Hobart and William Smith Colleges

23 February 2026 • Alums • Service HWS and Maxwell Forge a New Path to Public Service By Mary Stone

Students can begin graduate coursework early, secure priority admission and receive scholarships to Syracuse University’s top ranked Maxwell School.

Hobart and William Smith students interested in careers in public service now have a faster, more affordable path to the U.S. News & World Report’s No. 1 graduate program for public affairs through a new partnership with the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University.

The accelerated degree program pathway enables qualified HWS students to begin graduate-level coursework as undergraduates and complete nearly one-third of a master’s degree before earning their bachelor’s. The collaboration reflects a shared commitment between the two institutions to prepare students for leadership in public affairs, international relations and public administration.

Representatives from SU’s Maxwell School will be at the Adams Intercultural Center on Wednesday, Feb. 25 from 12 to 1 p.m. to discuss the program as part of the International Relations Department’s “World Politics Wednesday” monthly pizza lunch series.

Under the new agreement, HWS students may apply in March of their junior year for priority admission consideration to Maxwell’s Master of Public Administration, Master of Arts in International Relations or joint MPA/MAIR programs. Accepted students receive an application fee waiver, dedicated advising and a guaranteed 30 percent tuition scholarship for the remaining graduate credits required after matriculation.

Applications for the HWS Class of 2027 are due by March 15.

Accepted students may enroll in up to two Maxwell graduate courses during their senior year at HWS. They may also transfer up to two additional 600-level International Relations courses completed at HWS, which means substantial graduate work can be finished before they complete their undergraduate studies.

“We hear our students express concerns about their next steps, and also about the costs of graduate education. This addresses both issues — and at the top-ranked School of Public Affairs in the country,” Chair of HWS’ International Relations Department Stacey Philbrick Yadav says. “We cannot put into words how excited we are about this partnership.”

Maxwell School Dean David M. Van Slyke says the partnership is great news for both institutions and the students they serve. “We know that Hobart and William Smith students come highly prepared and bring a genuine interest in making a positive difference for the public good, which is a core to our mission. This pathway not only gives them a head start on their graduate study, preparing them for meaningful careers and opening new opportunities, but they also become part of Maxwell’s global community of students, scholars and alumni committed to leaving the world better than we found it.”

HWS has been developing other combined programs, says Provost and Dean of Faculty Sarah Kirk, including a recently signed agreement for direct admission to the master of science program at SU’s College of Engineering and Computer Science. Currently, HWS offers joint degrees in law  with Cornell Law School through a  3 + 3 program and in engineering with the School of Engineering and Applied Science at Columbia University and the Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth College. 

International Relations majors who have been accepted to the Maxwell School program will be able to enroll in up to two graduate courses during their senior year. For those courses, students will be charged Syracuse University tuition but at the undergraduate non-matriculated rate, which is well below the graduate rate, Yadav explains. Because of Maxwell’s faculty expertise, it is also a great chance for HWS students to take courses on specific topics of interest, like illicit finance, transnational crime, or transatlantic defense policy.

The program options are flexible too. “If an admitted student wants to transfer two International Relations courses from HWS but doesn’t want to drive to Syracuse to take a Maxwell course before graduation, applying as a junior would still give them the advantage of early acceptance and a good scholarship on their remaining graduate tuition at a top-tier program.”

Graduate degrees broaden the range of employment options for students, Professor of International Relations Kevin Dunn explains. “For students interested in developing their management skills, the MPA is a great program. Those more interested in developing their research and analytic skills might prefer the MAIR. But both programs will give students the skills needed to pursue careers across all sectors — government, nonprofits, NGOs, and private sector — in today’s globalized world."

The partnership also reflects longstanding ties between the two institutions. During a visit to Maxwell’s campus last year, Philbrick Yadav and Dunn spotted a banner honoring HWS Trustee Thomas S. Bozzuto ’68, L.H.D. ’18, a Hobart and Maxwell alumnus and staunch supporter of both schools. 

“It wasn’t a connection I knew anything about before that day, but it actually made complete sense,” Philbrick Yadav says.  “The public service ethos of the two institutions aligns so well and is something that has been an important part of Tom’s work as a member and former chair of the Board of Trustees at HWS and as an active alumnus of the Maxwell School.” 

Students who are already succeeding at HWS will flourish even further at the Maxwell School, Dunn says. The numerous past HWS graduates who have gone on to the Maxwell School and the success they have had, he says, demonstrate that. “The partnership was a natural fit between the two schools given the shared values of liberal arts education, interdisciplinary training, global awareness and commitment to service,” he says. 

For students pursuing public service, the pathway offers something rare: the chance to begin shaping their future sooner — and with a clearer sense of purpose.

Top: HWS Trustee Thomas S. Bozzuto ’68, L.H.D. ’18 speaks after receiving the Maxwell Bridge Award during the 2025 Maxwell Awards of Excellence at Syracuse University.