Who is a member?
Our members are the local governments of Massachusetts and their elected and appointed leadership.
The MMA, in partnership with Suffolk University, offers three programs and a fellowship designed exclusively for municipal employees to further their professional careers in local government:
• Local Government Leadership and Management Certificate Program
• Municipal Finance Management Seminar
• Municipal Human Resources Seminar
• Municipal Fellowship Program
MMA-Suffolk Certificate in Local Government Leadership and ManagementThe MMA-Suffolk Certificate in Local Government Leadership and Management is a graduate-level academic program providing a solid grounding in public management. The certificate program links contemporary public management theory with “real world” practice, covering topics such as budgeting and financial management, challenges in human resources management, and strategic leadership.
Five graduate-level courses are taught by Suffolk University faculty over the course of 25 Fridays, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., from September through May. The program is held in a hybrid format, with 10 classes held in person and 15 classes held on Zoom. Students may be eligible to have up to 12 graduate credits waived from an accepting MPA program.
“Now, more than ever, we need leaders and managers at the local government level to be well-trained and prepared for the realities of the 21st century,” says MMA Executive Director and CEO Adam Chapdelaine. “This program provides a practical graduate education experience and ensures that the Commonwealth’s local government leaders of today are prepared to face the challenges of tomorrow.”
Current Certificate Programs
Certificate programs will be held in a hybrid format based in Pittsfield and Sharon during the 2024-2025 academic year; these programs are fully enrolled.
The 2025-2026 Certificate programs will be held in a hybrid format based in Barnstable and Winchester.
Applications for the 2025-2026 programs will be available here on Feb. 1, 2025.
Completed applications must be emailed to certificate@mma.org by April 30, 2025 for consideration by our admissions committee. Applicants will be notified of their status by June 1, 2025.
The cost of the current certificate program is $2,850.
On June 27, 2024, 25 local government professionals graduated from the 22nd MMA-Suffolk Local Government Leadership and Management certificate program in a ceremony held at Suffolk University.
The MMA-Suffolk Municipal Finance Management Seminar provides an overview of municipal finance in Massachusetts, including the structure and purpose of local government, municipal budgeting systems and sources of revenue, financial reporting and record keeping, financial management, principles of property assessment, the intersection of human resources and financial resources, and best practices in local government finance.
The seminar is held three times per year – in the winter, spring and fall – over the course of five Fridays, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., covering nine topics in municipal finance. The seminar does not qualify toward graduate credits.
The Massachusetts Municipal Management Association established the Rocco Longo Scholarship in 2021. This scholarship will be awarded to one participant in the MMA-Suffolk Municipal Finance Management Seminar each session and covers the full program fee.
Current Finance Seminar Programs
The Finance Seminar is held virtually using Zoom.
The registration process has been updated to make it more efficient. Registration is now first-come, first-served. Applicants will be vetted to ensure that they’re a municipal employee in a role that’s related to finance, and there can be no more than three participants per municipality.
Seminars for the winter and spring are fully enrolled; dates and enrollment information for the fall 2025 seminar will be emailed to chief municipal officials when they are available. Questions about the registration process can be directed to Kate Evarts at kevarts@mma.org or 617-426-7272, ext. 172.
The cost of the Finance Seminar is $925.
The Municipal Human Resources Seminar reviews human resources management, policies and practices specific to Massachusetts cities and towns. Key topics will include hiring and onboarding, benefits administration, policy development, collective bargaining, and employee reviews and evaluations. Students will also review relevant labor laws and best practices in municipal human resources management.
The seminar is designed for municipal employees interested in furthering their career in municipal human resources, employees who are new to municipal human resources, and employees who work in a municipal function with human-resources-adjacent tasks.
The Municipal Human Resources Seminar is held via Zoom over the course of five Fridays, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The seminar does not qualify toward graduate credits. The cost is $925.
Planning is underway for future seminars; dates and application information will be posted here when they are available.
Students and alumni of the MMA-Suffolk programs attend a reception during Connect 351 on Jan. 24, 2025.
Municipal professionals interested in pursuing a Master of Public Administration degree at Suffolk University are encouraged to apply for the municipal fellowship program, which offers a scholarship of up to $28,000, while the recipient’s municipality commits to continuing their salary and position while they attend the program part-time.
Fellowship applicants must be accepted for admission to Suffolk’s Master of Public Administration program and must receive the support of the chief municipal official in their municipality. Additional consideration will be given to graduates of the MMA-Suffolk Certificate in Local Government Leadership and Management program.
Those interested in the Municipal Fellowship should check off, on Suffolk’s application, that they are a municipal employee interested in the fellowship, and apply to Suffolk by May 1. Applicants must also complete the MMA’s Municipal Fellowship application by May 1.
The fellowship selection committee will interview qualified applicants and award up to two fellowships in June.
If you have questions about the MMA-Suffolk programs, please contact Katie McCue at kmccue@mma.org or Kate Evarts at kevarts@mma.org.