Illinois CPM Program Gains National CPM Consortium Approval

By Lorene Johnson
ljohn04s@uis.edu

When I was hired May 2006 as the Program Coordinator of the Certified Public Manager® Program of Illinois (CPMPI) I hit the ground running. The program’s development has progressed at warp speed, achieving Active Status 9 months after it obtained Associate Status in January 2006. The Spring of 2007 CPMPI opens its doors to its first CPM classes.

Let me tell you just little bit about the Certified Pubic Manager® Program of Illinois. On average, it takes 18 – 24 months to complete the program. Trainings are 1 day or 10 hours organized as followed:

• 6 hrs: Training/classroom Instruction
• 2 hrs: Reading materials and activities required prior to all trainings, facilitated online.
• 2 hrs: Reading materials and activities required post training workshops, facilitated online.

CPMPI has three Levels. Level I: Effective Supervision consists of 62 hours or 6 Training Days. At the end of Level I participants can receive a certificate of completion in Effective Supervision. Level II: Effective Management consists of 70 hours or 7 training days. Level II: Electives 144 hours or 14 training days. Level III: Leadership Seminar consists of 24 hours or 2 training days. At the completion of Level I and II participates are required to complete a written paper or a comprehensive examination. A Capstone Project/Paper is required to complete the program and obtain a CPM.
The Certified Public Manager® Program of Illinois (CPMPI) uses a Competency-Based Learning approach to teaching/training and learning. This approach to professional development is designed to provide the public manager professional with the essential and core knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to a successful public manager in the 21st century.

CPMPI Competency-Based Learning model (CBL) is guided by four basic principles:

• Validation: Central to CBL is the inclusion of existing knowledge and skill sets emerging and seasoned public managers bring to the learning process and environment.
• Preparation: CBL focuses on those knowledge, skills and attitudes core to the public manager professional of the 21st century.
• Reflection: CBL facilitates the active process of witnessing one’s own learning process in order to learn from and through the experience.
• Integration: CBL captures and connects learning to authentic work experiences, creating usable and relevant knowledge that is a resource for growth and development both in the classroom and throughout professional life.

The CPMPI has eight core competency content areas:

• Leadership and Ethics
• Cultural Competency
• Effective Supervision
• Program/Project Management: Problem Analysis and Problem Solving
• Organizational Management
• Human Resource Management: Productivity and Quality Improvement
• Building Effective Partnerships
• Public Policy and The Public Manager

The core competencies areas exemplify the recognized knowledge, skills, and standards of performance essential to be an effective manager in the public sector workplace. These core competencies are the cornerstones for the CPMPI course curriculum. All course offerings have identified competency areas that inform the development of the learning objectives for all training. Course performance is evaluated and assessed relative to the identified knowledge, skills, and attitudes of each core competency, making explicit the standards for achievement.

© Copyright 2006, American Association of Certified Public Managers®