Southeastern Louisiana University

Office of Regional Planning

Government Leadership Institute

What is the Government Leadership Institute (GLI)?   

A GLI is a non-academic educational program targeted to strengthen and promote leadership and management skills among appointed and elected officials. Local government by nature is complex and demanding. The challenges are even greater in an environment of limited resources and high public expectations.  The GLI certificate program is intended to help public leaders become more effective, proactive managers and leaders while also learning more about their responsibilities, opportunities, and limitations as elected or appointed officials in Louisiana.  Often times, these positions are filled with well-meaning and interested people who know very little about the position they have been given or elected to, the laws surrounding this position, or the public entity that they serve.  Public officials are often part-time and come from a diverse educational and socio-economic background that makes it difficult to provide standardized and typical academic training that will help them with the responsibilities of their positions.  In addition, ethics regulations, federal standards, State laws, and local laws can be so diverse, depending upon the public position being considered, i.e.,  a mayor, councilman, recreation board member, planning commissioner, police chief, fire chief, etc.  Some of the positions filled by public servants are elected or appointed paid positions and some are non-paid appointed volunteers.  Because of this wide diversity of government leadership roles and the need for appropriate training to help develop effective and responsible public officials, Southeastern Louisiana University will serve public officials in southeast Louisiana by offering programs through the new Government Leadership Institute. 

What Type of Format Will be Provided?  

The Institute’s classes and workshops will be conducted in a non-formal, interactive, “round- table” setting by facilitators and instructors that are available from both inside and outside of the local University.  The Institute programs are geared to the practice of governing and administering public programs rather than to the theoretical.  They are meant to be used as an overview and not to create government “experts”.  The classes will be presented in a manner that serve the diverse educational and employment backgrounds of a wide variety of public officials.  The half-day to one- day classes will be held in the daytime and in the evenings, with various levels of completion that will lead to the Certificate of Public Leadership.  Enrollment in Southeastern Louisiana University or another University is not a pre-requisite to entering the GLI.

What are Examples of Individual Program Topics to be Provided?   

Examples of programs topics to be covered in the Institute include the following:

• Ethics Laws for Public Officials in Louisiana (2)
• Developing and Reviewing Local  Government Budgets (2.5)
• Fundamentals of Public Employee Supervision (2)
• Federal and State Employment and Civil Rights Laws (2)
• Public Employee Unions (1)
• Public Bid Laws and Government Procurement (1)
• Overview of Grant Programs (1)
•  Government Borrowing through Loans and Bonds (1)
• Understanding Home Rule Charter and the Lawrason Act (1)
• Developing Your Managerial Effectiveness (2.5)
• Developing Your Leadership Skills (2.5)
• Leadership in Your Diverse Community (1)
• Campaign Finance Basics (1)
• Zoning and Planning Law and Issues Overview (2)
• Smart Growth Codes (1)
• Building and Fire Codes and Code Enforcement  (1)
• The Creation and Support of Public Boards and Commissions (1)
• Technology in the Public Workplace (2)
• Partnering with the State and Federal Government (2)
• Basics of Public Contract Law (1)
• Working with Non-Profit Organizations (1)
• Affordable and Workforce Housing Issues (1)
• Law Enforcement, Justice, and Corrections Facility Issues (2)
• Basics of Federal and State Environmental Requirements (1)
• Public Infrastructure (Roads, Water, Drainage, Sewerage, etc) (2)

Program Credits Leading to the Certificate in Public Leadership: 

In order to be awarded a Certificate in Public Leadership, an program applicant must have earned at least  30 credits of the 37.5 credits offered including the required class in Developing Your Managerial Effectiveness  (2.5 credits); Developing Your Leadership Skills (2.5 credits);  Ethics Laws for Public Officials in Louisiana (2 credits); and  Developing and Reviewing Local Government Budgets (2.5 credits).