Michigan Townships Association

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Township Governance Academy

Township Governance Academy

Township Governance AcademyTownship Governance Academy logo
Bringing township governance to a new level

The Township Governance Academy (TGA) is a voluntary credentialing program intended to give township board members and other leaders the knowledge and skills needed to make effective decisions for the benefit of their township. It’s designed to professionally challenge you and enhance your experience serving in your township.

The Academy offers new ideas, shares “best practices” in township government and provides a hands-on approach to help you deal more effectively with everyday issues that your board faces. The program consists of 70 required credits, obtained by attending a curriculum of 11 courses and earning electives credits. The coursework is divided into three categories:

  • Foundations Courses (28 credits)
  • Boardsmanship Courses (24 credits)
  • Electives (18 credits)
 

After completing each course, TGA candidates will be asked to take the information they’ve learned a step further by trying out an idea or concept of their choosing in their township and then reporting the results to MTA. It’s a simple process, but one that will get you thinking and putting what you’ve learned into action. For more information about TGA, download an informational brochure here  or email tga@michigantownships.org.

Why enroll in TGA? Click here for a message from TGA instructor Sue Radwan, who helped MTA design this exciting, innovative credentialing program.

Wondering what courses are coming up next? We’re glad you asked:

Join us April 22 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Grand Traverse Resort for:

Defining Your Township’s Land Use Future (F-102; 6 credits)

What qualities do you value in your community? What threatens those qualities you value, and how can you protect them?

In this session, attendees will learn about issues that must be confronted if your township’s planning efforts are to be successful. Review the role that the township board and your community play, and discover strategies for making effective land use decisions that will benefit your community well  into the future. You will discover how to balance property rights with public interest, and get a better understanding of when, why and how your master plan should be reevaluated. Examine the purpose, process and legal requirements of your township’s master plan, and walk away with insights into a broad range of day-to-day and emerging land use issues. Includes continental breakfast and lunch.

Speaker: Steve Langworthy, land use expert and author of MTA’s planning and zoning guides.

Click here for registration form
Click here to register online now*

*This course is being held in conjunction with MTA’s Annual Conference & Expo. To register online for ONLY this class, click the link above and select “Pre-Conference only” then choose the class you wish to attend on the “Sessions” page.

Apply for a TGA Scholarship
Thanks to our main sponsor--BS&A Software--along with our supporting sponsors, the Burnham & Flower Insurance Group, ITC Holdings and Foresight Group, several "Governance in Action" scholarships are available to elected officials in member townships, based on demonstrated financial need and other criteria. Applications must be received at the MTA office by March 1 to be considered for a scholarship this year.
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TGA Group on Community Connection
Join the TGA Group on Community Connection where you can interact and ask real time questions of your TGA candidate peers.
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Online classes
Several of the required courses in the TGA curriculum are available in MTA's Online Learning Center for purchase and viewing at your convenience, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! To obtain credit, you must purchase and view all segments/parts of the webcast, submit the standard PAC form and receive a minimum passing score of 70 percent on the quiz offered following the last segment of the course.
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Upcoming TGA classes
The TGA curriculum will repeat on a regular basis, so you can enroll in the program at any time taking courses as they work out in your schedule. Once you enroll in the Academy, retroactive credit will be applied for courses attended within six months prior to enrollment.
Questions?
Earn Elective Credits FREE via Township Focus Articles
Participants enrolled in the Township Governance Academy (TGA) may obtain 2 elective credits for successful completion of quizzes accompanying qualifying articles that appear in MTA's Township Focus. To obtain credit, participants must answer 10 multiple-choice questions by selecting the correct answer and receive a passing score of 70 percent.
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Earn Elective Credits FREE via Township FocuFocus magaziness Articles.

Participants enrolled in the Township GovernanceAcademy (TGA) may obtain 2 elective credits for successful completion of quizzes accompanying qualifying articles that appear in MTA’s Township Focus. To obtain credit, participants must answer 10 multiple-choice questions by selecting the correct answer and receive a passing score of 70 percent. 

Click here for the articles.