Developing World-Class Leaders for Public Service
Maryland Certified Public Manager® Program for Government and Nonprofits
The Maryland Certified Public Manager® Program is a nationally accredited leadership development program offered by the Schaefer Center for Public Policy at The University of Baltimore. Maryland’s leaders now have the opportunity to gain the comprehensive, applied management skills needed to meet the complex demands and challenges of the 21st century. Download a PDF brochure.
The Maryland Certified Public Manager® Program is:
- A comprehensive 300-hour competency-based, academically grounded, and job-relevant program
- Results-oriented, featuring individual capstone projects designed to improve an agency’s service, reduce its costs, or increase its revenue
- Proven to improve performance and advance best practice standards for public and nonprofit sector managers
A limited number of managers in state, local, municipal governments, and nonprofits will have an opportunity to attend the Maryland Certified Public Manager® program at no cost. Government candidates will be selected based on meeting program requirements and ensuring representation throughout the state of Maryland and level of government.
City of Baltimore Employees: If you’re interested in applying for a City of Baltimore sponsored cohort, please contact CPM@baltimorecity.gov for details.
ENROLLMENT OPEN
The Schaefer Center for Public Policy at the University of Baltimore invites you to attend the Information Session for the Maryland Certified Public Manager® Program Online Classes of 2027.
Dr. Ann Cotten, Executive Director, Schaefer Center for Public Policy, will provide an overview of the program, discuss how to earn the credential of Certified Public Manager®, and answer questions from participants.
“I’ve been on this job for almost thirty years. There are two things I can tell you that have contributed greatly to my success, development, and being a lifelong learner. One of those things was the FBI National Academy and the other was the Maryland Certified Manager® Program at the University of Baltimore.”
– Col. Orlando Lilly, Superintendent of Natural Resources Police, Maryland Department of Natural Resources
marylandcpm@ubalt.edu
ENROLLMENT OPEN
Program Dates
Maryland Certified Public Manager®
Online with Real-Time Instruction
We are offering three funded Cohorts this fiscal year for government and nonprofit managers. If you have questions about eligibility or the program, please contact us at marylandcpm@ubalt.edu
Weekly Retreats
All retreats have morning sessions from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and afternoon sessions from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. All retreat sessions are held via Zoom; attendance is mandatory. Luncheons are in person from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Graduation is in person.
Cohort 25
Mandatory Orientation:
July 27, 2026 (9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.)
Retreat Week 1: Leadership Style and Personal Productivity
August 17-21, 2026
• Understanding Leadership
• Personality Style and Effectiveness
• Self-Awareness
• Motivating Others and Communicating Supportively
• Building and Leading Teams
• Using University of Baltimore Library Resources
• Professional Writing Refresher
• Introduction to Critical Thinking and Logic Modeling
• Capstone Project Work Session
Leadership Lunch 1 – The Leadership Journey (in-person)
September 10, 2026
Retreat Week 2: Strategic Management and Lean Management
September 21-25, 2026
• Strategic Management
• Lean Management
• Project Management
• Capstone Project Work Session
• Public Sector Ethics
Leadership Lunch 2 – Managing Multiple Priorities Discussion (in-person)
November 19, 2026
Retreat Week 3: Data-Based Decision Making
November 30-December 4, 2026
• Data-based Decision Making
• Decision Making Under Uncertainty
• Performance Measurement
• Program Evaluation • Critical Thinking-Assessing Research
• Presenting Data
• Capstone Project Working Session
Leadership Lunch 3 – StrengthsFinder (in-person)
January 14, 2027
Retreat Week 4: Managing Public Resources
February 1-5, 2027
• Human Resource Management in Public Organizations
• Procurement
• Grants Management
• Public Sector Budgeting
• Developing Slide Decks
• Honing Presentation Skills
• Capstone Project Work Session
• Managing Diversity and Promoting an Inclusive Work Culture
Leadership Lunch 4 – AI in the Public Sector (in-person)
March 11, 2027
Retreat Week 5: External Management Communications and Legislative Process
April 5-9, 2027
• Harnessing the Power of Conflict
• Emergency Management
• Administrative and Nonprofit Law and Advocacy Overview
• Maryland Legislative Process
• Intergovernmental Relations
• Honing Presentation Skills
• Capstone Project Work Session
• Negotiation Skills
Capstone Presentations
June 4, 2027
Capstone presentations will be in person.
Graduation
July 16, 2027
Graduation is in person.
In addition to the in-person retreats, participants are required to:
• Complete pre- and post-session work (about 10 hours per retreat)
• Complete a capstone project related to their organization (about 80 hours)
• Participate in capstone conference calls between sessions (approximately 1 per month)
Cohort 26
Mandatory Orientation:
August 3, 2026 (9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.)
Retreat Week 1: Leadership Style and Personal Productivity
August 24-28, 2026
• Understanding Leadership
• Personality Style and Effectiveness
• Self-Awareness
• Motivating Others and Communicating Supportively
• Building and Leading Teams
• Using University of Baltimore Library Resources
• Professional Writing Refresher
• Introduction to Critical Thinking and Logic Modeling
• Capstone Project Work Session
Leadership Lunch 1 – The Leadership Journey (in-person)
September 10, 2026
Retreat Week 2: Strategic Management and Lean Management
September 28- October 2, 2026 •Strategic Management
• Lean Management
• Project Management
• Capstone Project Work Session
• Public Sector Ethics
Leadership Lunch 2 – Managing Multiple Priorities Discussion (in-person)
November 19, 2026
Retreat Week 3: Data-Based Decision Making
December 7-11, 2026
• Data-based Decision Making
• Decision Making Under Uncertainty
• Performance Measurement • Program Evaluation
• Critical Thinking – Assessing Research
• Presenting Data
• Capstone Project Work Session
Leadership Lunch 3 – Strengths Finder (in-person)
January 14, 2027
Retreat Week 4: Managing Public Resources
February 8-12, 2027
• Human Resource Management in Public Organizations
• Procurement
• Grants Management
• Public Sector Budgeting
• Developing Slide Decks
• Honing Presentation Skills
• Capstone Project Work Session
• Managing Diversity and Promoting an Inclusive Work Culture
Leadership Lunch 4 – AI in the Public Sector (in-person)
March 11, 2027
Retreat Week 5: External Management Communications and Legislative Process
April 12-16, 2027
• Harnessing the Power of Conflict
• Emergency Management
• Administrative and Nonprofit Law and Advocacy Overview
• Maryland Legislative Process
• Intergovernmental Relations
• Honing Presentation Skills
• Capstone Project Work Session
• Negotiation Skills
Capstone Presentations
June 11, 2027
Capstone presentations will be in person.
Graduation
July 16, 2027
Graduation is in person.
In addition to the in-person retreats, participants are required to:
• Complete pre- and post-session work (about 10 hours per retreat)
• Complete a capstone project related to their organization (about 80 hours)
• Participate in capstone conference calls between sessions (approximately 1 per month)
Cohort 27
Mandatory Orientation:
August 10, 2026 (9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.)
Retreat Week 1: Leadership Style and Personal Productivity
August 31-September 4, 2026
• Understanding Leadership
• Personality Style and Effectiveness
• Self-Awareness
• Motivating Others and Communicating Supportively
• Building and Leading Teams
• Using University of Baltimore Library Resources
• Professional Writing Refresher
• Introduction to Critical Thinking and Logic Modeling
• Capstone Project Work Session
Leadership Lunch 1 – The Leadership Journey (in-person)
September 10, 2026
Retreat Week 2: Strategic Management and Lean Management
October 19-23, 2026
•Strategic Management
• Lean Management
• Project Management
• Capstone Project Work Session
• Public Sector Ethics
Leadership Lunch 2 – Managing Multiple Priorities Discussion (in-person)
November 19, 2026
Retreat Week 3: Data-Based Decision Making
December 14-18, 2026
• Data-based Decision Making
• Decision Making Under Uncertainty
• Performance Measurement • Program Evaluation
• Critical Thinking – Assessing Research
• Presenting Data
• Capstone Project Work Session
Leadership Lunch 3 – Strengths Finder (in-person)
January 14, 2027
Retreat Week 4: Managing Public Resources
February 22-26, 2027
• Human Resource Management in Public Organizations
• Procurement
• Grants Management
• Public Sector Budgeting
• Developing Slide Decks
• Honing Presentation Skills
• Capstone Project Work Session
• Managing Diversity and Promoting an Inclusive Work Culture
Leadership Lunch 4 – AI in the Public Sector (in-person)
March 11, 2027
Retreat Week 5: External Management Communications and Legislative Process
April 19-23, 2027
• Harnessing the Power of Conflict
• Emergency Management
• Administrative and Nonprofit Law and Advocacy Overview
• Maryland Legislative Process
• Intergovernmental Relations
• Honing Presentation Skills
• Capstone Project Work Session
• Negotiation Skills
Capstone Presentations
June 17, 2027
Capstone presentations will be in person.
Graduation
July 16, 2027
Graduation is in person.
In addition to the in-person retreats, participants are required to:
• Complete pre- and post-session work (about 10 hours per retreat)
• Complete a capstone project related to their organization (about 80 hours)
• Participate in capstone conference calls between sessions (approximately 1 per month)