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Virginia Tech offers graduate certificate, partial scholarships for displaced federal workers
Summary
Virginia Tech's graduate certificate in local government management (12 credit hours) is available online; the School of Public and International Affairs offers financial assistance covering 25% of the program cost for displaced federal workers and credits count toward an MPA.
Dr. Stephanie Davis, director of the graduate certificate in local government management at Virginia Tech, told webinar attendees the 12‑credit certificate is taught by practitioners and is designed to prepare candidates for leadership in local government.
"This certificate program is really about preparing the next generation of local government managers and leaders," Davis said, describing synchronous Zoom classes that meet once weekly and a curriculum that covers budgeting, performance measurement, intergovernmental relations and planning administration. Davis said the program is practitioner-led: adjunct instructors include current and former city, county and town managers.
Davis said financial assistance is available for displaced federal workers in 2025 through the School of Public and International Affairs: the school will cover 25% of the certificate program cost for eligible participants. She also said certificate courses count toward Virginia Tech's Master of Public Administration, and that students receive networking opportunities and free registration to the VLGMA winter conference as part of program benefits.
Davis invited attendees to reach out for information sessions and one-on-one meetings to learn about admissions, financial assistance and course scheduling. The program runs on a standard academic schedule and is aimed at both current local government staff seeking advancement and candidates transitioning into local government.
