Certified Public Manager Program - Continuing Education

Certified Public Manager

This program is offered by The Office of Continuing Education, in partnership with the Department of Public Affairs and Security Studies (PASS).

The program is designed to enhance and develop the skills of the participants to deal with “real-world” challenges and situations. All tracks are developed from a “practitioner’s” point of view utilizing knowledge-based skill sets that can be incorporated within your career path. The information conveyed is team-taught by a combination of academic and practitioner faculty.

The Texas Certified Public Manager Program (CPM) is a nationally accredited program by the National Certified Public Manager Consortium and is cooperatively offered through the William P. Hobby Center for Public Service of Texas State University. The Public Administration Program of The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley will administer and coordinate the curriculum, which is a seven-track course spread over 14 months. The CPM program is affiliated with the Master of Public Administration Program, which is within the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences.

The Coordinator for the Certified Public Manager Program is John Milford, Graduate Professional Practitioner Lecturer, at the UTRGV Department of Public Affairs and Security Studies. Mr. Milford has over thirty-three years of professional administrative experience in local government and has assembled an outstanding group of knowledgeable practicing professionals and academic faculty for each of the tracks.

Continuing Education Credit

The CPM program has been approved for continuing education credit by the County Commissioners Education Committee as mandated by the Texas State Legislature. The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Education (TCLOSE), the Texas State Board of Accountancy and The County Treasurers’ Association has also endorsed the CPM Program for continuing education credits. Upon successful completion of all course work and assignments, the participant is eligible to receive the designation of “CERTIFIED PUBLIC MANAGER.”

Details:

Administrative officers, managers, elected officials, public safety officers, not-for-profit staff, federal staff and other participants seeking to acquire knowledge-based skills to further their careers.

Note: PEWD program participants should be 18 years or older.

No prerequisites required.

"The CPM program allowed me to connect with others who wanted to not only advance their career, but be better leaders for their organizations. The program provided seven tracks tailored to improve your management skills and guide you to be a better leader."

- Alfredo Alvear - Deputy Chief of Police - City of Harlingen, TX

Mr. John Milford

The Coordinator for the Certified Public Manager Program is John Milford, Graduate Professional Practitioner Senior Lecturer at UTRGV’s Department of Public Affairs and Security Studies. Mr. Milford has more than 40 years of professional administrative experience in local government and has assembled an outstanding group of knowledgeable practicing professionals and academic faculty for each track. He is a recipient of the Life Member Achievement Recognition by the Texas City Management Association and maintains a faculty membership by the International City Management Association. He is an expert in the field of public finance, personnel administration, municipal administration, court mediation, intergovernmental relations, government information systems, political leadership, economic development, strategic planning, and development.

His experience includes serving as the Executive Manager Searches for City of Alton, Texas, and City of San Juan, Texas. He has lead the development of a housing authority paradigm for a non-profit organization for the Edinburg Texas Housing Authority and the Hidalgo County Housing Authority. He has also served as the Financial liaison on debt issuance for Capital Improvement Projects for the City of Alton, Texas; Economic Development Strategist for initiatives for the City of Alton, Texas; Implementation and Staff Development for Historic Downtown Guidelines for the City of Pharr, Texas. In addition Mr. Milford has partnered to assist the City of Pharr, Texas in the development of a traffic analysis.

Note: If you are applying for the Continuing Education Private Loan to cover the registration fee for a non-credit continuing education program, then please use the UTRGV Continuing Education School Code: 003599. The loan amount you note in the application cannot exceed the open enrollment fee noted on our website. Books will NOT be included in the loan amount. The minimum for the loans must be $500.00. Some service charges may apply.

*The only loan provider PEWD accepts is Sallie Mae*

Please email pewd@utrgv.edu once you have been approved so we may certify your loan.

Private Loans

Track Information:

Date:
(Track 1A) May 3 & 4, 2024
(Track 1B) May 31 & June 1, 2024
Days: Fridays & Saturdays
Time: (F) 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.| (S) 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Location: City of Pharr
Cost: $ 695 Enroll

Focus: To provide essential information concerning personnel and labor relations to public administration. Examples of topics that will be covered include recruitment/selection, equal employment, opportunity / affirmative action, performance evaluations, discipline/termination, health/safety, collective bargaining, classification, compensation and employee benefits.

Date:
(Track 2A) July 19 & 20, 2024
(Track 2B) August 2 & 3, 2024
Days: Fridays & Saturdays
Time: (F) 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.| (S) 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Location: TBA
Cost: $ 695 Enroll

Focus: To provide essential information concerning the practice of building quality into public and non-profit organizations. Practices such as Re-engineering, Total Quality Management (TQM) and Strategic Planning will be explored in detail. The course will also focus on how a systems approach can help the public administration to understand the way in which organizations can improve their operations.

Date:
(Track 3A): September 13 & 14, 2024
(Track 3B): October 18 & 19, 2024
Days:Fridays & Saturdays
Time: (F) 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.| (S) 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Location: TBA
Cost: $695 Enroll

Focus: To provide essential information concerning the practice of communication within the organization. Topics include communicating with governing and oversight bodies, barriers to effective communication and dealing with disagreement, conflict, and groupthink. Improving oral and written communication skills will also be covered in this track.

Date:
(Track 4A): November 15 & 16, 2024
(Track 4B): December 13 & 14, 2024
Days:Fridays & Saturdays
Time: (F) 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.| (S) 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Location: TBA
Cost: $695 Enroll

Focus: To provide essential information concerning the practice of public finance and budgeting. The basics of finance, budgeting, and public sector accounting and auditing will be explored in detail. Additional topics include cut back management and economic development.

Date:
(Track 5A): January 10 & 11, 2025
(Track 5B): February 7 & 8, 2025
Days: Fridays & Saturdays
Time: (F) 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.| (S) 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Location: TBA
Cost: $695 Enroll

Focus:To provide essential information on how to conduct public administration research leading toward the evaluation of public and non-profit sector programs. Benchmarking, program evaluation, and the tools and techniques of public administration research will be explored. In addition, the basic principles of legal research will be covered in this track.

Date:
(Track 6A): February 28 & March 1, 2025
(Track 6B): April 4 & 5, 2025
Days:Fridays & Saturdays
Time: (F) 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.| (S) 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Location: TBA
Cost: $695 Enroll

Focus:To provide essential information about management information systems used by the public sector and non-profit sector managers. Tools and systems such as the Internet and on-line federal and state databases will be identified and discussed in detail. Additional topics include geographic information systems and radio frequency identification technology.

**Enrolling Current Participants Only**
Date:
(Track 7A): April 18 & 19, 2025
(Track 7B): May 16 & 17, 2025
Days: Fridays & Saturdays
Time: (F) 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.| (S) 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Location: TBA
Cost: $695

Track 7 is open only to currently enrolled CPM participants that have completed the previous 6 tracks.

CPM Course Information

Dates:
Track 1: May 3 & 4, May 31 & June 1, 2024
Track 2: July 19 & 20, August 2 & 3, 2024
Track 3: September 13 & 14, October 18 & 19, 2024
Track 4: November 15 & 16, December 13 & 14, 2024
Track 5: January 10 & 11, February 7 & 8, 2025
Track 6: February 28 & March 1, April 4 & 5, 2025
Track 7: April 18 & 19, May 16 & 17, 2025

Days/Times:
Fridays: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Saturdays: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Program Modality:
In-Person

Location:
Location will be specified in the course information for each track.

Instructor:
Mr. John Milford

Track Cost: **
$ 695

Notes:
** For Track enrollment and additional information, open each individual Track below.

Students requiring accommodation should contact our office pewd@utrgv.edu to learn about the process.