Courses & Pricing

Certified Public ManagerŪ Program

The Heartland Certified Public ManagerŪ (CPM) program is a professional education opportunity for managers working in government agencies, nonprofits, and organizations that contract to provide public services and meet community needs. CPM is a nationally accredited management and certification program in which participants develop and strengthen their management skills through our competency-based curriculum. The program can fill a training gap for staff with significant technical expertise who seek to further their knowledge of current management and leadership practices.

The CPM program runs on a calendar year, with all sessions starting in January. To see meeting dates, choose a session below and view the full schedule under session details.

Click a date below for additional class information and application.

January 10, 2024 to November 7, 2024, Finney County (Garden City, KS)
January 16, 2024 to November 13, 2024, KU Edwards Campus (Overland Park, KS)
January 18, 2024 to November 15, 2024, Online using Zoom (-, ONLINE)
January 23, 2024 to November 20, 2024, (Topeka, KS)

Emerging Leaders Academy

Ensuring that future leaders have the skills they will need to face unexpected challenges and address complex problems has never been so crucial. Our Emerging Leaders Academy targets promising, non-managerial staff to support skills development around leadership, interpersonal communication, relationship-building, and navigating change. Participants gain skills that can be applied immediately to increase their effectiveness while organizations gain a more prepared and engaged talent pool to draw from for the future.


Select a cohort option below to learn more or register. Note that our system requires we list 'KS' in the location but we welcome participants from anywhere.

February 15, 2024 to June 6, 2024, (Richardson, TX)
February 21, 2024 to June 14, 2024, (Olathe, KS)
February 22, 2024 to June 13, 2024, Online using Zoom (-, ONLINE)
February 23, 2024 to June 14, 2024, Kansas Health Institute (Topeka, KS)

Executive Leadership Seminar - Public Service Leadership: Creating a Culture for High Performance

Facilitated by faculty from the nation's #1 program in local government management and professional development experts from KU's Public Management Center, this week-long seminar is a premier leadership opportunity for executive-level managers to explore leadership strategies to create a culture that inspires and enables employees to excel.

$1,500 per person

January 8-11, 2024, KU Edwards Campus (Overland Park, KS)

Kansas City/County Management Conference

We, at the KU Public Management Center, are honored to be the hosting agency for this annual conference for city and county leaders in Kansas. We partner with the Kansas Association of City/County Management (KACM) Conference Planning Committee and are pleased to present this as their association's spring conference.

Our goal is to provide relevant content for today's public service leaders. In addition to presenting informative and thought-provoking speakers, the conference provides a critical networking opportunity for local government leaders. 

From keynotes to small breakout discussions, presentations to networking opportunities, we are excited about the conversations.

We hope you can join us next year.

This course contains no sessions

Inspiring Women in Public Administration Conference

The Inspiring Women in Public Administration Conference brings together women each year for a day of skills-building, connection and renewal. We work to inspire and support women working in public service to not only remain in public service careers but also to seek out leadership opportunities. We hope you'll join us!

To view the full agenda for the day and other conference details, visit https://kupmc.ku.edu/iwpa-2023-conference-details.

Please email kupmc@ku.edu with any questions.

This course contains no sessions

Law Enforcement Leadership Academy Command School

This 300 contact hour program is geared toward current law enforcement commanders to prepare them for senior and executive-level roles. The program is open to sworn, command-level law enforcement leaders throughout Kansas who are tasked with significant management responsibilities.

$3,900 Earlybird price (October 31st deadline); $4,100 on Nov. 1 through first day of class.

Location: Lawrence, Kansas for 2023

This course contains no sessions

Law Enforcement Leadership Academy Supervisor School

This 40-hour program is geared toward frontline and newly promoted supervisors.

LELA Supervisor School is designed to equip frontline supervisors with the concepts and practical tools needed to effectively lead and supervise law enforcement personnel. The curriculum blends the KU Public Management Center's award-winning supervisory leadership training with leading-edge law enforcement training to deliver highly engaging and relevant content that supervisors can put to immediate use in their departments.

$1,295 per person + optional meals & lodging

Click a date below for additional class details or to begin the registration process.

October 16-20, 2023, Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center (Hutchinson, KS)

Law Enforcement Leadership Academy: 2-day Foundation/Introduction to Supervision

This course offers a brief but powerful introduction to tools and perspectives that drive successful leadership in the law enforcement context. It is targeted toward sworn officers who have been newly promoted to a supervisory role, those who are considering applying for promotion, and those who seek to continue to grow their skills in leading others.

Content includes skills development around making a successful transition from peer to boss; decision-making; difficult conversations and resolving conflicts; the difference between leadership and authority (and why it matters); and performance reviews. Additionally, participants will explore the connection between personal strengths and leadership competences and will hear from experienced law enforcement leaders about motivating and leading others in today's law enforcement environment. Each participant will leave with an individual action plan that identifies a path forward in their development as leaders who will contribute to the success of their agencies.

This 2-day course can be taken before another LELA program as an introduction, after another LELA program as a refresher, or as a stand-alone foundation to build leadership competencies.

$495 per person + optional meals & lodging

Click a date below for additional class details or to begin the registration process.

This course contains no sessions

SPAA KUCIMAT RECEPTION

We hope you're planning to be at the ICMA conference in Austin, TX, September 30-October 4! The Annual KUCIMAT reception will be on Sunday, October 1, 2023 at the South Congress Hotel, Austin TX.

Sunday, October 1, 2023, (Austin , TX)

SPAA KUCIMAT Sponsorships - Available August 11, 2023 to October 4, 2023

Choose to sponsor the 2023 Kucimat Banquet in Austin, Texas. Your contributions go directly to MPA student support and KUCIMAT network development. The Annual KUCIMAT banquet will be on Sunday, October 1, 2023 at the South Congress Hotel, Austin TX.

September 29, 2023 to October 4, 2023

Supervisory Leadership Training

Individuals often receive training when they first move into a supervisory role. But over time they identify new areas where they'd like to hone their skills as their role evolves, the workforce changes, and new research on effective management practices emerges. Our 3-day course will bring you up to date, offering new skills and strategies to address challenges and bring out the best in your staff. Class size is limited to ensure adequate discussion and individual attention.

$750 per person

Click a date below for additional class details or to begin the registration process. Note that our system requires that we list 'KS' in the location, but we welcome participants from anywhere.

December 5-7, 2023, Online using Zoom (-, ONLINE)
February 27-29, 2024, (Olathe, KS)
March 19-21, 2024, Kansas Health Institute (Topeka, KS)
May 14-16, 2024, Online using Zoom (-, ONLINE)