Public Service Institute (PSI)

Managers, directors, superintendents - In today’s dynamic public sector business landscape, the ability to build and lea high-performing teams is paramount to organizational success. The workshop delves into the principles, strategies, and practical techniques required to cultivate a team that thrives, achieves outstanding results and adapts to challenges effectively. This two-day workshop focuses on three challenging areas: effective communication strategies for public sector leaders, performance management, and succession planning. 

Wednesday and Thursday, April 9 and 10
8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
BSPSI-0880-100, $325

ICCB Noncredit Workforce Training Grant Available

The Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) has allocated funds through the Noncredit Workforce Training Grant. It offers support towards a portion of class costs for eligible selected students. This funding will be applied directly to the student’s account. The purpose of this initiative is to increase responsiveness to employer needs and workforce shortages through building capacity and strengthening the impact of noncredit workforce training at community colleges.

Training Grant Application

Public focus on government effectiveness has placed public sector leaders under enormous pressure to maintain and improve performance, while simultaneously doing more with less. You will be provided tools and resources to improve workforce commitment and develop a culture of inclusion and collaboration. You will share best practices, improve performance, and develop core skills needed to address the change in the public sector. 

New Format - 2 Full Days

Tuesday and Wednesday, April 1 and 2
8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
BSPSI-0710-200, $495

Customer Engagement
The world of customer engagement is ever changing and it is integral for organizations to excel in this area in order to thrive.  Understand the impact you as an individual can make to an organization, with both internal customers and residents.  Learn how to put yourself in the customers’ shoes and fully listen to determine what the customer really needs and how to address those needs.

Impactful Presence
Learn to communicate effectively and persuasively and become comfortable with your own style. Develop key presentation skills and learn how to present your ideas with conviction, control, and poise—and without fear. Receive advice on how to handle especially challenging situations. Gain confidence in presenting your ideas, whether it is to an individual or a group.  

Conflict Resolution
This session will address the reality that conflict is an inevitable part of the workplace. Whether between individuals or teams, at some point, conflict will arise and will need to be addressed.  Different people with different goals and needs come into conflict and often result in personal animosity.   But resolving conflict doesn't need to be a negative experience, in fact, managing conflict can be a catalyst for positive change. 

Generational Workplace
For the first time in history, 5 different generations are represented in the workforce. The challenges of multi-generational teams are heightened for employees working in local government. Attendees will gain the knowledge necessary to work with and collaborate on multi-generational teams to maximize results. 

Targeted for those newly developing supervisors, team leads, managers or those that aspire to lead others in the future. Employees often get promoted into a managerial role but rarely receive the appropriate training. When you align people and create an organization, where everyone works together in partnership for a common goal or direction, that organization becomes successful. Inspire others to make a real difference at your workplace and to work toward a shared vision of positive change.

New Format - 2 Full Days

Wednesday and Thursday, April 16 and 17
8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
BSPSI-0810-200, $495

Cohesive Teams
This course is designed to develop the fundamental skills needed to effectively lead teams and help team members achieve higher levels of passion and productivity. Learn the 5 elements of a cohesive team while focusing on processes, strategies and creating accountability among team members. 

Leading Change
Gain the knowledge and skills you need to help shape the future of your organization. Explore best practices and tools for understanding and facilitating change. Be part of the change by planning and implementing organizational change to support short-term and long-term initiatives that increase an organization’s sustainability. 

Continuous Improvement
Learn how to set organizational priorities for continuous process improvement, how to execute process improvement projects, and how to sustain the initiative for continuous improvement. The continuous improvement framework is a comprehensive and systematic approach to the delivery of services that reduce waste and inconsistencies while increasing value to customers. 

Building Trust and Credibility
In this program, you will learn how trust improves relationships at all levels and how to exemplify the characteristics and behaviors of a trustworthy person. You will look at how your team can embody those traits and ultimately reduce the stress that often results from low levels of trust, improve your reputation, and increase team members’ productivity, innovation, and ability to work effectively with others both within and outside of the organization.  

Thursday, March 13
8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
BSPSI-0850-001, $225

Join us for this one-day, interactive session to increase your ability to lead and deliver projects. Learn key principles that will help you deliver your projects, including leading factors for project success and failure. Learn how to develop plans to help you and your team stay on track as well as how to respond when (not if) changes occur. Gain a better understanding of what agile project management is (and isn't) and why it's relevant to more than just systems projects. Walk away with practical techniques to identify and manage risks so you can spend less time reacting to problems and more time avoiding them in the first place.

Beginning Drinking Water Class C and D

This live virtual class prepares individuals for certification testing as a Class C and D Public Water Supply Operator.  This class can also be taken to obtain continuing education credits for Class A and B certificate holders. Following class, students are responsible for scheduling their own exam for the Drinking Water Operator Certificate through the Illinois EPA. Topics include:

• Well and distribution system operation and maintenance
• Basic water flow hydraulics
• Chemical dosage mathematics
• Environmental Protection Agency laws
• Chlorination and fluoridation

Monday, Feb. 3 to April 21
(no class Feb. 17) 
6 to 9 p.m.
BSPSI-0400-120, $575
*Course fee includes the book and shipping 

Advanced Drinking Water Class A and B

This live virtual course covers a majority of the significant procedures and concepts related to the operation and maintenance of Illinois Class A and Class B public water supply operations, and will prepare students for the Class A and Class B water operators’ IL EPA exam and certification. Students must meet specific experience, education, and examination requirements in order to qualify for certification. Following class, students are responsible for scheduling their own exam for the Advanced Drinking Water Operators Certificate through the Illinois EPA. Topics include:

• Disinfection
• Fluoridation
• Distribution
• Clarification
• Lime-Soda Softening
• Ion Exchange Softening
• Filtration
• Iron and manganese control

Tuesday, Feb. 4 to April 22
6 to 9 p.m.
BSPSI-0400-130, $590
*Fee includes the books and shipping  

Beginning Wastewater Class 3 and 4

This live virtual course will help prepare you for the Class 3 and Class 4 wastewater operators’ state exam and IL EPA certification. Applicants must meet specific experience, education, and examination requirements in order to qualify for certification. You will earn three months of on-the-job credit by completing this class and gain confidence in your abilities as you take this first step in moving up in this vital field. Following class, students are responsible for scheduling their own exam for the Wastewater Operation Certificate through the Illinois EPA. Topics include:

• Introduction to wastewater
• Collection systems
• Lift stations
• Flow measurement
• Stabilization ponds
• Sampling and laws governing treatment plants
• Chlorination

Tuesday,  Feb. 4 to April 15
6 to 9 p.m.
BSPSI-0400-110, $595
*Fee includes the book and shipping 

Advanced Wastewater Class 1 and 2

This live virtual course will help prepare you for the Class 1 and Class 2 Wastewater Operator state exam. Eligibility requirements can be found on this website:

www.epa.state.il.us/water/operator-cert/waste-water. Following class, students are responsible for scheduling their own exam for the Waste Water Operator Certificate through the Illinois EPA. Topics include:

• Activated Sludge
• Chemical Addition
• Digesters
• Primary Treatment
• Pumps and Pumping
• Tertiary Treatment

Thursday, Feb. 6 to April 17 
6 to 9 p.m.
BSPSI-0400-140, $595 ($495 if you have taken Beginning Wastewater in the last 12 months and have the textbook).
*Fee includes the book and shipping