Courses & Pricing

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 8, 2025 to November 13, 2025, Johnson County Administration Building (Olathe, KS)
January 14, 2025 to November 5, 2025, This class rotates between Liberal (Jan-Mar)| Garden City (Apr-Jun) and Dodge City (Jul-Nov) with one all-cohorts conference in October (Lawrence) (SWKS, KS)
January 15, 2025 to November 6, 2025, Great Bend Events Center (Great Bend, KS)
January 28, 2025 to November 19, 2025, Fire Station #4 (St. Charles, MO)
January 29, 2025 to November 20, 2025, Online using Zoom (-, ONLINE)
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.


January 23, 2025 to May 16, 2025, City of Plano Neighborhood Services (Plano, TX)
February 19, 2025 to June 18, 2025, Kansas Health Institute (Topeka, KS)
February 25, 2025 to June 10, 2025, Newton Fire Station 3 (Newton, KS)
February 26, 2025 to June 18, 2025, Leawood City Hall (Leawood, KS)

At the KU Public Management Center, we take great pride in serving as the hosting agency for the Kansas City/County Manager (KCCM) conference that brings together local leaders in Kansas. Teaming up with the Kansas Association of City/County Management (KACM) Conference Planning Committee, we are delighted to showcase this event as the association's spring conference.

 

Our primary objective is to curate content that is pertinent to the challenges faced by contemporary public service leaders. Beyond featuring enlightening and thought-provoking speakers, the conference plays a pivotal role in offering a crucial networking platform for leaders in local government.

 

We look forward to seeing you in Lawrence at the Oread Hotel on April 24th and 25th, 2025!



April 24-25, 2025, The Oread Hotel (Lawrence, KS)

Each year, KU's Public Management Center hosts the Inspiring Women in Public Administration (IWPA) Conference. Join us for an unforgettable day at this year's event on Friday, August 23 as we celebrate '50 Years of Women Leading Public Service: Honoring Our Roots, Empowering Our Future.' Connect, learn, and be inspired as we bring together women in public service careers to build skills, forge connections, and reignite your passion for leadership. Don't miss out on this empowering experience-be a part of the movement! 

To view the full agenda for the day and other conference details, visit https://kupmc.ku.edu/iwpa-2024-conference-information

Please email kupmc@ku.edu with any questions.



This course contains no sessions
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. During our three days together, we’ll cover a wealth of information. At the close of the three days, participants will set a goal for themselves about new skills/practices you want to implement following the training. They will also receive a simple, observational assignment that they can do while completing their normal supervisory work. Approximately a month after the course, participants will come back together for a 90-minute lunchtime discussion and report-out via Zoom. This session will be from 12pm-1:30pm. This added layer of accountability will ensure that what happens in the classroom actually translates to action in their day-to-day work. 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 3-5, 2024, Online using Zoom (-, ONLINE)
February 11-13, 2025, Johnson County Administration Building (Olathe, KS)
April 8-10, 2025, Saline County Sheriff's Office (Salina, KS)
September 9-11, 2025, Kansas Health Institute (Topeka, KS)
October 7-9, 2025, Shawnee Police Department (Shawnee, KS)
November 4-6, 2025, Online using Zoom (-, ONLINE)
Elevate your leadership skills with our Extended Supervisory Leadership Training program. This program-geared towards new and experienced supervisors-meets the needs of public sector supervisors who must communicate effectively in all directions: with the individual contributors on their team, the highest levels of leadership, and the peers in-between. This program uniquely spreads learning over four months, incorporating practical activities between sessions to deepen understanding. This course is designed to update and enhance your abilities, equipping you with innovative skills and strategies to tackle challenges, drive sustainable change, and boost employee efficiency. Across the three days of instruction and the final day of debriefing, we delve into a rich array of topics. As the course concludes, participants will develop actionable goals to apply their new skills and practices, ensuring lasting impact. Additionally, a straightforward observational task will be assigned, forming the foundation for our final-day debrief. This approach not only reinforces learning but also guarantees the translation of best practices into real-world action, fostering a lasting transformation in the organization.

$750 per person

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


This course contains no sessions
There are a few important considerations when deciding how to handle social media communications and interactions. Having a social media policy is important and provides valuable cover. But sometimes a more actionable framework is what is needed to address inbound social media posts that don't technically violate policy, but can still be problematic as they undermine or harm organizational credibility in the eyes of stakeholders.

In this session, you will be introduced to a decision-tree framework that has been used successfully with many clients and in managing crisis communications. The framework helps responders classify posts into categories including positive/neutral/negative, inquisitive, off-topic, critical, abusive, inappropriate, etc. Based on the type of post, you will learn best practice response strategies ranging from thanking and amplifying (if positive), to redirecting to an offline conversation, to deleting and reporting to the social media platform (in the case of abusive or inappropriate posts).

Join us for an engaging zoom conversation with Matt Tidwell, an award-winning, experienced marketing communications professional with over 25 years of industry experience.


Thursday, December 5, 2024, Online using Zoom (-, ONLINE)
Discover the essential keys to building high-performing local governments that thrive in today's dynamic landscape. From visionary leadership and strategic planning to innovative service delivery and collaboration, this invaluable program unveils the roadmap to success. Dive into the core principles of performance measurement, employee engagement, and ethical governance that drive organizational health. Elevate your local government to new heights, exceed expectations, and become a shining example of effective governance. Explore the power of these transformative concepts and unleash the full potential of your local government.


March 21-28, 2025, Kansas Memorial Union (Lawrence, KS)