Academy for Excellence in Local Governance

The Academy for Excellence in Local Governance is a voluntary certificate program open to all local officials in Maryland. It is an educational response to the professional needs of local officials in Maryland. By providing enhanced educational opportunities, the Academy trains informed and responsible local officials to give Maryland jurisdictions the leadership needed to meet the challenges of the 21st century. Specific objectives are as follows: 

  1. To increase understanding of local government and how it functions;
  2. To promote high ethical standards in public service;
  3. To provide an informational base for more informed policy making;
  4. To develop capacity of local officials to govern effectively; and 
  5. To recognize local officials for their educational efforts.

The Academy is a collaborative effort involving the Institute, the Maryland Municipal League (MML), the Maryland Associations of Counties (MACo), and the Local Government Insurance Trust (LGIT). An advisory committee with representatives from each of the partner organizations provides oversight for the Academy.

To receive a certificate of completion of the Academy, local officials must complete specified core and elective classes in either the municipal or county track.

Every participant in the municipal track completes the following nine core classes: structure of municipal government; ethics; open meetings; conducting effective meetings; municipal budgeting; employment issues; consenus and team building; Public Information Act; and basics of risk management. Additionally, municipal fellows complete five electives in the following broad categories: communications; economic development and tourism; environmental issues; finance; human resources and personnel administration; intergovernmental relations; land use planning; legal and liability issues; personal development; service delivery; and technology. 

Every participant in the county track completes the following eight core classes: ethics; open meetings; county financial management; conducting effective meetings; consensus and team building; employment issues; Public Information Act; and basics of risk management. Additionally, county fellows complete six electives in the following broad categories: communications; economic development and tourism; environmental issues; finance; intergovernmental relations; land use planning; legal and liability issues; human resources and personnel administration; personal development; school board issues; service delivery; and technology.

For more information about the Academy, contact Bao Nguyen, Academy Registrar, at the IGSR offices, 301-405-4905.

Why the Academy?
Who Is the Academy?
Purpose and Objectives
Who Can Attend?
What Is Required?
What Is the Cost?
Requirements-Municipal Track
Requirements-County Track
Registration
Contact

The Academy is a voluntary certificate program open to all local officials in Maryland.

Sponsors:
Institute for Governmental Service and Research, UMCP
Local Government Insurance Trust
Maryland Association of Counties
Maryland Municipal League

Why the Academy?

The Academy for Excellence in Local Governance is an educational response to the professional needs of local officials in Maryland. Local governments are increasingly asked to do more, often with fewer resources. The downsizing of the federal and state government has placed more decision making at the local level and, at the same time, reduced the training and technical support available to local officials. Often officials are called on to understand and make decisions on highly complex issues with grave implications to their jurisdictions. Citizen distrust, accountability mandates, and public apathy complicate an already difficult situation. The Academy’s curriculum is designed to help local officials, especially newly elected officials, meet the challenges of their role.

Who Is the Academy?

The Academy is a collaborative effort involving the Maryland Municipal League (MML), Maryland Association of Counties (MACo), Local Government Insurance Trust (LGIT), and the University of Maryland Institute for Governmental Service and Reserach (IGSR). An advisory committee with representatives from each of the partner organizations provides oversight for the Academy. IGSR at the University of Maryland College Park serves as the program manager for the Academy.

Purpose and Objectives

By providing enhanced educational opportunities, the Academy will train informed and responsible local officials to give Maryland jurisdictions the leadership needed to meet the challenges of the twenty-first century. Specific objectives are (1) to increase understanding of local government and how it functions; (2) to promote high ethical standards in public service; (3) to provide an informational base for more informed policy making; (4) to develop capacity of local officials to govern effectively; and (5) to recognize local officials for their educational efforts.

Who Can Attend?

The Academy is a voluntary program open to all local officials in Maryland. Newly elected local officials are especially encouraged to participate. Individuals may take individual classes of their choosing or enroll in the certificate program. Participants who are enrolled in the certificate program are called "Fellows."

What Is Required?

To receive the Academy Certificate, local officials must complete specified core and elective classes in either the municipal or county track. These classes often coincide with other conferences and meetings to make them easy to fit into the busy schedule of local officials. All certified Academy classes are designated by the Academy logo. Participants must submit a verification form after each Academy class for the class to be credited. On completion of all required classes, each participant receive a certificate and lapel pin.

What Is the Cost?

Participation in the Academy requires a registration fee of $250. For county elected officials, only, MACo contributes $150 toward the $250 fee. The Academy registration fee covers a portion of the administrative costs associated with managing the Academy, mailings, program brochures, certificates, and lapel pins. There are no additional fees for Academy classes offered during the MML and MACo conventions or conferences or presented as LGIT or IGSR workshops other than the customary registration fees for these events. Classes offered in other venues may carry a nominal fee to cover actual costs.

Requirements-Municipal Track

To receive the Academy Certificate, municipal officials must complete nine core classes plus five electives. Classes are of varying lengths. On average, it is expected each Fellow will complete between 35 and 50 hours of training. Upcoming classes are published in newsletters and web sites. Participants are encouraged to complete requirements within two to three years but will be given additional time to accommodate personal situations and the election cycle.

Core Requirements: Every participant in the municipal track must complete the following nine core classes: Structure of Government; Ethics; Open Meetings; Conducting Effective Meetings; Municipal Budgeting; Employment Issues; Consensus and Team Building; Public Information Act; and Basics of Risk Management.

Elective Requirements: Participants in the municipal track are required to take five electives. Only Academy-approved classes are accepted toward the requirement. Electives are offered under the following broad categories: Environmental Issues; Land Use Planning; Communications; Legal and Liability Issues; Human Resources and Personnel Administration; Technology; Service Delivery; Intergovernmental Relations; Personal Development; Finance; and Economic Development and Tourism.

Requirements-County Track

To receive the Academy Certificate, county officials must complete eight core classes plus six electives. Classes are of varying lengths. On average, it is expected each Fellow will complete between 35 and 50 hours of training. Upcoming classes are published in newsletters and web sites. Participants are encouraged to complete requirements within two to three years but will be given additional time to accommodate personal situations and the election cycle.

Core Requirements: Every participant in the county track must complete the following eight core classes: Ethics; Open Meetings; County Financial Management; Conducting Effective Meetings; Consensus and Team Building; Employment Issues; Public Information Act; and Basics of Risk Management.

Elective Requirements: Participants in the county track are required to take six electives. Only Academy-approved classes are accepted toward the requirement. Electives are offered under the following broad categories: Environmental Issues; Land Use Planning; Communications; Legal and Liability Issues; Human Resources and Personnel Administration; Technology; Service Delivery; Intergovernmental Relations; School Board Issues; Personal Development; Finance; and Economic Development and Tourism.

To register for the Academy, click here.

For more information, contact:
Bao Nguyen
301-405-3773
igsr@umd.edu