In early November, a group of twenty Illinois Department of Public Aid (IDPA) employees gathered in Chicago for a day-long
training program led by Harris School Professor and statistics wizard Colm OÕMuircheartaigh. Using the questions, problems, and
data that the group works with daily, the program addressed statistical analysis and the presentation of statistical data.
ÒThe training was well-received,Ó said IDPA Chief of Staff, Ian Doughty (MPPÕ01). ÒCreating a baseline of expertise and
experience among our senior staffers will enable them to approach analytical problems in a more coherent and logical way.
Since the training group was rather large, they can also bounce ideas off of each other about how to best represent data or
perform analyses.Ó
This training session inaugurated the Harris SchoolÕs new initiative of customized, non-degree programs for professionalsÑCustom
Professional Learning (CPL). The School is partnering with organizations from all sectors to create individually tailored programs
that meet the needs of each organization and its employees. Training is led by the SchoolÕs faculty members and integrates the
analytical and quantitative skills that the Harris School is known for with the clientÕs real-life examples.
ÒWe are developing this custom professional learning initiative one step at a time, but we are excited about the progress,Ó said
Dean Susan E. Mayer. ÒWeÕve had strong interest in the program from different organizations, and our faculty are eager to reach out
to a professional audience.Ó
This first session was initiated by and developed with Doughty and IDPA director and fellow alumnus, Barry Maram (AMÕ85), and a
second program is already in development for the agency.
Other programs are in development as wellÑincluding some international programs. This summer, Professor Robert J. LaLonde will
travel to Mexico to provide training on social program evaluation in the US for Ministry of Social Development public officials in
the state of Puebla. This CPL program is being designed with the help of alumnus Julio Franco (MPPÕ01), the General Coordinator of
Planning for the Secretary of Social Development. Also assisting in the programÕs coordination is the Institute for Executive
Education (IEXE), a Puebla-based non-profit organization that focuses on training government officers in public management,
administration, and finance.
ÒThe strong appeal of custom learning is that an organization can ensure that it meets their exact needs. We work with the
organization to define the topic, the length of the program, size of the group, schedule, and location,Ó explained Susan Popa,
Special Assistant to the Dean, who is currently serving as CPLÕs coordinator.
For more information or to set up a program for your organization, contact
exec-training@uchicago.edu or
visit harrisschool.uchicago.edu/academic/otherprograms/custom.asp.
Eleanor Cartelli
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