Tailored Courses

Courses Conducted on Capitol Hill

Executives and managers throughout the executive branch are increasingly aware of the critical role that Congress plays in the daily operations of their organizations.  To be most effective in this environment, federal employees need to better understand the various ways that Congress affects their programs.

In order to address this need, many federal agencies arrange for GAI to provide Tailored Courses for their employees.  These courses are customized to the needs and interests of an individual department, agency, bureau, or office, and can be scheduled at almost any time during the year.

In addition to providing a comprehensive look at congressional processes and organization, a tailored class takes a more in-depth look at how Congress affects the daily operations of the specific agency or organization.  Sessions are scheduled with the appropriate staffers and Members of Congress (whenever possible) to discuss the legislative issues and committees and subcommittees that are relevant to that organization.  In most cases, we also arrange for the agency’s congressional affairs staff to meet with the group.

Most Tailored Courses are conducted as four or five-day Congressional Briefing Conferences or Capitol Hill Workshops, and are essentially customized versions of the Congressional Operations Seminar or the Seminar for Executives on Legislative Operations.

A member of the Institute’s faculty oversees the planning, design, and direction of each course. In addition to Members of Congress and congressional staff who have specific interests in the department’s or agency’s programs, speakers include the Institute’s own faculty, selected academics, members of the media, and representatives of interest groups. In most cases, time is provided for participants to observe congressional hearings and floor action.

Any of our Advanced Classes or Short Courses can also be tailored to fit an agency’s needs. Advanced Classes can be conducted as either a one or two-day class; while Short Courses would be conducted as a one-day class. (Short Courses can also be conducted on-site, as described in the next section.)

In most cases group size ranges from twenty-five to fifty for Tailored Classes, although smaller or larger groups can be accommodated in some circumstances. Tailored Courses can be conducted as stand-alone courses, or offered as a component of an agency’s management or executive development program.

Please call the GAI Director, Ken Gold at (202) 333-4838 or email him at gai@georgetown.edu if you would like to discuss the possibility of tailoring a course for your organization.

On-site Courses

Any of our Short Courses can be tailored for an agency or organization, and conducted on-site in Washington, DC, or anywhere around the country. They can be tailored to a specific department or agency, a group of federal employees, or any other organization with an interest in Congress.  Length can be anywhere from two hours to a full day.

Our most popular short courses are customized versions of The New Congress or Congressional Update, usually conducted as half-day programs. We can also provide a customized version of Understanding and Working with Congress, which is most often conducted as a one-day program.

In addition, any of our Advanced Courses can be customized and offered on-site either as a one or two-day course. Segments from the different courses can be combined, or completely new segments can be designed to fit the specific needs of the group.

On-site courses are usually conducted by two GAI Senior Fellows.  Group size ranges from twenty-five to forty-five, although smaller or larger groups can be accommodated in some circumstances.

GAI Senior Fellows are also available to provide specific talks on almost anything related to Congress. We are most frequently asked to provide sessions on the political dynamic of the current Congress, and/or to discuss issues surrounding the federal budget.  These sessions are tailored to the needs and interests of the specific group as well.

If you’d like more information, or would like to discuss providing an on-site course for your organization, please call the GAI Director, Ken Gold at (202) 333-4838 or email him at gai@georgetown.edu.

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