The IIMC Online Learning Institute

Sponsored by the Municipal Clerks Education Foundation
and Laserfiche

Introduction

The primary goal of IIMC is to actively promote the continuing education and professional development of municipal clerks through extensive education programs, certification, recertification, publications, networking, annual conferences and research. IIMC also engages in municipal research administration, enhances critical professional skill development and fosters a spirit of mutual assistance and good fellowship among municipal clerks around the globe.

The purpose of the IIMC Online Learning Institute is to offer an educational alternative by which quality education is provided to those IIMC members who do not have an easy access to an on-land institute and desire to earn a CMC designation, an MMC designation, or recertify. The IIMC Online Learning Institute utilizes the electronic collaboration technology as a pedagogical tool for delivering the academic components of the CMC, the MMCA, and the Recertification programs. The IIMC Online Learning Institute intends to create an online learning community that would serve any member of IIMC that has no easy access to an on-land institute. This institute will further fulfill the noble mission of IIMC worldwide.

The IIMC Online Learning Institute Programs

Costs: $195.00 for Members            $250.00 for Non-Members

The IIMC Online Learning Institute offers three academic programs:

1. The Certified Municipal Clerk (CMC) Designation Program
2. The Master Municipal Clerk (MMC) Designation Program
3. The Certified Municipal Clerk (CMC) Recertification Program

The IIMC Online Learning Institute requires a minimum three-year academic program consisting of 120 contact hours (60 points) for the fulfillment of the educational requirements for the CMC designation; a minimum four-year academic program consisting of 168 contact hours (84 points) for the fulfillment of the educational requirements of the MMC designation, and a four-year academic program for the fulfillment of the educational requirements of the CMC Recertification program consisting of 40 contact hours (20 points). All IIMC academic programs are taught at the university level.

The IIMC Online Learning Institute provides the enrollees with the educational components of IIMC designations. In addition to the educational component, the enrollee shall fulfill the Experience requirement for the CMC designation, and the Professional and Social Contributions requirement for the MMC designation. To earn the CMC designation, an enrollee must earn 60 education points and 50 experience points. Similarly, to earn an MMC designation the enrollee must earn 84 education points and 20 Professional and Social Contributions points as stipulated in the requirements for each designation.

The IIMC Online Learning Institute is governed by the IIMC’s “Education Programs, Certification and Recertification Guidelines” unless stipulated otherwise in this document.

The Certified Municipal Clerk (CMC) Designation Requirements

The following are the requirements for obtaining the CMC designation:

1. Be a clerk or a deputy clerk or perform the duties as defined by IIMC.
2. Be an active member of IIMC for two years.
3. Affirm and practice the IIMC Code of Ethics.
4. Complete and submit an IIMC Application for CMC designation with required supporting documentation and fee.
5. Furnish a letter of sponsorship from a municipal clerk member of IIMC.
6. Perform the core duties of a municipal clerk by serving a Legislative Government Body (LGB) in an administrative capacity with management responsibilities, which would include four (4) of the following:
   

   a. General Management
   b. Records Management
   c. Elections
   d. Meeting Administration
   e. Management of by-laws, Articles of Incorporation, ordinances or other legal instruments
   f. Human Resources Management
   g. Financial Management
   h. Custody of the official seal and execution of official documents

7. Deputy clerks must perform at least four (4) of the eight (8) core duties.
8. Attain sixty (60) points in the Education category.
9. Attain fifty (50) points in the Experience category.
10. Solely responsible for acquiring, documenting and recording the education and experience points and reporting them to the IIMC Online Learning Institute every year at the anniversary of his/her original enrollment date.
11. Once certified, a CMC holder shall apply for recertification every four years, unless application is made for admission into the MMCA program prior to his/her four (4) year CMC anniversary date. Those CMC holders who actively and consistently are pursuing an MMC designation and earn 12 or more points per year may retain their CMC designation without having to recertify, otherwise, they shall recertify in a timely manner.

The IIMC Online Learning Institute is designed as an alternative means of providing all or parts of the education component required for CMC designation in 8 above.

The IIMC Online Learning Institute’s Admissions Requirements for All Programs

The primary goal of the IIMC Online Learning Institute is to provide the educational requirements for earning the CMC designation, the MMC designation, and the CMC Recertification. However, members of other professions will be allowed to take IIMC online courses. Those who intend to attend the IIMC Online Learning Institute must show the evidence and understanding of the following requirements for admissions:

1. Ability to construct and manipulate a Word document.
2. Ability to construct and manipulate a PDF file.
3. Ability to surf the Internet for research purposes.
4. Ability to classify, summarize, and analyze research findings.
5. Mastery of writing email messages that analyze the readings.
6. Ability to respond by email to instructors and other members of the IIMC Online Learning Institute electronic academic community in a timely manner.
7. Ability to successfully assemble a portfolio of evidence.
8. Enthusiastic and motivated to be a part of a dynamic electronic learning community.
9. Completion of the Application for Admissions into the IIMC Online Learning Institute and submit it to IIMC in a timely manner.
10. Payment of the Application for Admission fee.

The Online Certified Municipal Clerk (CMC) Program

The CMC program consists of 120 hours (60 points) of educational coursework at the university level of which 50% (30 points or 60 hours) is devoted to the study of Public Administration and Organization, 30% (18 points or 36 hours) to Social and Interpersonal Issues, and 20% (12 points or 24 hours) to electives.

To earn a CMC designation through an IIMC Institute, two requirements shall be met: the designee must earn 120 hours (60 points) of coursework and 50 points of experience.

The IIMC Institute students who pursue a CMC designation shall earn a minimum of 12 education points per year towards the fulfillment of the requirements of the CMC designation.

CMC Education Component (total of 60 points required)

CMC Experience Component (total of 50 points required)                    

CMC Experience Component -- Municipal Clerks Conferences Points

CMC Experience Component -- Continuing Education

CMC Experience Component -- Business or Vocational School Courses

CMC Experience Component -- College or University Courses

The enrollee is solely responsible for acquiring, documenting and recording the Education and Experience points and reporting them to the IIMC Online Learning Institute every year at the anniversary of his/her original enrollment date. The enrollee is responsible for earning a minimum of 12 points of coursework per year towards the fulfillment of the requirements of the CMC designation.

*Examples of acceptable fields of study include public administration, political science, business administration, municipal management, municipal finance, governmental accounting, records management, urban affairs, and urban planning. Education units or hours may not be credited to both of the CMC and MMCA programs.

The Master Municipal Clerk (MMC) Designation Requirements

The following are the requirements for obtaining the MMC designation:

1. Hold a CMC designation in good standing.
2. Be an active member of IIMC.
3. Reaffirm IIMC’s Code of Ethics.
4. Complete and submit an IIMC Application for the MMC designation with required supporting documentation and fee.
5. Attain eighty-four (84) points in the Education category.
6. Attain twenty (20) points in the Professional and Social Contributions category.

The following are policy considerations regarding the MMCA points and MMC designation requirements:

1. Clerks attending MMCA classes who have not attained the CMC designation may count such MMCA coursework towards their CMC designation. However, they may not use the same courses towards the MMCA requirements.
2. Points used for the fulfillment of the requirements of the CMC designation shall not be used for credit toward the MMCA requirements.
3. Duplicate courses taken during the entire educational experience at IIMC shall be counted as one.
4. Program points obtained prior to receiving IIMC’s CMC designation may not be used as MMCA points.
5. Those CMC holders who actively and consistently are pursuing an MMC designation and earn 12 or more points per year may retain their CMC without having to recertify, otherwise, they shall recertify in a timely manner.
6. Credit earned while a CMC designee awaits nothing but the fulfillment of the two-year IIMC membership requirement for the receipt of the CMC designation, may be counted towards the MMCA requirements.
7. By the year 2013, a Bachelor's degree in any field or 15 years of Municipal Clerk experience will be a prerequisite for obtaining the MMC designation.

The Master Municipal Clerk Academy (MMCA) Program

The educational requirements for the MMCA are more rigorous and at a much higher level than those of the CMC program. The subject matters might be similar to those of the CMC courses; however, the breadth and depth of the MMCA courses shall be more academically advanced.

To obtain the MMC designation one must earn 104 points of which 84 points shall be Advanced Education and 20 points Professional and Social Contributions.

Advanced Education Component (84 points required)

*Examples of acceptable fields of study include public administration, political science, business administration, municipal management, municipal finance, governmental accounting, records management, urban affairs, and urban planning. Education units or hours may not be credited to both of the CMC and MMCA programs.

**Prior to attending an educational or a certificate program offered by other organizations, the student shall seek and obtain approval of the program from the IIMC Education Department.

Professional and Social Contributions Component (20 points required)

The enrollee is solely responsible for acquiring, documenting and recording the Education and Professional and Social Contributions points and reporting them to the IIMC Online Learning Institute every year at the anniversary of his/her original enrollment date into the IIMC Online Learning Institute.

The Certified Municipal Clerk (CMC) Recertification Program Requirements

The CMC Recertification program consists of four years (total of 20 points or 40 contact hours) of IIMC approved coursework at the university level. The CMC Recertification program is designed to help Certified Municipal Clerks to continue their education beyond the CMC designation, and stay current educationally and professionally.

Those CMC holders who actively and consistently are pursuing an MMC designation and earn 12 or more points per year may retain their CMC without having to recertify, otherwise, they shall recertify in a timely manner.

Requirements for IIMC Educational Points or Hours for All Programs

1. The educational points or hours are only awarded to those courses, seminars, symposia, conferences, and similar programs that result in academic and scholarly exercises and experiences.
2. At a minimum, they shall be related to the job of the participating clerk and shall include a presentation by an academic with appropriate credentials or by an expert in the field. Evidence of the appropriateness of the credentials or expertise must be presented in the form of a brief bio.
3. A set of objectives must be determined prior to the start of the event, a set of outcomes must be determined in accordance with those objectives, and a method of outcomes assessment (e.g., test, essay, practicum, etc.) must be used and documented.
4. Teaching methods must be explained.
5. A list of reading materials that will be used in the course should be attached to the letter of request for pre-approval.
6. To be eligible for IIMC educational points, all programs and supporting materials shall be submitted to the Education Department for review and approval at least one month prior to the event.
7. Product demonstrations, marketing seminars, visits to buildings, political offices and establishments, historical sites, museums and the like earn no educational points.