MiniMPA Professional Development in Local Government

MiniMPA™: Advance Your Career in Local Government

The MiniMPA™ is an intensive professional development series for people working in local government. Classes will meet once each week on Friday mornings from 8 AM to 11 AM. The first class and the last two classes meet in person, on campus. All other class sessions meet virtually, via Zoom. This format allows local government professionals from cities and counties across the state to participate. The MiniMPA™ begins January 10, 2025 and ends May 2, 2025. The cost is $1,050 which includes course materials and a certificate upon successful completion. For more information about receiving academic credit equivalent to a one semester course contact Mercy Umeri.

If you are a local government professional ready to assume the next level of responsibility, the MiniMPA™ is for you. If you are a specialist seeking a broader understanding of administrative roles, finance, human resources and public policy, the MiniMPA™ will help. MiniMPA™ instructors are faculty who teach in the MPA, and experts who, like you, work in local government. They understand that staff, services, and tax dollars are being stretched to the limit. In the MiniMPA™, with guidance from faculty and these experienced local government experts, you will learn to address complex problems with limited resources including how to:

•  make tough budget decisions for a department, a city or a county
• effectively communicate with elected officials and the public
• increase critical thinking about challenging issues facing your cities or counties 
• gain a better understanding of how your department relates to the budget of your city or county 
• engage in win-win collaborative arrangements that involve other units of government, nonprofits and private businesses

To participate in the next class that begins January 10, 2025, you must submit an application and a letter of recommendation from your city/county manager, city administrator and/or direct supervisor no later than midnight Friday, November 29^th, 2024 to Mercy Umeri at mercy.umeri@wichita.edu.

Cancellations
Cancellations must be made in writing by e-mail, mail or fax. Cancellations received five days prior to the first session will receive a 75% refund. Cancellations received fewer than five days prior to the first session will not receive a refund. 

Notice of Nondiscrimination
Wichita State University (WSU) does not discriminate in its employment practices, or in its educational programs or activities on the basis of age (40 years or older), ancestry, color, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, national origin, political affiliation, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or status as a veteran. WSU also prohibits retaliation against any person making a complaint of discrimination or against any person involved or participating in the investigation of any such allegation. Sexual misconduct, relationship violence, and stalking are forms of sex discrimination and are prohibited under Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, other federal law, and WSU policy. The following persons have been designated to handle inquiries regarding WSU’s non-discrimination policies: the Associate Vice President and University Title IX Coordinator (Telephone: (316) 978-3186), Office of Civil Rights, Title IX & ADA Compliance. For inquiries, please call or visit the Office of Civil Rights, Title IX & ADA Compliance at (316) 978-3186, Wichita State University, 1845 Fairmount, Wichita, KS 67260, Lindquist Hall.