Annual Virginia Municipal Clerks Association (VMCA) Institutes and Academy
Stay connected
Join our mailing list for the latest information about the Annual VMCA Institutes and Academy and Athenian Dialogues.
VMCA Institutes and Academy
Interested in Athenian Leadership Society Dialogues? Learn more about this series>
"Excellent! Out of four VMCA Institutes and Academies that I have attended, this was the best one yet."
(~2023 Institutes and Academy participant)
VMCA Institutes and Academy
About the VMCA Institutes and Academy
In partnership with the International Institute for Municipal Clerks (IIMC) and the Virginia Municipal Clerks Association (VMCA), VCU Continuing and Professional Education offers a rigorous continuing education program for IIMC members and associate members. The IIMC refers to our program as the IIMC-approved Virginia Institute.
The IIMC-approved Institutes and Academy program provides administrators who serve a Legislative Government Body (LGB) the tools required to make sure that public meetings, public records, elections and special projects operate smoothly. The IIMC will calculate and determine the allocation of points when members submit their applications for their Certified Municipal Clerk or Master Municipal Clerk. Members receive 1 point per 2 hours of Institute education.
The Virginia Municipal Clerks Association (VMCA) and Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) offer an in-person program. Registration will open in March 2025 for clerks to enroll in the 2025 VMCA Institutes and Academy. Please check back for updates or join our mailing list.
-
Clerks may also register for VMCA Pre-Institute Workshops. These workshops offer:
-
Skill Development and Specialization
Pre-Institute workshops provide in-depth training on specialized topics like de-escalation techniques, Athenian Dialogues, or other municipal leadership essentials. These workshops are tailored to enhance your expertise and equip you with actionable strategies to excel in your role. -
Networking Opportunities
Engage with peers, experts, and thought leaders in a more intimate setting before the main event. These workshops allow for meaningful connections, collaborative discussions, and shared learning experiences that can enhance your professional network. -
Focused Professional Growth
With a smaller group setting and targeted content, pre-institute workshops offer a unique opportunity to dive deeply into specific areas of interest. This focused environment ensures you leave with practical knowledge and tools that can be immediately applied to your work.
-
Location
The 2025 in-person program will be held at in Richmond, VA.
Join our mailing list under 'Stay Connected' for the latest information about the Annual VMCA Institutes and Academy and Athenian Dialogues.
Program tracks
We offer three tracks for current and aspiring municipal clerks.
Municipal Clerk Fundamentals Institute
For clerks pursuing the Certified Municipal Clerk IIMC designation
Our Municipal Clerk Fundamentals Institute is for clerks new to the field or who have not previously attended an IIMC-approved institute. In this Institute, you will get a solid overview of the fundamental knowledge and foundational skills needed to be an effective municipal clerk.
Municipal Clerk Emerging Leader Institute
For clerks pursuing the Certified Municipal Clerk IIMC designation
This Institute builds on the foundation of the Municipal Clerk Fundamentals Institute. You will explore public administration, leadership, and management themes that strengthen your ability to perform the core duties of a municipal clerk.
Municipal Clerk Master Academy
For clerks pursuing the Master Municipal Clerk IIMC designation and MMC holders
The Municipal Clerk Master Academy is for seasoned municipal clerks who have earned the Certified Municipal Clerk (CMC) designation from the International Institute of Municipal Clerks (IIMC). The Master Academy is an advanced educational program that includes a wide-range of public administration, leadership, and management sessions that prepare clerks to perform more complex municipal duties.
How this works
Clerks select and register for their track, and then join VCU CPE, in October for the in person Institutes and Academy workshops.
Participation
For in-person workshops, the IIMC requires that clerks sign in and out of each workshop to verify attendance.
- Attendance
Clerks are encouraged to attend the full program. If that is not possible due to clerk-related duties or personal situations, continuing education hours may be earned for each workshop/session completed successfully. Each assessment link is sent only to clerks who fully attend the entire workshop/session. There are no registration fee credits nor continuing education hours (toward IIMC points) for partial attendance.
Online assessments
We offer online assessments via FlexiQuiz.
To receive continuing education hours (toward IIMC points), you need to attend the full workshop/session and pass its corresponding assessment. The Institute Director will send assessment links to clerks who attend the entire workshop/session as verified via sign in and out sheets. You will only have three opportunities to pass each assessment with a minimum score of 80%. Once you pass an assessment, a certificate is automatically issued for download and emailed to you for that workshop/session.
We recommend that clerks print and save electronic certificates for their records and IIMC credential applications.
Who should attend
The VMCA Institutes and Academy is designed for municipal clerks and aspiring municipal clerks working in Virginia. Clerks from other states are welcome to participate, although laws regarding document retention, Freedom of Information Act, and Conflict of Interest laws may vary from state to state. We strongly recommend that if your state has an IIMC-approved institute, you let your state's institute director know you are considering attending the Virginia Institute so he or she can advise you.
If you have questions on how the VMCA Institutes and Academy might be beneficial to you, please contact the Institute Director, Shelly Schuetz at ssschuetz@vcu.edu