CU Denver School of Public Affairs

CU Denver School of Public Affairs Helps You Learn and Grow as a Parks and Recreation Professional

By Ellen Patterson, External Programs & Partnerships Coordinator, School of Public Affairs, University of Colorado

The CU Denver School of Public Affairs (SPA) has been a strong supporter of continuing education for parks and recreation professionals for many years. Three programs are currently open for applications and cater to professionals at different points in their career. We hope you’ll join us and pass this information along to colleagues and others in your networks. The Parks and Recreation Emerging Professionals Program (PREPP) is an online learning program designed for newer parks and recreation staff or those who haven’t had access to formal parks and recreation education. It’s geared toward people who aspire to be in supervisory and management positions and is run in a cohort model to build strong networks among participants. Live, virtual sessions are held once-aweek, in the evenings, to accommodate busy professionals across the U.S. There are 12, 3-week courses covering topics such as organizational structure and governance, equity, finance, program planning and evaluation, facilities/parks planning and management, human resources, and communication. Students develop portfolios of their learning and complete a final project. A new cohort starts this Fall.

As the top-ranked public administration school in Colorado and with a new, campus-wide commitment to professional education, you’ll want to keep an eye on the improvements and new opportunities at CU Denver.

The Colorado Certified Public Manager® (CPM) program offers early and mid-career public sector professionals an opportunity to develop and improve their management and leadership skills, while earning a nationallyrecognized, professional certificate. The program consists of 6, 2-day courses plus a student-developed capstone project. Attendees come from all levels and areas of government, which offers a unique classroom experience. Participants can start the program at any time, with any course, and have 3 years to complete the program. Courses topics include ethics, administrative law, leadership and teamwork, public engagement, strategic planning, and innovation. The certificate can be used as 6 elective credits in SPA’s Master of Public Administration program. Alums say that the curriculum helped them see many new aspects of public management and learning alongside people in different fields opened their eyes to similar challenges across departments and governments. In addition to the Denver-based CPM program, applications are open for a new, in-person cohort, hosted by Pitkin County, for professionals in the mountain region. The Rocky Mountain Leadership Program is designed for public and nonprofit sector professionals with more than ten years of experience. It guides leaders in developing authentic leadership skills specifically focused on change leadership, effective use of conflict, emotional intelligence, inclusive leadership, and coaching. The program is held as one intensive week, on-site in Breckenridge in late October. Attendees come from Colorado and around the U.S. to allow the Colorado mountains to inspire their leadership journey. All three programs have fees between $3,000 and $3,750. CPRA Members receive a discount for both CPM and PREPP, and payment plans and some limited scholarships are available. Information about these programs, and more, are available on the SPA website. Reach out today for additional information or to begin your application! As the top-ranked public administration school in Colorado and with a new, campus-wide commitment to professional education, you’ll want to keep an eye on the improvements and new opportunities at CU Denver.