City of Travelers Rest Councilmember Graduates From Municipal Elected Officials Institute of Government

In March of this year I completed the requirements to graduate from the Municipal Elected Officials Institute of Government with MASC, which included seven courses and two in-person day-long training sessions. And in July I received my certificate. Your elected officials should commit to continuing their education in government. If not, they are not equipped to serve in these challenging times. I am grateful for the privilege to serve, and the opportunity to expand my knowledge.

Municipal Elected Officials Institute of Government Graduation, with Mayor Greg Habib, Goose Creek.

Press Release from the Municipal Association of South Carolina

Councilmember Catherine Stanford James from the City of Travelers Rest graduated from the Municipal Elected Officials Institute of Government. Graduates received their certificates during the Municipal Association of South Carolina’s 2025 Annual Meeting in July.

Established in 1986, the institute is a program of the Municipal Association of South Carolina that gives municipal officials a strong foundation for operating local governments. Participants in the institute learn about their role and responsibilities as an elected official. They also learn about the relationships between local, state and federal levels of government. 

“For more than 35 years, the Municipal Association has encouraged local elected officials to participate in the institute, whether they are newly elected or have served for a while,” said Urica Floyd, staff associate for training and learning solutions at the Municipal Association. “The MEO Institute gives elected leaders with diverse personal and professional backgrounds an understanding of how to run a local government effectively.”  

Elected officials must participate in more than 25 hours of classroom work to graduate from the institute. The institute includes two daylong, in-person sessions and three half-day sessions. Officials may take the half-day sessions as either in-person classes, or as credited online courses on an ongoing basis.   The topics covered during the sessions include the SC Freedom of Information Act, ethics and accountability, budgeting, planning and zoning, human resources and economic development. 

The institute draws its faculty from recognized local government leaders in South Carolina and other states, state officials, faculty and staff of the state’s colleges and universities, as well as other guest lecturers.   

The Municipal Elected Officials Institute of Government is one of many educational and training opportunities that the Municipal Association offers for elected officials and staff serving cities and towns. Learn more at www.masc.sc (keyword: education and training).