TRAINING & EVENTS

County Commissioner Academy

County Commissioner Academy is a professional development program for commissioners incorporating a series of events and workshops focused on the day-to-day responsibilities of a Michigan county commissioner. 

County Commissioner Academy (CCA), first launched in 2019, is moving to its “2.0” stage to keep pace with the rapidly changing demands on commissioners via their new four-year service terms.

As we move into the new era, we congratulate our last graduating class of “1.0” CCA:

While much is changing with CCA, several key elements will carry over from the popular program’s “1.0” variant:

  • The ability to earn annual certificates, with graduates being honored each year at the Legislative Conference
  • The participation of educational partners, such as MSU Extension, the Michigan Department of Treasury and the National Association of Counties
  • The use of credits earned by attending MAC and allied events

The academy shifts to a series of one-year cycles designed around specific issue areas:

  • Budgeting/finance
  • Board operations
  • County board as employer
  • County board as “Legislature”

At the end of a four-year cycle, each commissioner who is still serving (i.e., re-elected) and who has earned all the one-year certificates is deemed “Advanced.”

How a cycle works

The four-year study cycle starts from the New Commissioner School (NCS) and ends in October prior to the next NCS. For example, the current cycle began with the 2024 NCS and will conclude in October of 2028.

Earning credits and certificates

The number of credits offered and needed for certification in an issue area will change year by year in the four-year cycle, as reflected in the table below:

Year/Issue Area

# of Credits Offered

# of Credits to Certify

1/Board Operations

10

7

2/Budget and Finance

8

5

3/County as Employer

8

5

4/County as Policymaker

8

5

 

MAC County Commissioner Academy logo

CCA-qualifying sessions

2025
  • MAC Annual Conference (September 2025) (2 credits)
  • MAC Summer Webinar (August 2025) (1 credit)
  • MAC Spring Webinar (June 2025) (1 credit)
  • MAC Legislative Conference (April 2025) (2 credits) CONCLUDED
  • MSU Extension Governing Essentials Series (March-August-December 2025) (1 credit)
  • New Commissioner School (December 2024) (3 credits) CONCLUDED

CCA credits

  • New Commissioner School = 3 credits
  • MAC Legislative or Annual Conference = 2 credits
  • MAC or partner webinars = 1 credit

 For more information about CCA, contact MAC Communications Director Derek Melot at melot@micounties.org or 517-372-5374.

NACo High Performance Leadership Academy

The NACo High Performance Leadership Academy is an innovative, completely online 12-week program created to equip frontline county government professionals with practical leadership skills to deliver results for counties and communities. (Click here to learn about NACo’s Enterprise Cybersecurity Leadership Academy.)

  • Efficient: 12 weeks in duration
  • Non-disruptive: 100% online virtual mentorship / 4-5 hours per week
  • Scalable: Flexible to accommodate small or large team enrollment
  • Top Leaders: Led by accomplished CIOs, CISOs, Gen. Colin Powell and Marshall Goldsmith
  • CPE credits: Qualifies for up to 54 CPEs (including 5 credit hours with MAC’s County Commissioner Academy)
  • Certified: Approved by the Human Resources Certification Institute (HRCI), IAAO and SHRM

With a robust curriculum developed by the Professional Development Academy in partnership with Fortune 1000 executives, public sector leaders, world-renowned academics and thought leaders, including Gen. Colin Powell and Dr. Marshall Goldsmith, HPLA was designed specifically for the unique challenges and opportunities of serving in county government.