, and articulate results remains a top priority today for governments everywhere.

This Fellowship was created in 2002 by the Oregon Business Council with assistance from the Hatfield School of Government at Portland State University, which now hosts the program. The Performance Management Fellowship continues to evolve with the support and encouragement of a number of organizations that include the Oregon Progress Board, Oregon Department of Transportation, and City of Portland's Auditors Office.

TARGETED MAJORS

This program is available to current graduate students majoring in public affairs, public policy, and public administration. Consideration will be extended to applicants from other majors that are involved in program evaluation, process management, organizational effectiveness, innovation and productivity improvement.

LOCATION OF PLACEMENTS

Most placements in 2009 will be in Oregon with state and local governments, and not-for-profits, with a smaller number possible in the state of Washington and elsewhere.

TESTIMONIALS

OPI Interns in their own words .

"It was an amazing experience with a lot of autonomy and responsibility! "

"The OPI program provides excellent access to public agencies in Oregon, as well as the opportunity to engage challenging policy issues. "

"I think working in a relatively small state over the summer gave me a chance to be involved in a project that will actually bring significant change. Rather than just answering phones and making copies I got to work on a significant project. "

"An absolutely worthwhile experience. "

"It's a great program in a great state run by great people who want government to function more efficiently and effectively. "

"Excellent state and local networking opportunities in a beautiful area of the country! "

"Great opportunity, great class, great leadership."

OPI Sponsors .

"I've only participated one year, but that single experience was overwhelmingly positive. We had a very talented, able and effective intern this summer and the experience has left me very positively inclined toward the OPI program."

"Five summers: five great people who have provided very valuable service to us and to Oregon."

"An excellent program at a reasonable price to bring talented and interested public policy and management graduate students to Oregon to learn and practice performance management."

"It was the best money we've ever spent on an internship program."

"I truly believe in this wonderful program. I would encourage other agencies to participate if they had an opportunity to do so."

"We felt we had an excellent intern that fit exactly what we needed. We definitely got our money's worth."