FAQs
Q: Who is eligible to apply?
A: The Public Service Leadership Circle – Southern California is designed for federal employees based in Southern California who are new or aspiring supervisors. Employees from any GS level or wage grade are welcome to apply, but the program is designed for employees GS 11-13 or equivalent.
The Partnership will accept participants who fit eligibility requirements on a rolling basis. To ensure the broadest possible range of agencies, variety of occupations, grade levels, etc., the Partnership may coordinate with agencies to cap the number of participants from a single office.
Q: What application materials must I provide to be eligible?
A: You are required to submit a copy of your resume with all your professional work experience, both inside and outside of government. You must also submit a supervisor approval form upon acceptance.
Q: How will I know if I’m accepted?
A: Applicants will receive an email from the program manager notifying them of their acceptance status within a week of receipt of a complete application, no later than a week after the October 8 application deadline.
Q: I’m no longer able to attend, will I receive a refund?
A: If sessions have not yet begun, you may defer your participation to a later cohort or transfer your enrollment fee to a colleague who can attend (pending an application review) by contacting [email protected].
If you have participated in one or more sessions, we will
determine whether a credit or partial refund is appropriate on a case-by-case
basis.
Q: Can I reapply if I am not accepted into the program?
A: Yes, you are welcome to reapply, if you meet the cohort’s eligibility requirements.
Q: Is there an application fee?
A: No.
Q: How much is tuition?
A: Tuition is $1,200 and covers all course materials. This includes articles and management tools, online collaboration tools, and access to the Partnership’s resources, expertise and networks. Any associated costs such as local travel and attendance at Federal Executive Board events or trainings are paid by the participant’s agency.
Q: When is the tuition deadline, and what are the options for tuition payment?
A: Payment should be arranged prior to the first session (the specific date will be provided in the first program communication to accepted applicants). Your agency is responsible for paying tuition. We do not accept payment from individual applicants.
We accept the following forms of payment: credit card (Visa, MasterCard or American Express), purchase order or Standard Form 182 (SF-182). The Tuition Form will provide instructions to request a purchase order that can be paid by your agency through Automated Clearing House transfer or check.
We will work directly with an agency contact—such as a training coordinator or human resources specialist—who is responsible for paying tuition, and we will ask you to provide us with a contact’s name, email and phone number. Your requests for tuition status updates should be sent through that contact.
You are committed to paying the full tuition once you begin the program.
Q: What should I do if I have to miss parts of a session or an entire session? Do you offer make-up sessions?
A: Participants should notify the program manager if they anticipate missing part or all of a session. The program manager will provide make-up materials with recordings of session segments for individual review as appropriate.
Q: Where will the sessions take place?
A: All sessions will take place online via Zoom for Government. Peer groups may meet in person outside of program sessions at a location of their choosing.
Q: How does this program differ from the Partnership’s other offerings, such as Preparing to Lead and Foundations in Government Leadership?
A: This program is shorter and discussion-based, and offered at a lower cost, with the goal of making our training more attainable for employees affiliated with regional or field offices.
