The Heartland Certified Public Manager® (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.

Our CPM program offers cohorts in locations across Kansas and Missouri, as well as fully online. Each cohort begins in January or July and lasts 11 months. To see meeting dates, choose a session below and view the full schedule under session details.

If you're interested in hosting a future cohort in your city, please reach out to Kate Nygren at knygren@ku.edu.
July 1, 2025 to May 6, 2026, (Olathe, KS)
July 9, 2025 to May 14, 2026, (Topeka, KS)

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.
August 12, 2025 to December 4, 2025, KU Edwards Campus (Shawnee , KS)
August 14, 2025 to December 4, 2025, North Kansas City Parks & Recreation Center (North Kansas City, MO)
August 19, 2025 to December 9, 2025, Online using Zoom (-, ONLINE)

The Heartland Certified Public Manager Annual Conference brings together current and past participants in the CPM program for a day and a half of skill-building, connection, and renewal. This year's theme, "Trust, Civility and Narrative Leadership," will focus on helping public service professionals uphold the values of democracy. The conference will be held from 9:00 - 4:30 followed by a social event from 5:30 - 7:00 on October 14, 2025; and a half day of interactive learning from 9:00 - 12:00 on October 15, 2025.
October 14-15, 2025, Kansas Memorial Union (Lawrence, KS)