MUNICIPAL
MANAGEMENT
ACADEMY
PROGRAM
OVERVIEW
Municipal Management Academy
Program Goal
Mission statement: to provide effective training and educational opportunities for
managers and supervisors in municipal environments throughout the state of
Tennessee.
The Municipal Management Academy is designed to help both the new and the
experienced manager/supervisor develop the knowledge, skills, and abilities
required for successful management. The course sessions are easily adapted
for groups of different sizes, levels of experience and skill. The program can
serve as basic management training for the new manager or as a refresher
course for the experienced manager.
Each course emphasizes discussion and group activities to encourage
participants to learn from one another, often resulting in better teamwork,
cohesiveness, and communications among managers.
Curriculum
The Academy is divided into three levels.
• Level I requires completion of eight 4-hour sessions.
• Level II contains eight 4-hour sessions, of which four are required and
four are electives to be chosen by the city.
• Level III includes completion of a practicum (20 hours) plus three
4-hour courses for a total of 32 hours.
The ultimate goal of this program is for supervisors to practice successful
managerial/ supervisory skills and behaviors on the job. To achieve this goal, the
course is designed to:
• Examine the roles and responsibilities of local government managers
and supervisors
• Identify characteristics, attitudes, and behaviors of effective and
successful managers/supervisors
• Assess individual strengths and weaknesses in order to build on
strengths and correct weaknesses
• Learn and practice new supervisory skills
• Apply theories of effective supervision in practice
Each course is developed to last 4 hours and contains class discussions and
learning activities that provide a framework for applying these concepts in the
participants’ own supervisory situation and for developing new behaviors and
practicing new skills.
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Level I Session Descriptions
MMA01: Municipal Management Overview
A broad functional overview of municipal management is provided for managers and supervisors. A selfassessment allows participants to identify areas in which they need to improve their skills and allows them to
set specific personal goals and objectives for this program. They also explore leadership models and how
each relates to the responsibilities and roles of municipal managers and supervisors. 4 CPE (Other)
MMA02: Understanding Work Styles
This class examines the roles, characteristics, skills, and behaviors of effective leaders and offers models for
supervisory styles. Participants will explore their own leadership style through the use of the DiSC personality
profile and will recognize behavioral styles that are used by others. This benefits everyone by having more
effective working relationships. 4 CPE (Other)
MMA03: Planning and Organizing for Results
Participants in this class are provided the key elements of planning including: managing one’s time
effectively, setting SMART goals for their work team which are linked to the city’s mission statements,
establishing work plans and schedules, prioritizing work flow, and creating performance measures for
checking results. 4 CPE (Other)
MMA04: Performance Management - Positive Discipline
The performance management process and the importance of setting expectations is explored in this class.
This class also examines factors that contribute to performance problems and grievances and emphasizes
the importance of encouraging self-discipline. A problem solving approach is used in addressing performance
problems and taking disciplinary measures in accordance with city policy. 4 CPE (Other)
MMA05: Human Resource Overview
Employment law is an ever increasing issue of importance in the workplace. This session gives an overview
of human resource issues and covers employment law including FMLA, ADA, Worker’s Compensation, FSLA,
and EEOC. This session also includes a look at state laws governing employment and looks at the specific
city’s personnel policies: rules and regulations as it applies to employees and supervisors. 4 CPE (CMFO Not
Applicable)
MMA06: Workplace Harassment and Workplace Violence
This class clarifies how to recognize and prevent harassment, and learn what to do if harassment occurs to
ensure protection of both the municipality and employees. Learn to recognize the risk factors, escalating
behaviors, and ways to prevent or diffuse volatile situations and prevent workplace violence. 4 CPE (Other)
MMA07: Communication Skills
This session focuses on the process and elements of effective communications including active
listening, “reading” verbal and nonverbal messages, giving and receiving feedback. It also introduces
strategies for adapting to other individual communication styles. 4 CPE (Other)
MMA08: Motivating Your Workforce
Motivation plays a key role in ensuring that staff feel valued and empowered, team members will
strive to do their best, get more job satisfaction and be encouraged to stay. This session introduces
theories and concepts of motivation and their implications for supervisors and managers. 4 CPE
(Other)
Note: All eight sessions are required courses to complete the level I certificate.
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Level II Session Descriptions
Required Courses
MMA09: Communicating, Coaching and Mentoring
Coaching, Counseling and Mentoring offers direct intervention in employee performance issues which is a
leadership competency that requires a special set of skills and sensitivity. This session focuses on the different
approaches a manager may take in intervening with employees and teaches them how to coach, counsel and
mentor for performance change. Coaching, counseling and mentoring is a required Level II session of the
Municipal Management Academy. 4 CPE (Other)
MMA10: Delegation Skills
The Delegation Skills session emphasizes assigning responsibility to others, which requires skills in
defining expectations, providing direction and support, and evaluating results. Delegation Skills is a
required Level II course of the Municipal Management Academy. 4 CPE (Other)
MMA11: Making Effective Decisions
Making Effective Decisions focuses on improving problem solving, decision making and critical thinking
skills; it offers a concise problem-solving framework. It aids in clarifying problems, setting priorities,
generating solutions and evaluating outcomes. Case studies come from real life and each can be used
as a springboard for reflection or discussion. This course is applicable to management in any
department or any level of local government. Making Effective Decisions is a required Level II course of
the Municipal Management Academy. 4 CPE (Other)
MMA12: Developing Teamwork
Developing Teamwork addresses management’s role in forming, training, and supporting teams, describes
the role and functions of the team leader, and offers suggestions for training. This session utilizes case
studies which describe work team management in a broad variety of local governments. Developing
Teamwork is a required session of Level II of the Municipal Management Academy. 4 CPE (Other)
Elective Courses for Level II and Level III
MMA13: Customer Service
The Customer Service class emphasizes the local government employee’s responsibility to provide citizens
with quality service and the supervisor’s role in fostering a customer service orientation. Customer Service is
an elective session of Level II of the Municipal Management Academy. 4 CPE (Other)
MMA14: Interviewing, Selecting & Retaining Employees Interviewing, Selecting & Retaining
Employees addresses skills involved in the recruiting, interviewing and selecting of employees, covers legal
aspects of interviewing and identifies supervisory practices that support employee retention. This course is an
elective session of Level II of the Municipal Management Academy.
4 CPE (Other)
MMA15: Employee Performance Evaluations
Employee Performance Evaluations examines a manager’s role in conducting performance
evaluations. This class discusses a variety of current instruments and approaches and focuses
attention on the advantages and disadvantages of each. Activities also concentrate on making written
comments for the performance review. This course is an elective session in Level II of the Municipal
Management Academy. 4 CPE (Other)
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MMA17: Managing Change
Change is a basic ingredient of life and it often means discovering something new, moving forward and
growing. In this course, you will analyze the forces that drive organizations to change, examine the
challenges that are associated with change, and acquire personal and professional skills for making your
organizational change more effective. This course develops your understanding of change processes and
provides you with practical skills for managing and leading change. Building your skills in navigating the
change process is a ke skill for individual contributors and leaders in any organization. 4 CPE (Other)
MMA18: Conflict Management
In this course, participants will identify their current style of conflict management, define the process of
conflict management, and develop the “skill set” for effective conflict management and resolution. Highlights
include understanding what creates conflict, and techniques of reactive and proactive conflict management.
This course is an elective session in Level II of the Municipal Management Academy. 4 CPE (Other)
MMA19: Managing a Diverse Workforce
Managing a Culturally Diverse Workforce course is an interactive session that covers an introduction to diverse
group characteristics and definitions which will include the impact culture may have on interpersonal work
relationships. Participants will benefit from understanding how to build effective cultural diverse multigenerational teams while learning to minimize conflicts. They will explore the important role leadership has in
ensuring the work environment is culturally inclusive while promoting a welcome, productive and supportive
environment. This course is an elective session in Level II of the Municipal Management Academy. 4 CPE
(Other)
MMA20: Managing Projects
Managing Projects through leadership and teamwork offers insight into specific challenges of managing a
project, and offers suggestions for avoiding common pitfalls, and strategies for keeping a project on track.
Participants are encouraged to identify and practice team-building techniques and project management
strategies. This course is an elective session in Level II of the Municipal Management Academy. 4 CPE
(Other)
MMA21: Budget and Finance for the Manager
Budget & Finance for the Manager provides an overview of the local government budget process and the
manager’s role in that process. This course is an elective session in Level II of the Municipal Management
Academy. 4 CPE (Financial)
MMA22: Ethics in Government
Ethics in Government offers a number of practical, specific suggestions for evaluating your own ethical
patterns. Discusses how to recognize the ethical implications of decisions and establish procedures and
programs that will make ethics a key work style element. This course is an elective session in Level II of
the Municipal Management Academy. 4 CPE (Other)
MMA23: Performance Measurement
This course defines performance measurement and offers a look at the concept of performance
measurement from the perspective of a supervisor or manager of municipal services. This class helps
develop meaningful performance indices for the workplace. This course is an elective session in Level II of
the Municipal Management Academy.4 CPE (Other)
MMA24: Risk Management and Safety
This course outlines the foundation of essential risk practices for municipal managers. Discusses
exposures that can lead to financial, human, property, and liability losses, and aids in developing
management strategies to address loss exposures. This course also covers state and federal laws. This
course is an elective session in Level II of the Municipal Management Academy. 4 CPE (Financial)
Note: To complete the level II certificate the participant must complete 32 hours. The first 4
sessions are required. Each city then selects 4 sessions from the list of ten elective courses.
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Level III
Requirements for completion include: Completion of three 4-hour courses and completion of a
practicum (20 hours) for a total of 32 hours.
Certificate Requirements
Level I participants must complete all 8 of the required sessions for a total of 32 hours to be
awarded a Municipal Management Academy Level 1 certificate.
Level II participants must complete 32 hours of Level II sessions that must include the 4 required
sessions and 4 elective sessions to be awarded a Municipal Management Academy Level 2
Certificate.
Level III participants must complete a 20-hour practicum, plus three 4-hour sessions to be
awarded a Municipal Management Academy Level 3 certificate.
Makeup Policy
All program requirements must be met within five years of begining the program to receive a
certificate. If you miss any Level 1 course or any of the required Level 2 courses, you must make
it up before receiving a certificate. If you miss any elective course in Levels 2 or 3, you may make
it up by attending any elective course you have not previously received credit for attending. Please
contact your MTAS office for scheduling details on making up missed classes.
Contact Us
Kurt Frederick (West and Middle Tennessee Regions)
Training Consultant
Email: kurt.frederick@tennessee.edu Phone: 615.253.6385
Dr. P.J. Snodgrass (East Tennessee Regions)
Training Consultant
Email: pj.snodgrass@tennessee.edu Phone: 865.974.9858
Doug Brown
Administrative Specialist II
Email: doug.brown@tennessee.edu
Phone: 865.974.9140
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Online Transcripts
If you are uncertain which MMA classes you attended or need to make up, you can get a printable transcript
of all the MTAS classes you have attended, go to http://www.solutionpoint.tennessee.edu/MTAS
To access your transcript the first time, you will need to email MTAS to get your username and password.
If your transcript shows you as having “Passed/Completed” a class, that means you attended and have
received credit for it. If it shows you “confirmed” for a class, that means you were registered for the class but
did not attend or complete it.
For assistance with online transcripts or the MMA Schedule of Upcoming Classes, please email Doug Brown
at doug.brown@tennessee.edu or call at 865.974.9140.
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