Mini-MPA Certificate

Program Overview

Registration for Spring 2020 Open!

The Mini-MPA certificate program provides the tools to build a successful career in public and non-profit management. This program, offered in collaboration with the Rutgers Camden Department of Public Policy and Administration is a fast-past learning environment with an exceptional roster of instructors and industry professionals. Current professionals and Veterans can earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs) and a program that qualifies as veteran training.

Designed for experienced managers in the public and nonprofit sectors, the Mini-Master of Public Administration™ (Mini-MPA™) certificate program is an accelerated, 30-hour program led by Rutgers faculty and experienced practitioners. Successful course completion is accepted for three graduate credits toward the MPA degree, by the Rutgers-Camden Department of Public Policy and Administration.

The five-day program includes an examination of critically important topics for public managers. Seminars provide participants with new skills, new ideas, and new ways of thinking about how they manage their work and teams.

The format is designed to allow for maximum interaction between faculty and participants, with limited class sizes and weekly luncheon discussions. Upon completion of the program, students are eligible for up to three credits toward the Rutgers-Camden Executive MPA program.

Current Curriculum

Please note that the order of topics and instructors is subject to change

April 02, 2020: Leadership/Organizational Strategy

Leading is more than adapting your personal style to situations. Managers must combine personal leadership and organizational leadership to accomplish goals in the public sector. A leadership expert provides both theory and practical knowledge for managers who must lead in uncertain times. The public sector poses new challenges for even experienced managers. Funding and resources are coordinated across political jurisdictions (municipal, county, state, federal) and funding sources. The afternoon session addresses the skills and knowledge required for managing within and across organizations.

April 09, 2020: Strategic Communications/Managing People

The morning will be spent honing Strategic Communication skills and learning how to identify and optimize your own communication style. The instructor is both an experienced academic, and a respected expert in communications and social media. In the afternoon, the course focus shifts to the management of public organizations and the people in them. Led by a seasoned Municipal Manager, students will use real-world examples and illustrations to discuss methods of managing in the public sphere.

April 16, 2020: Performance Management/Change Management

One of the key skills for the executive is to be able to determine how the organization's goals will be conceptualized and what measurement systems will be used. Combining performance measurement with skills for management requires insights to people and how we behave. The afternoon session dives into managing change and team building - led by an experienced public sector consultant to help you develop skills to optimize organizational behavior and performance.

April 23, 2020: Financial Management/Constituent Relations

Money and how it is spent – this is where you see the priorities of any group. A university professor who happens to be a financial wizard facilitates a discussion of government bodies and their budgets. From there, an experienced political strategist leads a seminar on constituent relations and methods to ensure that public is kept informed of the organizations' progress.

April 30, 2020: Negotiating to Resolution/Realities of Management

In the public sphere, how we resolve conflicts matters. The morning seminar is led by a practicing attorney with a background in public sector negotiations. The afternoon session is taught by an experienced public manager with academic credentials to help you develop a better understanding of the complex relationships between decision-making, actions and public management ethics.