Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between the Leadership Academy and Leadership Institute?

The Leadership Academy is designed for those who are at or near the senior leadership level (MSP’s Grade 5 and above who are in managerial roles).

The Leadership Institute is designed for emerging leaders (MSP Grade’s 1-4 and MSP 5’s not in managerial roles).

How do these programs differ from other leadership programs on campus?

Both the Leadership Academy and Leadership Institute are intended to support leadership development in alignment with the University’s strategic priorities. The programs content and design create the opportunity for leaders to broaden and deepen their leadership capacity by engaging in experiential learning activities, problem solving work groups and collaborative peer relationships. The programs are not intended to develop operational skills but rather strengthen leaders’ efficacy in communication, collaboration, and leading change.

How many participants will be accepted into each program?

The Leadership Academy will consist of approximately 25-30 individuals and the Leadership Institute will consist of approximately 50 individuals, broken up into two diverse learning groups.

Is there a time a time in position requirement for either program?

The criteria for program participation are based on organizational development priorities and individual capability, commitment and capacity.
Individually capability is demonstrated by strong performance in current position. Generally performance is assessed annually through the performance evaluation process. However, if a department or Control Point has a strong candidate who has only been in the current position for 9 months, the nominee will not be excluded from the program. It is possible that specific departments or Control Point will specify a time in position requirement of one year in service of the organization’s development priorities.

Who has final decision making authority regarding how many people are nominated within each department?

The Control Points are responsible for coordinating and ranking participant nominations. Each
Control Point (Chancellor’s Office, Executive Vice Chancellor’s and Provost’s Office, Finance and Administration, School of Dentistry, School of Medicine, School of Nursing, School of Pharmacy, and University Advancement and Planning) has been provided with a range of possible slots for each program, although nominations may exceed this number as some additional slots may become available.

Who is my Control Point Representative?

Chancellor’s Office:  Deborah Brennan
Executive Vice Chancellor’s Office: Aja Duncan (for Wanda Ellison)
Finance and Administrative Services: Jocelyn Nakashige
School of Dentistry: Shirley Hodges
School of Medicine: Richard Secunda
School of Nursing: Zina Mirsky
School of Pharmacy: Nancy Walters
University Advancement and Planning: Alexis Purcell

Will exceptions be made to the MSP grade criteria for each program?

The purpose of the grade criteria is to ensure program content is reflective of the developmental needs of both participants and the institution. Exceptions to the grade criteria will be considered in rare circumstances. Exception will only be considered to the grade criteria in instances where the nominator and the Control Point agree that both the individual and the circumstance justify potentially bumping another eligible individual from the program who meets the grade criteria.

How long will it take to complete the nomination process?

The nomination process should not take more that 30 minutes per nominee.

When will I be notified of the status of my nomination?

The nominations will be reviewed by a Leadership Development Selection Review Committee. Final determinations will be made by the end of August.

What are the program session dates?

There are six full day sessions for the Leadership Academy and five full day sessions for the Leadership Institute. Session dates are as follows:

Leadership Academy
Session #1: October 7, 8 and 9, 2009
Session #2: December 8, 2009
Session #3: February 2, 2010
Session #4: April 7, 2010

Leadership Institute
Session #1: October 12 through 15, 2009
Session #2: December 9 and 10, 2009
Session #3: February 3 and 4, 2010
Session #4: April 8 and 9, 2010

Note: Exact session dates for the Leadership Institute will be determined by placement in one of the learning groups. The program opens with a two-day session. All other sessions will be one day in length.

Who do I go to for assistance with the nomination process or to find out more information about the programs?

Please contact Aja Duncan, the Leadership Development Program Coordinator, at 502.4528 or .