Curriculum & Schedule

Schedule

The 2026 Cohort begins Wednesday, Feb. 25. The class will meet from 6-8:30 p.m. on mostly Wednesday nights and will meet eight times. Field trips will be held in-person at a location within the county. The graduation ceremony (April 21) will be held in-person prior to the Board of Commissioners meeting.

The first session is an overview of county government. Succeeding sessions will include presentations from various county departments or field trips to either Orange County Animal Services, the Orange County Landfill, the Orange County Main Library, the 911 Center and the Seymour Senior Center. 

Schedule of presentations (subject to change)

    • Wednesday, Feb. 25 – the cohort will get to know each other, set goals for the course, and hear a County Government 101 presentation from the School of Government. Location: Whitted Human Services Building, 301 Tryon St., Hillsborough

    • Wednesday, March 4 –  the cohort will meet at the Animal Services facility in Chapel Hill to get a behind the scenes tour and will also get a tour and presentation from the Solid Waste Department. Location: Animal Services, 1601 Eubanks Road, Chapel Hill

    • Wednesday, March 11 – the cohort will meet with Dept. on Aging staff and get a tour of one of their facilities. They will also hear presentations from Child Support Services and the Tax Department. Location: Seymour Center, 2551 Homestead Road, Chapel Hill

    • Wednesday, March 18 –  the cohort will get a tour of the Drakeford Library Complex in Carrboro by Orange County Public Library staff. They will also hear presentations by the Economic Development Department and the Housing Department. Location: Drakeford Library, 203 S. Greensboro St., Carrboro

    • Wednesday, March 25 – the cohort will hear from the Sustainability Program, the Criminal Justice Resource Department, the Department of Environment, Parks, and Recreation, and the Planning and Inspections Department. Location: TBD

    • Wednesday, April 1 – The cohort will hear from the Department of Social Services and the Arts Commission. Location: Dept. of Social Services, 113 Mayo Street, Hillsborough

    • *Thursday, April 9 – the cohort will get a behind-the-scenes tour of the 911 call center and hear presentations from the Emergency Services Department, as well as the Office of Civil Rights and Civic Life and the Health Department. Location: Emergency Operations Center, 510 Meadowlands Drive, Hillsborough

    • *Tuesday, April 21 – the cohort will be joined by the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) Chair Jean Hamilton for a graduation ceremony. They will hear a presentation from the clerk to the board about volunteer opportunities for Boards and Commissions. At 7 p.m., the cohort will be recognized at the beginning of the BOCC meeting and will have a group photo with the Board.  Location: TBD