certificate program

learning philosophy

The Key Executive Leadership Certificate Program helps you develop the skills necessary to effectively implement public policy by:

n creating a safe and respectful environment where you can hone leadership skills

n involving you in the learning experience by using subject matter grounded in your experience

n �providing assessments and feedback that enable you to enhance your leadership capacity

n providing course content relevant to the leadership issues you face on a day-to-day basis

n taking pride in giving you the highest level of service, allowing your full focus on professional development

n �incorporating into the curriculum the most recent developments in building leadership capacity

challenginggood managers

to becomeextraordinary

leaders

challenginggood managers

to becomeextraordinary

leaders

distinguishing factors

n�� LEARN from leading scholar practitioners in the public sector

n�� WORK with a cohort of peers in a collaborative learning environment

n�� EXPLORE new ideas in the classroom

n�� APPLY classroom principles and techniques in the workplace

developing passionateinfluential leaders

who act withauthenticity and

integrity

who earns a Key executive leadership certificate?

The successful applicant for the program� n typically holds a GS-13 (or above) rank or equivalent NGO or private-sector experience

� n possesses management experience

� n demonstrates significant leadership potential

� n has a passion for improving public service

Application requirements� n certificate application

� n résumé, including awards, special recognition, and accomplishments

� n admission interview with program director

developing passionateinfluential leaders

who act withauthenticity and

integrity

benefits to you and your agency

Upon your successful completion of the Key Executive Leadership Certificate Program, your agency will gain a leader who � n� applies new talents and skills in the workplace

� n� is more effective and influential in the organization

� n� enjoys broad new perspectives on the strategic issues facing leaders responsible for program implementation

� n� engages in a strong network of mutually supportive leaders

� n� achieves goals important to the agency

� n� �is competent in the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQ) necessary for appointment to the Senior Executive Service (SES)

70% of graduates report having received a promotion within one year of graduation

course of study The curriculum consists of eight courses, each designed to provide substantive knowledge and increase leadership capacity. Each course is tied to one of the five ECQs for the SES as defined by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. The ECQs and corresponding courses offered are as follows:

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ecq 1. leading change

Creativity & Innovation x x x x xExternal Awareness x x x x x x xFlexibility x x x x xResilience x x x x xStrategic Thinking x x x x x x xVision x x x x x

ecq 2. leading peopleConflict Management x x x x x xLeveraging Diversity x x x x x xDeveloping Others x x x x xTeam Building x x x x x

ecq 3. results drivenAccountability x x x x x x xCustomer Service x x x xDecisiveness x x x x xEntrepreneurship x x x x xProblem Solving x x x x x xTechnical Credibility x x

ecq 4. business acumenFinancial Management xHuman Capital Management x x x xTechnology Management x

ecq 5. building coalitionsPartnering x x x x x xPolitical Savvy x x x x x x xInfluencing/Negotiating x x x x x

executive coaching

Key certificate programs uniquely invest in your individual development through coaching. Work one-on-one with an executive coach throughout the curriculum —first to create a personal development plan and then to refine it and assess progress.

This process uses both knowledge gained in the classroom and the Hay Group instrument

for measuring Emotional Intelligence (EI), the only EI assessment and feedback tool tested

and validated using federal managers. This tool provides 360-degree evaluations from

colleagues, supervisors, and customers at the beginning and end of the program to help

measure progress in the EI competencies of self-awareness, self-management, social

awareness, and relationship management.

Working with a coach helps you to reach your full potential by coming to terms with

the realities of the insights gained in the classroom and overcoming any barriers to

implementing those insights.

a customized Key executive leadership certificate programThe impact of individual change is leveraged when agencies create an agency-based

program. Key works with agencies to design leadership development programs

that meet specific agency needs. The results include a supportive community of

leaders who have developed a common language and approach to developing those

they lead as they help each other sustain real change, improvement, and growth.

Agencies can customizen� A development plan according to your employees’ GS level

n� A convenient class schedule

n� A curriculum designed to meet your agency’s specific needs

Agencies may also use the program to satisfy OPM’s minimum of 80 hours of formal

education for a Senior Executive Service Candidate Development Program.

To develop a customized program for your agency, contactRobert M. Tobias, Director Key Executive Leadership Programs American University 4400 Massachusetts Ave, NW Washington, DC 20016 202-966-4213 301-520-9038 (Cell) 202-966-4260 (Fax)

accolades from students Shortly after graduation, I interviewed for an SES position and was selected for the job. The Key Executive Leadership Certificate Program course material greatly helped me in thinking through the leadership issues related to this position, and in preparing for my interviews. The Key program played a significant role in my selection for this position. Thank you!

— Key Graduate Director, U.S. Department of Agriculture

The skills and theories I learned through Key will stick with me forever, and I will never forget the connections I made with my fellow cohort members. I know the material covered in Key will prove to be both relevant and highly useful to me and my career, no matter where I am or what I am doing. American University should be proud to say they are the home of the Key program.

— Key Graduate Special Agent, U.S. Office of Personnel Management

Until this course, I basically thought program evaluation was a bunch of travel on the part of the government employee who got to go to lots of wonderful places to meet interesting people and come back and write about the experience. Now I know there was a lot of advance and purposeful planning that went into selecting the evaluation tool, designing the evaluation criteria and developing the question route to complete a full assessment of the program/office’s policies, processes, and performance outcomes. I also know that this was necessary to determine whether my and your tax dollars were being used appropriately and wisely and probably helped to save the government money in many cases.

— Key Graduate Management Analyst, National Science Foundation

An equal opportunity, affirmative action university. UP13-444

American UniversityKey Executive Certificate ProgramWatkins Building4400 Massachusetts Avenue, NWWashington, DC 20016202-885-3857keycert@american.edu

www.american.edu/spa/Key