Where do students expect their Baruch degrees will take them—to that perfect job, a promotion, a new career or field, a different state or country? Probably few students expect that their studies will lead them to the streets of New York as participants in a secret-shopper sting operation hailing taxicabs. But that was the case for four School of Public Affairs (SPA) students last winter, three from the Master of Public Administration (MPA) program and one from the Bachelor of Science in Public Affairs (BSPA) program.
Their street-hail fieldwork was part of a graduate-level class, Topics in Public Administration, taught by Public Affairs Professor and Associate Dean for Academic Programs Jonathan Engel. The fieldwork, which occurred over the course of four weeks, was conducted on behalf of New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) Chairman David Yassky.
Earlier Yassky reached out to Public Affairs Dean David Birdsell to enlist Baruch students to hail taxi drivers, requesting rides to the Outer Boroughs. It’s something of an open secret that getting a cab to take you from Manhattan to the Outer Boroughs is far from a sure thing. However, drivers are required by TLC rules—with few exceptions—to drive a passenger to any destination in the five boroughs.
What did the Baruch students uncover? They found an overall turndown rate of 53 percent—somewhat higher after hours and lower during peak times. Each student conducted 50 hails.
The students’ fieldwork was coupled with academic study. The four and Engel met as a class five times to discuss their progress but also to go over relevant readings from the academic literature on monopoly and regulation in the taxicab industry. Ultimately, the class prepared and presented a report to the TLC, which it will use as part of a larger effort to enforce taxi regulations. “This is precisely the kind of experience that students seek out Baruch to obtain,” Engel said with pride.
As important as what the students uncovered was what they discovered from this experience. Baruch College Alumni Magazine asked two current MPA students to reflect on the class, the fieldwork, and how this experience changed them.
Phil Braun said the fieldwork transformed his learning experience: “The assigned projects for most classes are theoretical or based on case studies. But for this class, we applied our real-world experiences and research. We worked with a city government agency and learned about the complexities that agencies face when they attempt to conduct such a study. Also, I learned firsthand about the challenges that the city faces when attempting to identify and implement a solution to a problem.”
Jason Cascone agreed, adding, “In addition to the excitement of our ‘covert’ field operations, the academic portion of the class proved to be a valuable experience. Our round-table discussions were insightful, interactive, and inclusive.” Cascone was also appreciative of “the opportunity meet and converse with a rising star in NYC government,” as the student described Commissioner David Yassky. Yassky visited one session of the Topics in Public Administration class, spending an hour discussing the intricacies of the taxi industry with the small class. “I was impressed by the commissioner’s intelligence and presence and his down-to-earth, regular-guy humor and personality,” Cascone said. “Meeting him was quite an honor. Our conversation has been one of the highlights of my experience at SPA.”
Who knows where the next real-world assignment will take Baruch students in the future.
—Diane Harrigan
Click here for the original study article
https://blogs.baruch.cuny.edu/bcam/2011/05/24/going-my-way/