THE CURRICULUM

 The curriculum for the Executive Leadership Institute was developed with the advice and counsel of current and former city managers, and faculty at the nation's most prestigious schools of public administration. The program is divided into major and minor curriculum topics. Major topics are those in which the candidates spend eight or more hours of classroom instruction and discussion. Some of the major ELI curriculum topic areas are listed below:

• Strategic Visioning for Public Organizations
• Problem-solving
• Decision-making and Communication
• Policy Development/Analysis
• Modeling/Organizational Theory
• Self-awareness
• Partnership Building (Public Public/Public Private)
• Resource Development and Allocation
• Local Government Management

Minor curriculum topics are usually covered in one or two classroom seminars and include the following:

• Community/Economic Development
• Globalization/Multiculturalism
• Intergovernmental Relationships
• Time Management
• Labor Negotiations/Collective Bargaining
• Environmental Management
• Change Management
• Community Building/Citizen Engagement

In addition to regularly scheduled seminars and workshops, ELI provides candidates with an opportunity to interact with prominent individuals from the private and public sectors. Past executive roundtable leaders include Mayors, City and County Managers, Public Administration faculty, NFBPA Board members and past presidents; and other highly respected and prominent Black public, corporate, and civic leaders.

The application for participation in the Executive Leadership Institute must be received by June 30. Applicants will be evaluated in the following areas: education, professional experience, leadership experience, social responsibility and commitment, and writing/analytical ability. Participants in the Executive Leadership Institute attend training sessions scheduled over an eight-month period, starting in August of each year and typically ending in April. Candidates in ELI remain on their jobs during the course of the program, and spend approximately 20 to 25 workdays away from the office. Successful completion of the Institute curriculum requires attendance at every training session. The typical schedule for the Institute is as follows: candidates arrive at the training site on Wednesday evening; training sessions are held on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday; Sunday is a travel day.

The tuition for participation in the Executive Leadership Institute is $8,000. This fee covers the cost for instruction, venues, accommodations, breakfast and lunch during sessions, and registration fees for NFBPA’s annual conference – FORUM. The total transportation cost for all program sessions and the annual conference are an additional $4000. Participants can pay NFBPA directly, or they can choose to make their own travel arrangements provided they agree to adhere to the travel schedules set by NFBPA. Lodging costs associated with the annual FORUM conference are not included in the above fees. Various strategies for securing sponsorship have been employed by members of past ELI classes. The overwhelming majority of participants are sponsored by their local and state government employers. Others have successfully supported their participation in the Institute through a combination of corporate, foundation and personal funds. NFBPA staff are available to provide advice on strategies for securing sponsorship to candidates who are accepted into the program.