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Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service
Ohio University
Building 21, The Ridges
1 Ohio University
Athens, OH 45701 – 2979
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Leadership Academy Program Handbook

I. Introduction and Overview

Since 2019 Cleveland State University (CSU)’s Center for Public and Nonprofit Management has served as the designated entity in Ohio to provide the Ohio Certified Public Manager® (OCPM) Program. The Certified Public Manager® program is a comprehensive nationally certified development program for state and local government leaders. LEARN MORE about the CPM®

To receive the CPM credential in Ohio, participants must enroll in and successfully complete two programs: the Public Management Academy AND the Leadership Academy. CSU exclusively offers the Public Management Academy in Ohio. LEARN MORE about the OHIO CPM®

In 2022, Cleveland State University and Ohio University (OU) entered into an agreement to expand the OCPM Program. Through this agreement, Ohio University offers a Leadership Academy as an alternative to the Leadership Academy offered by CSU. The topics in both programs are substantively similar. Individuals interested in the Leadership Academy may select the most appropriate program location to meet their needs.

II. Mission, Vision, and Values- Ohio Certified Public Manager Program

Mission

The Ohio Certified Public Manager® program strives to equip and empower public and nonprofit leaders to enact positive organizational change.

Vision

To serve as a model program by incorporating innovative management and leadership tools and techniques, cultivating current and future generations of public servants.

Values

  • Serve as the education component for Ohio public managers.
  • Standardize and professionalize the art of public management.
  • Recognize and integrate existing management opportunities.
  • Provide resources and support to Ohio public sector managers at all levels (i.e., state and local government).
  • Deliver programming addressing the seven national CPM competencies: personal & organizational integrity, managing work, leading people, developing self, systemic integration, public service focus, and change leadership.

III. Program Eligibility

Candidates for the Ohio Certified Manager Program ® must meet the following requirements:

  • Maintain current employment at a public or nonprofit agency in Ohio.
  • Hold a supervisory/ leadership/ managerial role in the organization OR aspire to.
  • Receive approval to participate from their supervisor at their place of employment.

IV. Application Process

Applications must be completed electronically using the tool identified by Ohio University. Applications are accepted for a specific period announced by the University. There is a cap of 30 participants per Leadership Academy.

Applicants will be responsible for the registration costs of the program. Information about registration fees is available below in the Fees, Cancellations, and Refunds section.

V. Ohio Certified Public Manager Program Design

To receive the Ohio Certified Public Manager® credential, participants must enroll in and successfully complete the Public Management Academy offered exclusively by Cleveland State University and the Leadership Academy offered by either Ohio University or Cleveland State University.

Each program offers hours towards the total required hours (307) to receive the OCPM credential.

Public Management Academy- 183 hours

Learn  More about the Public Management Academy at CSU

Leadership Academy at Ohio University- 124 hours

  • Workshops- 12, six- hour workshops= 72 hours
  • Pre-work, portfolio, reflections= 12 hours
  • CAPSTONE Project Hours= 40 hours

Learn More about the Leadership Academy at Ohio University

VI. Capstone Projects

Each Leadership Academy cohort must create, develop, and implement a community engagement project as a team. The cohort will present the project at the final workshop in the program, the Capstone. Information about the Capstone Project is included in the Leadership Academy Syllabus.

VII. Certificates and Credentials

Participants in the Leadership Academy at Ohio University who successfully complete the workshops, assignments, and participate in the capstone project will be awarded a certificate of completion. The certificate of completion does NOT confer academic or continuing education credit.

When a participant completes the Public Management Academy AND the Leadership Academy, they will receive the Ohio Certified Public Manger® credential.

The Ohio Certified Public Manager® credential is awarded by Cleveland State University. OU and CSU coordinate across programs to ensure program completion requirements have been accomplished.

VIII. Substitution of Prior Training

Participants must fulfill OCPM program requirements by attending the Ohio CPM training workshops offered in the Public Management Academy offered by Cleveland State University and the Leadership Academy offered by Cleveland State and Ohio University). No substitution of prior training in other programs will be permitted.

IX. Fees, Cancellation and Refunds

Participants are responsible for the full registration cost ($3,200) of the Leadership Academy. Participants may use a combination of personal, organizational, billing, scholarship, and grant funds to achieve this payment.

Refunds to payments are made at 100% if the participant cancels at least seven working days prior to the start of the program.

Refunds requested less than seven days prior to the start of the program will incur a $100 cancellation fee.

No refunds will be issued once the program has begun.

X. Attendance Policy

  • In-person attendance at workshops is required to complete the OCPM requirements.
  • If a participant misses a workshop, they have the option of completing the same workshop with the other institution or with the next cohort.
  • Partial attendance- A participant will receive full-day credit for a workshop if they have not missed more than one hour of a workshop.
  • Participants will not receive credit for the workshop if more than one hour of the workshop is missed.
  • The participant will receive full credit for the program if they have no more than two workshops with partial attendance.

XI. Confidentiality of Program Records

Records pertaining to CPM participants are protected from disclosure according to the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), (20, U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99) and/or applicable Ohio law.

XII. Program Governance

The Ohio Certified Public Manager Program is housed in the Center for Public and Nonprofit Management in Cleveland State University’s College of Education and Public Affairs. The Public Management Academy and the Leadership Academy at CSU are also housed in the Center for Public and Nonprofit Management. Rob Ziol is the Director of the Center for Public and Nonprofit Management. Rob can be reached at 216.687.3509 or r.ziol@csuohio.edu.

The Leadership Academy at Ohio University is housed in the Voinovich Academy for Excellence in Public Service in the Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service. Jay Johnson is the Director of the Voinovich Academy. He can be reached at 614.793.5685 or johnsj18@ohio.edu.

XIII. OCPM Advisory Board

The OCPM Program has an advisory board. The Board includes local, state, higher education, and elected officials who are instrumental in creating, shaping, and steering the OCPM program to meet the needs of the public sector. For information about the Advisory Board, please visit the OCPM web site.

XIV. Program Policies

Policies governing the OCPM program ae outlined in this Handbook. The Leadership Academy at Ohio University follows these guidelines as well as the guidelines of Ohio University.

XV. Contact Information

The Leadership Academy at Ohio University Program Staff

Deanna Clifford, Senior Program Manager
cliffordd@ohio.edu
614.793.5667

Jay Johnson, Director
Voinovich Academy for Excellence in Public Service
Johnsj18@ohio.edu
614.793.5685