If you are looking to advance your career in public management, Ball State offers a unique training opportunity. The Indiana Certified Public Manager® Program is offered exclusively by the Bowen Center for Public Affairs in cooperation with Lifetime Learning as a key initiative of its Institute for Public Service. The Indiana CPM Program provides government and non-profit employees with a comprehensive course of study that has recognized public management theories and best practices at its foundation. The program trains public managers to apply these theories and practices to the challenges they face in public service. After completing the required 300 hours of learning activities, each public manager will receive the nationally recognized designation as a Certified Public Manager®.

Fill out this online program application to express interest in our accredited program. Our Career Success Coach will share details on the registration and payment process and share the program commitment/employer signature form with you. If you are attending as part of a group and paying by invoice, a custom registration promo code will be sent to you directly. 

If you have any questions, please email lifetimelearning@bsu.edu.

The Indiana CPM Program is fully accredited by the National Certified Public Manager® Consortium. The consortium establishes and enforces accreditation standards for the CPM programs offered in approximately 40 states. Bowen Center for Public Affairs is the exclusive authorized provider of Certified Public Manager® training in Indiana.

The accreditation guidelines demand that the program curriculum require intensive study, application of important concepts in the work environment, and completion of a significant capstone project. Participants are required to demonstrate their proficiencies in seven fundamental public management competencies:

• Personal and Organizational Integrity
• Leading People
• Developing Self
• Change Leadership
• Managing Work
• Systemic Integration
• Public Service Focus

This 300-hour nationally accredited program is offered in two modalities: in-person at Ball State Fishers and online. Program content is delivered in two phases for maximum effectiveness. This program requires employer signature to ensure commitment to the schedule is pre-approved.

Once Phase I is complete, managers may progress into Phase II. 

• Amplify your existing leadership strengths.
• Expand your intergovernmental networks.
• Evaluate opportunities and innovate effectively.
• Learn skills that you can take back to work with you and apply immediately.

• Upon graduation, you'll qualify for membership in the American Academy of Certified Public Managers®.

Phase II presents concepts and tools that a manager uses to analyze the external environment of his or her agency. This allows a public manager to identify the other political actors with influence over the agency and determine which of these actors are likely to support or oppose initiatives. This knowledge of the external environment will aid a manager in crafting a politically feasible and technically practical strategy that will create value for the public.

Price*

$1,895 In-person

Learn the tools, techniques, and concepts that help a public manager direct and manage personnel within the manager’s organization. The methods taught in Phase I facilitate the adoption of a results-oriented perspective toward public management. By “beginning with the end in mind” public managers can better organize their own activities and the activities of their staff members to produce public value.

Price*

$1,795 In-person

*Prices include all books, materials, and course access. Free parking and lunch is included on the day.

9/8/26

Overview: Managing in Public Organizations

10/13/26          

Emotional Intelligence and Reasoning

11/10/26

Integrity and Ethical Behavior

12/8/26

Managing Work

1/12/27

Onboarding and Engaging Employees

2/9/27

Public Service and the Customer

3/9/27

Performance Improvement

4/13/27

Performance Measurement

5/11/27

Process Improvement

6/8/27

Financial Stewardship

7/13/27

Effective Communication

8/10/27

Professional Life Balance 

9/10/26

Overview: Managing in Public Organizations

10/8/26          

Emotional Intelligence and Reasoning

11/12/26

Integrity and Ethical Behavior

12/10/26

Managing Work

1/14/27

Onboarding and Engaging Employees

2/11/27

Public Service and the Customer

3/11/27

Performance Improvement

4/8/27

Performance Measurement

5/13/27

Process Improvement

6/10/27

Financial Stewardship

7/8/27

Effective Communication

8/12/27

Professional Life Balance

9/11/26

Overview: Managing in Public Organizations

10/9/26

Emotional Intelligence and Reasoning

11/13/26

Integrity and Ethical Behavior

12/11/26

Managing Tasks and Projects

1/8/27

Onboarding and Engaging Employees

2/12/27

Public Service and the Customer

3/12/27

Performance Improvement

4/9/27

Performance Measurement

5/14/27

Process Improvement

6/11/27

Financial Stewardship

7/9/27

Effective Communication

8/13/27

Professional Life Balance

9/15/26

Overview: Leadership in Public Organizations

10/20/26

Authority, Power, and Influence 

11/17/26

Strategies for Ensuring Success

12/15/26

Strengthening Your Team

1/19/27

Leading Change

2/16/27

Public Relations and Media

3/16/27

Bias, Error, and Surprise

4/20/27

Emergency and Crisis

5/18/27

Negotiation and Mediating Agreement

6/15/27

Political Engagement

7/20/27

Innovation and Impact

8/17/27

Your Capstone Journey 

9/15/26

Overview: Managing in Public Organizations

10/20/26          

Emotional Intelligence and Reasoning

11/17/26

Integrity and Ethical Behavior

12/15/26

Managing Work

1/19/27

Onboarding and Engaging Employees

2/16/27

Public Service and the Customer

3/16/27

Performance Improvement

4/20/27

Performance Measurement

5/18/27

Process Improvement

6/15/27

Financial Stewardship

7/20/27

Effective Communication

8/17/27

Professional Life Balance 

Jordan T. Long, Ph.D., M.P.A.

Isaac Miller, M.P.A., M.A.

Gregory T. Baumle, M.P.A.

Dr. Jordan Long grew up visiting extended family in North Manchester, IN. He worked for 6 years as a Social Security Administration Disability Adjudicator before obtaining his masters and doctorate in Public Administration with emphasis in Public Management from the University of Georgia. He is an Assistant Teaching Professor of Political Science at Ball State where he teaches courses in public administration, state & local politics, nonprofit administration, and both Phases of CPM. He was installed as third Director of the Indiana CPM program in September 2023 and has focused his tenure on curricular enhancement and site expansion. “We have a great team here, and we want you to join us!” Fun fact: Jordan has entered North Korea legally with stories to tell. 

Isaac Miller got his start in government as Chief Deputy Clerk of Delaware county, Indiana, overseeing election policy and processes. Following his time in local government, he worked in the private sector on Software as a Solution (SaaS) contracts for the state of Indiana, and now serves as Election Technology Specialist and Subject Matter Expert on Voter Registration Systems and policy at the U.S. Election Assistance Commission. He has taught with Indiana CPM since the Summer of 2024. Born and raised in Muncie, he serves as mayoral appointee on the city Redevelopment Commission overseeing economic development and redevelopment for the region. A fun fact about him is that he collects strategy board games, and has four children!   

Greg Baumle grew up in Payne, Ohio, 4 miles from the Indiana/Ohio border. He served with the Dayton & Huber Heights Fire Departments for over 25 years, rising to the rank of Battalion Chief. During his fire service career, he oversaw Fire & Hazardous Materials operations, dispatch, statistical analysis, and grant writing.  His leadership also extended into municipal government, where he served as Mayor of Arcanum and as a village council member, helping manage large public projects and oversee budgets.  He currently serves as Adjunct Professor of Business Administration at Ivy Tech Community College and has been teaching with Indiana CPM since Summer of 2025.  Fun Fact: his wife Gretchen is also a college professor.

Kayla Arnold, C.P.M., M.P.A.

Robert J. Wichlinski, C.P.M., M.A

Kayla Arnold serves as Director of Communications for the City of Westfield, IN, where she leads an award-winning team responsible for all internal and external communications: media relations, crisis communications, digital strategy, and community engagement efforts. Personally selected by the mayor, Kayla guides messaging around major initiatives, infrastructure investment, and community development.  She is a graduate of the Purdue Global MPA program, Hamilton County Leadership Academy, and Indiana CPM Program for which she was welcomed back to teach beginning in Summer of 2025.  Fun Fact: Kayla and her husband have been on a dozen cruises; their next one is already on the books (to Alaska)!  

Bob Wichlinski is founder of the “Take Care, We’re Farming Around Here” public safety program, President of the Porter County Farm Bureau, and appointee to the IN Executive Council on Cybersecurity.  He was Auditor of Porter County, Trustee of Porter Township, President of the Porter County Trustees Association, Board Member of the NW Indiana Regional Bus Authority, and inductee into the NW IN Society of Innovators.  Bob obtained his Master’s from Valparaiso University and is a graduate of Indiana CPM where he began teaching in Summer 2026.  A fun fact is that he is a recipient of the Circle of Corydon, a joint gubernatorial and legislative award recognizing remarkable contributions to Indiana.

"...it allows me to glean ideas that I can take back and put into practice to become a more efficient, high-performing unit of government, to give the taxpayers, which is our customers, a return on investment.

"The collaboration between myself and the other participants, knowing that there are other communities with the same type of needs and being able to discuss that in an open environment, has been very helpful."

Todd Burton

City of Westfield, IN

Beth Shellman

Town of Albion, IN

Employers find value in the program for succession planning to fill upcoming vacancies, for bringing knowledgeable staff up to speed quickly, as part of an employee development and mentoring plan, to obtain national recognition, to champion efficiency, ensure effectiveness, and more!

Join us at Ball State Fishers at 8626 E. 116th Street, Suite 300, Fishers, IN 46038 or 

Ball State Fort Wayne at 

1030 Swinney Avenue Fort Wayne, IN 46802.

Whether you are looking to upgrade your resume with expanded skill sets or set yourself apart in a job search, our competency-based programs allow you to learn on your own schedule.There's something for every stage of your educational journey.

You can also learn about ways to accelerate your academic flight plan and earn college credit for your CPM credential to fly further, faster! 

Individuals certified in Phase 1 may waive the graduate Public Management course in Ball State’s MPA program, pending a BA/BS degree and MPA admission. For questions, contact Dr. Steven Hall. 

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