Arkansas Public Administration Consortium (APAC) Celebrates 40 Years
Established in 1984, the Arkansas Public Administration Consortium (APAC) celebrated its 40th year of training Arkansas’s professionals by graduating 70 individuals from 47 government entities and nonprofits.
“APAC serves current and future leaders in government and nonprofits,” Executive Director Marie Lindquist said. “We are dedicated to improving the quality of public services in Arkansas through management training.”
APAC provides trainings and workshops that focus on management, group facilitation, volunteer leadership, professional development, and more for public sector professionals.
The consortium–a cooperative program among UA Little Rock, the University of Arkansas, and Arkansas State University–is housed in UA Little Rock’s School of Public Affairs as part of the College of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, and Education (CHASSE).
APAC was originally made possible with support from the University of Arkansas System Office and now receives support from the State of Arkansas.
To date, the consortium has awarded over 2,000 certificates to participants who have completed various trainings, workshops, and programs.
“APAC has played such a critical role over the past 40 years of supporting the public sector across the state of Arkansas,” Lindquist said. “We look forward to continuing this work for years and years to come.”
In the 40th year, 212 participants completed over 6,000 hours of training through APAC initiatives. They represented 98 government entities and nonprofits.
As the only provider of programs such as these in the state, APAC has several unique offerings to meet the needs of those serving in the public sector:
- Arkansas Certified Public Manager (CPM) Program: A two-year program emphasizing leadership skills, collaboration, and innovation for managers and emerging leaders in the public sector.
- Applications for the 2024 program cohort close on July 31.
- Certified Volunteer Manager Program: A six-month program for those leading and/or managing volunteer groups.
- Registration for the 2024 program closes on August 21.
- Certified Arkansas Planning Official Program: A six-course program for Arkansas Planning Commissions and those who work with them, offered in partnership with the Arkansas Chapter of the American Planning Association.
- Register for the 2024 series of planning official training courses.
- Certified Group Facilitator Program: A 60-hour program that offers extensive training for facilitators who work in the public sector.
- Sign up online to receive notifications regarding upcoming registration.
“We join in celebrating 40 years of achievements by the consortium and the UA Little Rock APAC team,” said CHASSE Dean Sarah Beth Estes. “We are grateful to be able to continue offering such unique opportunities to contribute to professional expertise in government and nonprofit organizations in the state.”
For more information on APAC, email apacprog@ualr.edu or call 501-916-6050.
