Thanks to ICMA’s Strategic Partners, The Ferguson Group and e-Civis, ICMA is offering two scholarships allowing ICMA members to attend the 2016 Harvard Senior Executive program. Both The Ferguson Group and e-Civis have committed to funding a scholarship, each to be awarded by ICMA, to cover the tuition fee of $12,400. The Ferguson Group began funding a scholarship in 2011; e-Civis joins them this year to fund an additional scholarship. 

The Harvard Senior Executive program is a unique opportunity to challenge conventional thinking, thought processes, and the values that drive leadership decisions. It’s an opportunity for senior-level city and county managers and assistants to experience personal and professional renewal. Participants step away from the daily routine for three weeks to engage with other executives in team efforts to resolve tough issues and renew the commitment to their life’s work.

To apply for the 2016 scholarship, fill out both ICMA’s application and the Harvard Senior Executive application and return them to flittky@icma.org  by Wednesday, February 10, 2016. Applications received after this date will not be considered for the scholarship. Scholarship recipients will need to cover their own travel expenses.

Participants choose the session they would like to attend:

• June 6 - 24
• July 11 - 29

A committee of ICMA members who have completed the program will select the scholarship recipients. Announcement of this year’s scholarship recipients will be made in March.

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Testimonial from Greg Doyon, city manager, Great Falls, Montana, and 2014 scholarship recipient

As public servants, we attend our share of ugly public meetings. Meetings that after adjournment, we wonder whether or not we chose the right profession or if we have the will to continue.

The sometimes-tumultuous democratic process can fatigue managers. The verbal battering of local officials at meetings by unhappy residents is wearing. When angry taxpayers “hijack the podium” with a relentless barrage of what local government is doing wrong, it is easy to lose faith. Managers can develop a “bunker mentality” and quickly lose a healthy perspective about their community role. When discouragement settles in, it is important and necessary to step back and evaluate work, life, and to seek a fresh perspective. 

I was very fortunate to find a fresh perspective at the Kennedy School of Government Senior Executives in State and Local Government Program at Harvard University. Sometimes, new perspectives are found in unusual and surprising ways. Unexpectedly, that fresh outlook came from a former Chinese communist party official turned pro-democracy student activist.

Testimonial from Norton Bonaparte, city manager, Sanford, Florida, and 2015 scholarship recipient

One take away that I am working on now that I am back at work is to look to see how we can show and demonstrate to our residents that our city government provides value to their lives. It is important to note that the out-of-class discussions and interactions with the other participants was a very valuable component of the learning experience. It was a quick three weeks. I am still processing the material that was covered and discussed in the class sessions. I have every expectation that the relationships I made with the other participants will continue to be beneficial beyond my three weeks at Harvard. I encourage anyone that has the opportunity to attend this program to do so.

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Scholarship criteria can be found on the ICMA website. For more information on the scholarship, contact Felicia Littky, Harvard Scholarship Program manager, at 202-962-3656 or flittky@icma.org.