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. 

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.

Tuesday, Oct. 14
8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
BSPSI-0850-001, $225
On campus in Glen Ellyn

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

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

Tuesdays, Sept. 9 to Dec. 2
6 to 9 p.m.
BSPSI-0400-130, $590
Virtual Classroom

*Fee includes 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

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

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. 

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 to an individual or a group.

Generational Workplace

For the first time in history, five different generations are represented in the workforce. Technology has accelerated the business dynamic and forever altered the way we work. Employees must learn critical skills and steps to bridge the generation gap. Learn how to manage perceptions and stereotypes of each generation in order to build a collaborative multi-generational workplace.

Conflict Resolution

There is no shortage of conflict in society today. At work, at home or in the
community we have all encountered conflict of varying intensity. Dealing with
conflict can be anything from awkward to painful and is rarely something we
look forward to any given day. If we are able to develop approaches and
techniques to better resolve conflict, we can transform conflict from
something we avoid to an opportunity for progress and growth.

Transformational Leadership

Transformational Leadership creates important, positive change. It is grounded in the belief that inspiring others to focus on the greater good produces a level of excellence that exceeds the results other forms of leadership achieve. Transformational leaders build cultures of trust and mutual respect and instill a sense of commitment and accountability toward the teams within organizations.

Coaching and Developing Others

Coaching and developing employees are key to being an effective supervisor, manager and leader.  This interactive seminar will provide an overview of the importance of coaching and developing employees and will provide participants with a toolkit for effective coaching.  The seminar will include role playing difficult conversations, when and how to coach employees and approaches to professional development.

Ethics and Accountability

Explore the principles of ethical conduct, the importance of transparency in public service, and the responsibilities that come with being accountable to your community. Through real-world examples and practical guidance, you'll gain the tools to make sound decisions, uphold public trust, and foster a culture of integrity within your organization.

Influencing Others

In today's interconnected world, the ability to influence others is a vital skill for personal and professional success. Regardless of your position and title, you can have a positive impact on those around you. This class is designed to empower you with the knowledge and techniques needed to become a more persuasive and influential communicator.

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.