The Public Technology Institute (PTI) and
Rutgers University School of Public Affairs & Administration (SPAA)
Certified Government Chief Information Officers (CGCIO™) Program
MISAC Sponsored Class 2015 - 2016
Program Description
Public sector CIOs and IT directors are facing increasing challenges and responsibilities in the era of new
governance. As the lines between traditional functional services and departments begin to blur, the IT
leadership is charged with 1) managing the constantly expanding role for IT within your government, 2)
protecting your government against ever-increasing security threats, and 3) keeping up with the feverish
pace of new technology.
The CGCIO™ Certification Program is a twelve-month course (that lays the foundation for assessing and
addressing some of the most critical issues facing IT leadership in the public sector. The purpose of this
program is to equip leaders with the requisite tools to manage and improve their organizational
technology assets. During the course of the program, we will address major topics, including IT
governance, project management, and risk assessment and management. Each broad topic will examine
specific local government issues and draw on participant experience to provide both theoretical and
practical applied knowledge to the challenges. Case studies, exercises and guest speakers will be
included.
Instructional Institution
The Center for Public Technology at the UNC School of Government created the nation’s first local
government-specific Chief Information Officers program in 2004. About the same time the Florida
Institute of Government, at Florida State University began such a program too. In 2008, PTI began
working with UNC and others in developing a near-identical program with Rutgers University School of
Public Affairs and Administration (SPAA). In 2009, the three major universities providing such a course
(UNC, FSU, and Rutgers) formed a consortium, with PTI serving as the administrative hub. The aim is to
develop and maintain consistent requirements and courses.
1
Course Format (Total 240 Contact Hours)
 Monthly classes on-line; 2 hrs per month for 12 months. (24 hrs.)
 Readings, preparation, writing assignments (88 hrs.)
 Three 8 hour classes, (24 hrs.)
 Online collaboration with peer group 2X10= (20 hrs.)
 Online Courses through SkillPort (54 hours)
 IT Project Management,
 Strategic IT Planning,
 IT Essentials,
 Writing Skills,
 Certified Business Analyst,
 Management Software Project Outsourcing.
 Capstone Project = 30 hours of work
Course Cost
 $3,500 PTI members, $3,200 MISAC Member or Affiliated Agencies
 Textbooks and Diploma/certificate are included as part of fees.
Instruction
The course will be led by Dr. Alan R. Shark and one other noted expert with other experts will participate
as needed.
Pre-requisites/Eligibility:
In order to participate in the program, PTI/Rutgers proposes the following *six requisites for the CIO
Certification Program:
1. Minimum 7 Years of private or public managerial experience in the technology field, at least
three years of technology management.
2. Minimum 4-year degree from an accredited institution of higher learning.
3. Agree by signature to a self-enforced code of ethics.
4. At least one letter of support from manager/supervisor or city or county leader.
5. Completion of formal application stating why the applicant wants to enroll in this program, what
he or she brings to the class, and the students’ expectations.
6. Ability to pay upon acceptance a tuition/registration. Sorry, no partial or payments allowed,
credit cards and checks accepted.
*Perspective students may petition the program director for waiver of any of the above
requirements. Petitions may include a rationale for the request of waiver.
Dr. Alan R. Shark is the Executive Director of PTI and Associate Professor of Practice Professor at Rutgers
University School of Public Affairs and Administration. Dr. Shark’s career has spanned over 29 years as a
highly recognized leader in both the nonprofit management and technology fields, with an emphasis on
technology applications for business and government. He is an assistant professor at Rutgers University
where he teaches a masters level course on technology and public administration.
2
He is the recipient of the prestigious 2012 National Technology Champion Award from the National
Association of State Chief Information Officers. The award is in recognition for his outstanding
contributions promoting government performance excellence through sound information technology
solutions, policies and practice.
He is the author of the 7 Trends That Will Transform Local Government Through Technology and is coauthor of the book Web 2.0 Civic Media in Action (2011), and an author and Executive Editor of the book
CIO Leadership for State Governments: Emerging Trends and Practices (Spring 2011). Dr. Shark also was
Executive Editor of the book CIO Leadership for Cities and Counties: Emerging Trends and Practices
(2009) as well as Beyond e-Government: Measuring Performance (2010) and Beyond e-Government & eDemocracy: A Global Perspective published in 2007.
Before coming to PTI, he was president and CEO of the American Mobile Telecommunications
Association. At the Water Environment Federation, he was the associate executive director for
marketing and communications, and publisher.
Dr. Shark was elected a Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration, as well as a Fellow of
the American Society of Association Executives and a Fellow of the Radio Club of America. He received a
doctorate in public administration from the University of Southern California.
Grading
Grading will be done on a pass-fail basis, with required attendance. Missing assignments and or missing
classes require a make-up exercise or particular class will need to be taken again at a later time and
program. Students exhibiting exceptional merit, will be eligible to receive their CGCIO™ with “Honors”.
Re-Certification
A total of 60 contact hours are required to maintain the CGCIO™ designation within a three year
period starting after graduation.
Refunds
Fees/tuition are not refundable under any circumstance.
3
Class One
Dates
Topic
Live Class One
The Future CIO Leader











Content
Environmental Scan
Pitfalls & Opportunities
Required Skills
CGCIO Program
Personal Assessment
Review of course
Skill Sets
Self-assessment
Leading Change
Trends
Traits
Class Two (Virtual)
CIO Leadership
Class Three (Virtual)
Emerging Technologies
Best Practices




Cloud solutions
Outsourcing
Mobility
BYOD/BYOT
Class 4 (Virtual)
Network Security and
Emergency Planning




Best practices
COOP
Energy Assurances
Thought leadership
Class 5 (Virtual)
Human Resources and IT



The new demographics
Economic challenges
Recruiting & retaining
talent
Unions and policies

Class 6 (LIVE)
Live Class Two:
Leadership Styles & Profiles
Communication for Results



4
Leadership types and
implications
Effective
communication roleplaying
Dealing with elected
officials and the public
Dates
Class Seven (Virtual)
Topic
Strategic Planning/Smart
Cities/ERP
Content




Class Eight (Virtual)
Managing Change


Class Nine (Virtual)
Budgeting & Financing


Class Ten (Virtual)
Assessing Organizational
Effectiveness




Class Eleven (Virtual)
Digital Ethics
Project & Risk Management




Class Twelve (Live)
Live Class Three
Capstone Presentations
Graduation
Rev. Nov2014
5




Capital/ infrastructure
planning
Unifying potential
Managing expectations
Scorecard and IT
metrics
Best practices in change
management
Applying what we know
Understanding
financing in all its forms
in the public sector
Best practices on
developing sound ROIs
Managing costs
Self-assessment and
Self-assessment tool
exercise
Factors of healthy
organizations
Tools for risk
management plan
Risk identification
(financial, technical,
budgetary)
Portfolio management
Risk mitigation
techniques
Individual presentations
Unifying themes
Graduation ceremony
Pictures