MLGMA SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM SURVEY

 

 

·        Number of Surveys Mailed Out 376

·        Number of Surveys Returned 124

·        Percentage Returned 33.0%

 

 

  1. Prior to receiving this survey, were you aware of the MLGMA Scholarship Program?  (If no, skip to Question 4.)

 

 

Yes 106           No 17

 

 

  1. I am aware of the Scholarship Program, but I have not participated due to the following reasons:

(Check as many answers that apply.)

 
    1. I can’t justify being away from the office for the amount of time required by the program.

 

 

Yes 57               No 21   

 
    1. My council/commission/board will not approve the costs not covered by the Scholarship.

 

 

Yes 21             No  33

 
    1. My council/commission/board will not authorize the use of city/county/township time off for the program.

 

 

Yes 8               No  45

 
    1. If I have to use vacation time, it is more important for my family and me not to spend it on this program.

 

 

Yes 29             No 31

 
    1. It would be inappropriate for me to participate in this program when I have eliminated travel in order to reduce budget deficits.

 

 

 

Yes 41             No 30

Don’t know 1    

 
    1. The programs are offered at times when I cannot be away from the office.

 

Yes 18             No 32

 
    1. The available programs don’t interest me.

Yes 6               No 47

 
    1. I question the value of the programs at this stage of my career.

 

Yes 23             No 41

 

 
    1. I haven’t been able to find enough information on the programs.

 

Yes 19             No 40

 

j.    I have tried to get information on the programs, but I don’t know who to contact.

 

 

 

Yes 5          No 47
    1. Other. Please describe.

 

                 SEE COMMENTS SECTION BELOW.

 

 

 
  1. Is the Professional Development Committee doing an adequate job of promoting the scholarship program?

 

Yes 71             No 25

Don’t Know 6

  1. I would be interested in participating in the program if I knew more about it.

 

Yes 46             No 37

Don’t Know 7

Already participated 4

 
  1. Please indicate the amount of education and training funding in your current budget.

 

0 – 500             13

501 – 1,000      17

1,001 – 1,500   11

1,501 – 2,000   15

2,001 – 2,500     5

2,501 – 3,000     3

3,000+              38

 
  1. Please check the appropriate position.

 

111 Manager/Administrator

13   Assistant

 
  1. Please check the appropriate organization.

 

 

93   City

19   Village

  4   County

13   Township

 

 

 

8. Please indicate your Communities Population

 

0 – 10,000            72

10,001 – 20,000   21

20,001 – 30,000     8

30,001 – 40,000     8

40,001 – 50,000     5

50,000 +               10

 

9.  Indicate the size of your General Fund Budget

 

$0 - $500,000          2

$500,001 – 1.0M   14

1.01M – 1.5M        12

1.6M – 2.0M            8

2.01M – 5.0M        31

5.01M – 10.0M      19

10.01M – 20.0M    21

20.0M+                  15

 

10. Size of your office staff

 

0 – 5       91

6 – 10     20

11 – 15     4

16 – 20     0

21 – 25     1

25+           6

 

11. Years in City Management

 

0 – 5        28

6 – 10      23

11 – 15    20

16 – 20    19

25 +         34

 

 

12.  Are you looking to retire in the next 3 – 5 years?

 

Yes 21

No  100

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comments:

 

·        Hasn’t paid any serious attention to it.

 

·        I’ve received literature from all of the programs over the years.  Given the steep cost, and considering the scholarship, it’s still a lot of money.  In addition the programs are out of state, an irony considering our reputation as a state with a high number of managers.

 

·        My attendance usually limited to MLGMA Winter Conference & often times ICMA Conference.  Various MML Education sessions, also sometimes attend scholarship session often just aren’t applicable to my situation.  Do however feel they are valuable for continued support by MLGMA.

 

·        I would like to apply after I complete my masters this winter.

 

·        Generally speaking I don’t think my MLGMA dues should support these “upper level, senior management” training things.  I support more paying registrations for first-timers to the January Michigan meeting than this type of expenditure.

 

·        Work/personal/timing.

 

·        Oddly, enough, I never really thought that I would receive funding.  So I never bothered to apply.

 

·        This is a good program.  Keep it going!

 

·        My background is urban planning.  As a result I am more active with their association, MSP.  I am currently on their Board of Directors.  Because of this, I am just a casual member of MLGMA.

 

·        Office staffing for this length of time in my absence would be a problem.

 

·        Too Busy.

 

·        Good Survey.  I think the PDC has done a great job of requesting involvement from us.  Just tough to get away w/ family & job issues.

 

·        What is total cost?

 

·        Family – with three kids it is hard to be away from home for a long period of time.

 

·        I would be interested in a scholarship to continue regular university PA or Political Science work.

 

·        Need more material to help sell opportunity to my Council.

 

·        Right now I am working part-time, so I would not feel comfortable asking to pick up such an expenditure.

 

·        Couldn’t justify being away for the past year.  However, I am interested now.

 

·        Web page information is out of date.

 

·        Most training is two weeks or more in duration.  I normally limit vacations to 5-7 days away from the office.

 

·        Thanks for asking!  Maybe increasing the % covered by ICMA (MLGMA) to the  lion’s Share (90%) would help some people.

 

·        I have not been in this position long enough to seek authorization.  However, I really am interested in participation.

 

·        I believe there are other managers who need this financial assistance more than I do.

 

·        As much as I’d like to attend I can’t justify being away from the office for the amount for time required.

 

·        My Council/Commission/Board will not approve the costs not covered by the scholarship and I can not afford to personally pay the remaining costs.

 

·        With all of the other factors, I also feel that other members of the organization would benefit from the opportunity.

 

·        Should the program continue, I would be very interested (if no other first time applicant submits for funds) in attending the Disney Leadership Institute.

 

·        I don’t have an Assistant City Manager so it is impossible to be away for an extended period of time.

 

·        I don’t think I should apply when other jurisdictions of lesser means could benefit.

 

·        I just learned of the scholarships this past September, and after approval from my Council, intend on applying this year.

 

·        I would like to propose a grant application to the Mott foundation to fund costs not covered by the scholarship (for at least 1-2 years) as part of their civics section.  Please call me if you want to pursue this, Melanie Purcell.

 

·        I am a graduate of the University of Virginia Senior Executive Institute Program.

 

·        I have currently restricted my Professional Development to in-state opportunities only due to current budget reductions.

 

·        Keep up the good work.  I believe having the training, primarily, in June-July is a problem when just about all our projects must occur in same time-frame.  Winters would be more feasible.

 

·        I’m in a high growth community and until recently (1-2 yrs) have not had staff to back me up.  Although, Council is supportive and suggested I consider attending.  I am interested in the Harvard program.  Also personal reasons have affected my decision.

 

·        Cost exceeds value (benefit) for most of the sites.

 

·        Cost is always a factor.

 

·        I hope to apply someday, but with a busy (new) job & three young children, it is hard to get away.

 

·        Yes, But hadn’t thought about it for awhile (pertains to question #1).

 

·        It’s difficult to justify in these times on revenue sharing cuts “gloom and doom”.  May also be premature in terms of current stage of career – seems more appropriate for managers that are peaking.  Availability of information has never been issue.

 

·        I have not made it a high enough priority to proceed with one of these programs.  I am planning on moving forward with this in 2004.

 

·        I have a young family & am uncomfortable being out of state for several days.

 

·        The committee does provide enough information that if I were interested, I could follow up.  Providing more information on the various schools/programs maybe a way of generating interest.

 

·        The distance and locations of the programs require too much time off for traveling and make it hard to justify to my board.  I would be very interested in something     in-state or that could be taken on-line.

 

·        As I indicated above, a closer venue location would be preferable.  I think that most Councils/Boards question out-of-state training and conferences.  I’ve looked into the programs offered through the scholarship program;  however, I decided against applying for reasons stated.

 

·        In my other careers I have attended and been exposed to Senior Executive type or level of training.  The programs you offer scholarships to are great and I strongly encourage managers to take advantage.  I would love to myself.  However, ethically I find it hard to justify or relate Senior Executive training to small town city management.  If I am gone a burden is placed on someone else.  Would I return with skills that will enhance my performance here?  It is great for Professional Development but is it good for where I am at now?

 

·        I am interested in participating in this program, however, I have very young children & it would be better for my family if I waited 2 years.  I hope you retain the program.  If the programs were 1 week it would make it easier to sell to the Board and Family.

 

·        Airfare cost is usually a major factor other than time away from office.

 

·        Other non-scholarship cost come out of my pocket and my vacation time.

 

·        Thanks for all your hard work on this.  Keep up the good work.  Thanks for asking!

 

·        I plan to apply for the Harvard Program this summer.

 

·        I’d love the Harvard Course.

 

·        The opportunities are well worth the effort.  I see the major problem being (1) scheduling/timing (2) budget $.  Promotional /Informational material to distribute to Councils would be helpful.

 

·        Simply finding the right time has been the biggest issue.  I have interest in the programs.

 

·        I actually believed competition for acceptance was likely so fierce I wouldn’t have a chance.