Vermont Business Magazine The University of Vermont (UVM) Master of Public Administration (MPA) program is pleased to announce a new partnership with the Vermont Department of Human Resources (DHR) to educate current and emerging leaders in state and local government and non-profit organizations through the Vermont Certified Public Managers Program (VCPM). VCPM participants acquire and apply best management practices and theory to their management activities enabling them to better serve Vermonters.

Chris Koliba, professor in the Community Development and Applied Economics Department and director of the MPA Program, said, "by partnering with the State of Vermont to administer the VCPM Program, the UVM Master of Public Administration Program has a chance to extend the reach of our network and faculty under the mission of inspiring, equipping, and elevating action-oriented public service leaders across our region."

UVM’s MPA program has earned the distinction of being one of the best public affairs graduate programs in the country, ranking 94th among 285 public affairs graduate schools by U.S. News and World Report. Under the new partnership, instructors from UVM’s MPA program will lead the VCPM course work and participants will have an opportunity to earn college credit. Ancillary benefits include positioning the state of Vermont as an employer of choice in a tight labor market and building stronger relationships between state and municipal governments and non-profit organizations. Plans are in place to expand the program to more municipal and non-profit employees in the future, enabling more Vermont organizations to benefit from best-in-class leadership instruction.

“Graduates of VCPM will provide state and local governments and non-profits with a pipeline of leaders that have undergone a rigorous program of study,” said Beth Fastiggi, Commissioner of the Department of Human Resources, which will continue to maintain oversight and ownership of the program. “Topics of study include: Emotional Intelligence; Diversity and Cultural Competence; Guiding People and Systems through Change; Ethics; Consulting Skills to Solve Government Challenges; and Utilizing LEAN/continuous improvement strategies to establish performance measurement systems and increase efficiencies.”   

The VCPM program is accredited by the National Certified Public Manager® Consortium and graduates are eligible to join the American Academy of Certified Public Managers®. Vermont state government has managed the VCPM program since the National Certified Public Manager Consortium was developed in 1980 and was one of the first states to belong to the consortium. Since then, the Certified Public Manager (CPM) program has expanded across the United States. 

The partnership will take effect in May 2019. Contact Amy Kelsey, VCPM Program Coordinator, amy.kelsey@uvm.edu(link sends e-mail) or 802-598-4551 or Kari Miner, Director of Workforce Development and SOV Chief Learning Officer,  or 802-598-4551 or Kari Miner, Director of Workforce Development and SOV Chief Learning Officer,  or 802-598-4551 or Kari Miner, Director of Workforce Development and SOV Chief Learning Officer,  or 802-598-4551 or Kari Miner, Director of Workforce Development and SOV Chief Learning Officer, kari.miner@vermont.gov(link sends e-mail) or 802-461-7680 with questions about the program or partnership. or 802-461-7680 with questions about the program or partnership.

Vermont Business Magazine The University of Vermont (UVM) Master of Public Administration (MPA) program is pleased to announce a new partnership with the Vermont Department of Human Resources (DHR) to educate current and emerging leaders in state and local government and non-profit organizations through the Vermont Certified Public Managers Program (VCPM). VCPM participants acquire and apply best management practices and theory to their management activities enabling them to better serve Vermonters. Chris Koliba, professor in the Community Development and Applied Economics Department and director of the MPA Program, said, "by partnering with the State of Vermont to administer the VCPM Program, the UVM Master of Public Administration Program has a chance to extend the reach of our network and faculty under the mission of inspiring, equipping, and elevating action-oriented public service leaders across our region." UVM’s MPA program has earned the distinction of being one of the best public affairs graduate programs in the country, ranking 94th among 285 public affairs graduate schools by U.S. News and World Report. Under the new partnership, instructors from UVM’s MPA program will lead the VCPM course work and participants will have an opportunity to earn college credit. Ancillary benefits include positioning the state of Vermont as an employer of choice in a tight labor market and building stronger relationships between state and municipal governments and non-profit organizations. Plans are in place to expand the program to more municipal and non-profit employees in the future, enabling more Vermont organizations to benefit from best-in-class leadership instruction. “Graduates of VCPM will provide state and local governments and non-profits with a pipeline of leaders that have undergone a rigorous program of study,” said Beth Fastiggi, Commissioner of the Department of Human Resources, which will continue to maintain oversight and ownership of the program. “Topics of study include: Emotional Intelligence; Diversity and Cultural Competence; Guiding People and Systems through Change; Ethics; Consulting Skills to Solve Government Challenges; and Utilizing LEAN/continuous improvement strategies to establish performance measurement systems and increase efficiencies.” The VCPM program is accredited by the National Certified Public Manager® Consortium and graduates are eligible to join the American Academy of Certified Public Managers®. Vermont state government has managed the VCPM program since the National Certified Public Manager Consortium was developed in 1980 and was one of the first states to belong to the consortium. Since then, the Certified Public Manager (CPM) program has expanded across the United States. The partnership will take effect in May 2019. Contact Amy Kelsey, VCPM Program Coordinator, amy.kelsey@uvm.edu (link sends e-mail) or 802-598-4551 or Kari Miner, Director of Workforce Development and SOV Chief Learning Officer, kari.miner@vermont.gov (link sends e-mail) or 802-461-7680 with questions about the program or partnership.