The New American Colleges and Universities is committed to ensuring academics and administrators have the knowledge and skillset to successfully serve in leadership roles at their institutions. NACU’s Leadership Development Institute is a multi-module, interactive learning series for faculty and staff at NACU campuses who are currently in or plan to move into leadership positions.
Learning modules will focus on leadership practices and frameworks that can be applied immediately. Institute attendees will learn about and discuss critical leadership and management skills needed for success in career advancement, increase their understanding of higher education finance, and broaden their perspectives on administration at NACU campuses. In addition to developing knowledge and skills in the valuable content areas outlined below, the institute will introduce participants to a network of colleagues at NACU campuses to lean on for strategic counsel now and in the future.
The program content is applicable and relevant for attendees from different functional areas (e.g. academics, student affairs, finance, enrollment, advancement).
All modules will be virtual. The first five modules will be led by Credo, and the final module will feature leaders from NACU campuses. The cost for all six modules of the Emerging Leaders Institute is $800 per participant. Modules cannot be unbundled. Registration deadline is Friday, November 1.
Prior to the first session
Participants will receive a digital “workbook” that captures key concepts, graphics, and data to allow them to most effectively engage in the content in a virtual space. Participants will be asked to identify a particular leadership challenge that they would like to consider or address through this program. This challenge will be woven into each session as a common thread for applied learning. They will also receive a unique link to complete REACH, a powerful, psychometrically-validated leadership assessment. They will immediately receive a visual representation of their unique leadership approach, locating them in one of four leadership quadrants and setting the stage for the opening session.
Each virtual session will be highly interactive, utilizing the chat function, breakout groups, polls and/or other digital contribution tools, and whole-group conversation and debriefs.
Session 1 – Your Leadership Style: Developing Your Strengths
Friday, January 24, 2 – 4:30 pm ET
Particularly in higher education, leadership occurs through people and relationships, rather than being simply a function of decision-making authority. This session is designed to facilitate the exploration of individual leadership styles with the goal of improving each person’s ability to collaborate across diverse groups and influence others within the context of higher education. A certified REACH coach will facilitate a conversation about leadership alignment and approach grounded in the REACH quadrants and corresponding competencies. This facilitation provides common language and individualized leadership style considerations that will underpin future session topics.
Session 2 – Money & Mission: Understanding Strategic Finance & Student Learning
Friday, February 7, 2 – 4:30 pm ET
Emerging from Credo’s proprietary Thriving Institutions research, this session will explore two areas that are critical elements in institutional success and foundational knowledge for higher education leaders. Beginning with an examination of the higher education landscape as it relates to institutional finance and the changing needs of learners, this session will explore the fundamental roles of both, as well as intersections between the two. Participants will gain an understanding of key financial terms and concepts such as the discount rate, endowment management, retention and persistence, and budgeting vs. cash flow; as well as an appreciation of the opportunities and complexities in serving today’s students through an examination of demographic shifts, generational orientations, and research models for student success.
Session 3 – Leading Through Change in Higher Ed: Exploring Vision, Strategy, & The Role of Trust
Friday, February 21, 2 – 4:30 pm ET
In the current landscape, nearly every aspect of higher education exists in a constant state of change. The call for leaders in this environment is to navigate that change with both attention to strategy and care for people. This session will explore a higher-education-adapted model for complex change and a model for trust-building in organizations, engaging specific tools and resources to equip leaders for effective, collaborative change management. Participants will have the opportunity to evaluate the environment within which they are currently operating, reflect on how their leadership strengths can contribute to strategy and trust-building, and consider the role of senior leaders in the development of campus culture.
Session 4 – Leading Teams: Engaging Diverse Styles for Collaborative Advantage
Friday, March 7, 2 – 4 pm ET
Making the shift from leading as an individual contributor to leading through those on your team is a significant and often challenging transition. Most leaders are offered more senior roles due to their expertise in a particular content area or discipline, and are not equipped with the tools that allow them to effectively reimagine their role as a people leader. This session will introduce the concept of a leadership contribution continuum, encourage participants to consider where they currently fall on that continuum, and ask them to map a path toward growth. The second half of the session will split participants into two groups – one, leaders who have not yet made the transition to managing a team or department and are working toward readiness in that regard. This first group will examine ways to make that transition as effective as possible for themselves and for their direct reports. The second group will include those already overseeing teams, offering tools for team evaluation, individual development plans, and ways to navigate interpersonal challenges between team members.
Session 5 – Courageous Conversations: Navigating Conflict in Teams & Campus Hierarchies
Friday, March 21, 2 – 4 pm ET
The ability to respectfully and professionally bring serious and sensitive challenges into conversation with peers, direct reports, and senior leaders is rarely an inherent trait for leaders – instead, the ability to navigate conflict and challenge with others requires practice, intentionality, and structure. Done well, a courageous conversation can be a gift in the development of another professional; done poorly, they can shatter trust, confidence, and relationship. In this session, participants will engage tools for successfully navigating these conversations and have the opportunity to both practice and observe mock courageous conversations within the safety of the cohort space.
Session 6 – Candid Conversations with NACU Leaders
Friday, April 4, 2 – 3:30 pm ET
A panel of current NACU leaders from various functional areas will discuss their career paths and share what they wished they’d known when they moved into administrative roles. Further, they will share perspectives on working effectively across functional areas in higher education. There will be ample time for the Q & A portion of the session.
Cancellation Policy: Cancel by November 15, 2024, to receive a refund. You may also transfer your registration to another person on your campus but must do so by December 13.
Phone: 937.430.0349
Email: office@nacu.edu
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