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General Questions
State of Missouri, Division of
Personnel - State Agency Specific Questions
General Questions
What is the Certified Public
Manager Program?
The CPM Program is a nationally
accredited comprehensive management development program designed specifically
for managers and future leaders in federal, state and local government as well
as certain non-profit organizations. The program's primary goal is to
improve the performance of public sector managers and the organizational
performance of local, state and federal government.
The CPM program offers a
comprehensive course of study by which public managers can acquire and apply
best practices and theory to their management behaviors using prescribed sets of
professional standards. The curriculum applies theory to practical
problems facing the participant, their agency/department, and Missouri citizens.
Those who complete the program
earn a national trademark designation of CPM (Certified Public Manager).
Missouri participants also receive a framed CPM certificate granted from
Missouri State University.
What are the program benefits?
The Certified Public Manager
Program offers may benefits to both participants and their respective agencies.
Such benefits include:
-
strengthening leadership
abilities;
-
developing inter-agency
contacts and communication;
-
enhancing interpersonal
effectiveness;
-
encouraging innovation,
creativity and new approaches to problem solving;
-
linking customer service to
public service.
Are there other benefits?
Missouri State University-and some
other Missouri institutions of higher education-may offer academic credit to CPM
graduates seeking academic degrees.
Benefits to agencies include the
Capstone Project, which is required of all CPM students. Through the
Capstone Projects, CPM students-working in concert and with the explicit
permission of their supervisor-consider and propose ideas that would improve
agency operations.
Who can apply to CPM, and are
there any prerequisites?
Missouri's CPM is targeted to
emerging leaders and existing supervisors and managers of federal, state and
local government. Participants may also come from non-profit organizations
and highly-regulated private operations such as utilities and hospitals.
Some agencies may decide to use the program for professional development of key
staff that are not currently in a supervisory role. There are no
supervisory prerequisites however, preference may be given to those holding a
supervisory position where multiple applicants are being considered.
Is the program nationally
accredited?
The CPM program is a nationally
recognized professional development program for government supervisors and
managers. At its heart is the development and measurement of core
competencies in the field of public administration. The National Certified
Public Manager Consortium monitors and accredits all CPM programs and has
authorized Missouri State University's Management Development Institute to be
the "sole source" provider of Missouri's CPM program. Additional
information on the National Consortium is available at
www.cpmconsortium.org.
What are the requirements for
earning the CPM?
The Missouri CPM program consists
of two phases for a total of 323 hours as indicated below:
231
Classroom hours;
42 Hours devoted to reading and other
similar activities; and
50 Hours working on a special CPM
related Capstone project
323 Total Program Hours
The 231 CPM classroom hours will
be completed during two or three consecutive days each month. Classroom
training will be conducted during the day (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) in Jefferson
City. Depending on enrollment numbers and available resources, the same
classes may be presented in one or more cities. During the course of the
CPM program, activities may include a mix of applied learning projects,
readings, examinations, workshops and courses.
(Link to Schedule)
What is the history of the
program?
The Missouri Certified Public
Manager program was initially "under construction" in 2008 as a cooperative
venture of Missouri State University's Management Development Institute and
Masters in Public Administration program along with the State of Missouri,
Division of Personnel. The first cohort (group of CPM participants) begins
in 2009.
How much does it cost to take
the CPM course?
The CPM program consists of a
two-phased training curriculum. The total cost for the CPM program can
vary for each participant depending on how the participant receives the
classroom training required for each phase:
Phase I of the CPM
curriculum consists of 56 training hours which can be obtained in four ways:
1. *Attend pre-approved
training offered by the employee's own agency
2. *Attend pre-approved training offered by the State of Missouri Division
of Personnel ranging from $845
to
$1,120 depending upon the classes selected
3. Completed the Supervision Certificate through the Management
Development Institute within the last
2 years. $1450-$2000.
4. *Attend the Management Academy offered by Missouri State University at a cost
of $1,395
(includes 8 days of training)
It is recommended to complete
Phase I Management Academy prior to Phase II CPM. However, participants may take
Phase I concurrent with or after completing Phase II CPM. In any case,
documentation of successful completion of Phase I must be received and approved
prior to obtaining the CPM designation. Participants have two years to complete
Phases I & II.
Phase II of the CPM
curriculum can only be obtained through Missouri State University's Management
Development Institute at a cost of *$3,195 (fee includes substantial resource
materials).
*Cost does not include participant
travel and expenses.
When is the deadline for CPM
application?
Phase I - Management Academy
Applications are accepted up to 1 week (7 days) prior to the start date.
Phase II - CPM
Applications review begins December 15,
2008 for Phase II CPM and ends 3 weeks (21 days) before the class begins.
MSU will continue accepting applications, as space allows, until all classes are
full. Late applications will be accepted and assigned to classes depending
upon available space on the roster. (Link to Application)
What happens if I miss a class?
Absences will be addressed on a
case-by-case basis. While a minimum amount of flexibility is built-in to
the CPM program to allow for unforeseen circumstances, participants will be
expected to complete all CPM classes to ensure a complete understanding and
application of information presented. If one or several classes are
missed, participants may have the option of taking the class at another location
(if that option is available) that same year, or taking the class when it is
offered the next year. To receive their CPM designation/certificate,
participants must make up missed modules within two years.
Can CPM be used for academic
credit?
Each educational institution makes
its own policy as to whether and/or how much academic credit will be given to
CPM graduates. Missouri State University may offer academic credit at the
undergraduate and graduate level for CPM participation. If you have
specific questions, contact Dr. Kant Patel, MPA Director at Missouri State,
417-836-6424 for further information. At other universities we recommend
you contact your advisor.
Can I get credit for previous
training?
Applicants may be awarded training
credit toward completion of Phase I: Management Academy. Completion of
pre-approved State Division of Personnel or Agency training programs may satisfy
Phase I requirements allowing applicants to apply directly for Phase II: CPM
Designation coursework. MDI maintains a list of pre-approved training
programs. (Link to pre-approved programs).
In addition, management/leadership
professional development workshops or course work completed in the past two
years may qualify for training credit toward Phase I. Applicants should
list all workshops and coursework taken in the past two years on the application
in order to be considered for credit. NOTE: No transfer of credit
will be accepted for Phase II: CPM Designation. Phase II must be attended
and completed in its' entirety in order to satisfy Phase II requirements.
How long is the CPM program?
The CPM classes meet two or three
consecutive days each month for approximately one calendar year.
Where and how often are classes
held?
The CPM classes typically meet on
a consecutive Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday (24 hour blocks) each month for
one calendar year. Class locations are determined each year based on
demand. (Link to Schedule)
Who pays for the program?
Most commonly, the participant's
(employee's) agency pays the CPM tuition fee. However, if when agency
resources are not available; employees interested in the CPM program should
discuss options for enrolling in and attending the CPM program with their
supervisor and/or agency HR office.
Who participates in the CPM
program?
The bulk of CPM class members will
likely be employees of local, state and federal government, although it is
possible to have representatives from nonprofit and other organizations.
We hope that students will learn as much, if not more, from each other as they
do from their instructors. Educational background may vary, but classes
will endeavor to feature a wealth of experience and a multitude of agency
perspectives. The investment made by sponsoring agencies-in both tuition
and time-is a clear reflection of the value and promise of CPM participants.
What are the specific
certification requirements?
Certification required completion
of al course work, assignments, readings and projects, as well as attendance.
The Missouri CPM program also requires development of a Capstone Project-a
written report in which CPM theory and skills are applied to actual workplace
situations-as its final examination.
How many people have graduated
from Missouri's CPM program?
The first CPM classes will begin
in January 2009. Hopefully, as each year progresses, state agencies
will see a rich reward in the growing number of Missouri CPM graduates.
Is there a CPM alumni society?
Certified Public Manager graduates
are eligible for membership in a future Missouri Society for Certified Public
Managers, as well as the national organizations American Academy for Certified
Public Managers (www.cpmacademy.org).
State of Missouri, Division
of Personnel - State Agency Specific Questions
Does Office of Administration
Statewide Policy 2 apply to the CPM designation-i.e..., since the CPM is not a
condition of employment, can departments reimburse employees for this
certification?
In the opinion of OA General
Counsel, because Statewide Policy 2 deals with licenses, not training, the CPM
accreditation does not fall under the policy criteria. Consequently, state
agencies can pay for an employee to participate in the CPM program (or reimburse
an employee for his/her participation in the CPM) as the agency's resources
allow.
Will OA be recommending and/or
providing an agreement that employees must maintain employment for a given
period after completion of the program or pay back program cost?
If the agency is paying for the
employee to participate in the CPM program, the agency may want to enter into
some type of written agreement wit the employee about this. Working in
conjunction with the OA Genera Counsel, the Division of Personnel does have a
draft document agencies can use for this purpose.
Does OA consider time spent in
the program to be administrative leave or hours worked?
In the opinion of the General
Counsel, the safest course of action would be to consider this as hours worked.
Does OA believe that employees
should be compensated for overtime (i.e., travel to and from training) and
travel expenses?
The General Counsel contends that
this should be examined/evaluated on a case-by-case basis depending upon the
employee's over time code.
Some agencies and participants
may be concerned about paying in advance for a program that lasts a year or
more. How will the billing work?
The Management Development
Institute (MDI), who provides all of the CPM program Phase II coursework, has
pledged to be flexible with participant's billing arrangements based on agency
needs. This includes monthly, quarterly and lump sum invoicing. MDI
is also open to invoicing in separate fiscal years. However, no
participant will receive his/her CPM designation or framed certificate until all
fees are paid.
MDI is presently working on a
refund policy to address what happens if a participant pays in full and then
drops out of the program before he/she completes all of the coursework.
The Division of Accounting is
aware of how the CPM process works and will make allowances for agencies to pay
the total cost in advance (providing the proper documentation was provided).
In general terms, however, the Division of Accounting would also support - and
favor - quarterly payments to ensure that state monies are spend wisely and to
avoid refund issues if an employee resigns or leaves state service during the
year.
If there are more applicants
than available slots, how will state employees be selected to participate in the
program?
State employees will be selected
based on pre-existing selection criteria which may include but is not limited
to: agency recommendations, first-come first-served status, available
funding, available seats and agency/program support. Each prospective
participant will need to complete an application which will include a letter of
support from an appropriate agency representative and a letter from the
applicant demonstrating his/her personal commitment to complete the entire
program.
An appeals process for applicants
who were not accepted into the CPM program (for any of the reasons stated above)
will be maintained by MDI and handled on a case-by-case basis. As the
state's official representative (vendor) for the national CPM consortium, MDI
reserves the right to make final decisions in the selection process.
Will CPM participants receive
grades for their coursework?
The CPM designation is based on a
Pass/Fail system. Therefore, no grades will be awarded to receive the CPM
designation. However, if an individual desires to receive college credit
from MSU for achieving the CPM designation, he/she would need to follow MSU
guidelines to be awarded the college credit. While the mechanics are still
being worked out, this would involve a dual enrollment process with Missouri
State University's College of Humanities and Public Affairs and would
likely include a separate grading procedure in addition to the pass/fail system.
Does the Missouri CPM program
meet the criteria set forth in Statewide-Policy 1(Tuition Reimbursement)?
According to the General Counsel,
Statewide Policy 1 is for employees seeking reimbursement for college course
work that the employee has elected to take on his/her own. Consequently,
the General Counsel contends that CPM coursework is exempt from this policy.
The reason being is that CPM (Phase 2) training is pre-determined, and the
employee has no choice in the courses he/she attends. Because the CPM does
not fall under Statewide Policy 1, each agency has the flexibility to pay for
their respective employee's participation in the CPM program as their resources
allow.
What process will be used to
demonstrate the supervisor's and agency's commitment to employees who
participate in the CPM program?
Because the CPM is at least a
year-long commitment, the CPM application will require the participant's
immediate supervisor and a senior-level manager (generally the Division
Director) to "sign off" on the participant's involvement in the program.
If an agency requires an even greater level of review/approval, the agency's
internal procedure or policy can establish it. Additionally, the
application will also have a signature line approval section for financial
accountability. These sections will not be extensive or require a lot of
administrative work. The goal is to ensure all interested parties are
aware of and are in support o the time and financial commitments needed for the
CPM program.
Does OA have recommendations
for capstone projects?
The Office of Administration will
not have any specific recommendations for agency capstone projects - other than
to encourage each agency to seek the opinions and ideas of their respective
department, division and program directors. Missouri State University's
Management Development Institute and the Division of personnel's CPM website
provides an online packet of information detailing the requirements and related
time lines for successfully completing a capstone project. This packet
includes a list of examples of successful projects for participants and agencies
to review.
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