Apply Now for the Class of 2027 (Cohorts 25, 26, 27) Maryland Certified Public Manager® Program, Schaefer Center for Public Policy, The University of Baltimore 

Applications are now being accepted for the Class of 2027 Maryland Certified Public Manager® Program offered by the Schaefer Center for Public Policy at the University of Baltimore. Applications are due by June 1, 2026.

The Maryland Certified Public Manager® Program (CPM) is a competency-based leadership development program accredited by the National Certified Public Manager® Consortium. The 300-hour academically grounded program is taught by public management experts with an emphasis on real-world applications. Participants are required to complete a Capstone Project for their agency to improve a service, reduce costs, or increase revenue. 

The 2027 program is fully funded and will be offered entirely online combining live online instruction and discussion with self-paced learning. Training will include interactive classes, projects, and readings. The overall goal of the program is to develop world-class leaders for Maryland public service. 

“The Maryland Certified Public Manager® program was specifically designed to address the unique challenges faced by public managers,” said Dr. Ann Cotten, Executive Director of the Schaefer Center and creator of the program. “In addition to world‑class training, candidates join a robust professional network of more than 450 public managers who have enrolled in the program in Maryland and over 40,000 who have completed similar CPM programs nationwide.” 

The Maryland Certified Public Manager® Program has a limited number of funded spaces available for managers and executives from state, local, municipal government, and nonprofit organizations in Maryland for 2027. Eligible applicants can attend the program at no charge to them or their agency. The program is open to supervisors and managers living or working in Maryland who work for a government (municipal, local, or state), quasi-governmental, or nonprofit organization. 

Apply online at the Maryland Certified Public Manager® Program website.

CONTACT: Diane Geiman, Training Manager, [email protected], or Dr. Ann Cotten, Executive Director of the Schaefer Center for Public Policy and Director of the Maryland Certified Public Manager® Program at [email protected].

About the Maryland Certified Public Manager® Program

The Maryland Certified Public Manager® (CPM) program’s mission is to promote excellence in public management by providing comprehensive training in the core competencies of public sector management.  The program leverages the expertise of faculty of the College of Public Affairs and practitioners to deliver an academically grounded and job relevant curriculum that promotes cross-sector collaboration and prepares candidates for the work of today and the challenges of tomorrow. The Schaefer Center is the only authorized provider of Certified Public Manager® Training in Maryland.  The program is accredited by the National Certified Public Manager® Consortium and is one of 44 CPM programs across the United States.

To learn more about the Certified Public Manager® program and to apply for an upcoming cohort, please visit the CPM website at: https://schaefercenter.ubalt.edu/maryland-certified-public-manager-program/     

About the Schaefer Center for Public Policy

Established in 1985, the Schaefer Center is the nonpartisan applied research unit within the College of Public Affairs. The Schaefer Center’s mission is to Help Government Help People. The Schaefer Center does this through applied research and consulting, expanding public sector management skills through the Maryland Certified Public Manager® Program, and developing the public service pipeline through its NextGen Leaders for Public Service internship program.

In the area of applied research and technical assistance, the Schaefer Center offers program evaluation, needs assessment, data analysis, policy analysis, strategic planning, performance measurement, opinion research, and management consulting.

About the University of Baltimore

The University of Baltimore offers career-focused education for aspiring and current professionals, providing the region with highly educated leaders who make distinctive contributions to the broader community. The University of Baltimore is a member of the University System of Maryland and comprises the College of Public Affairs, the Merrick School of Business, the UB School of Law and the Yale Gordon College of Arts and Sciences.