​The Executive Leadership Academy (ELA) is a year-long program cosponsored by the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC), the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU), and the American Academic Leadership Institute (AALI) to prepare experienced provosts and vice presidents to become successful presidents. It includes two national seminars, readings, webinars, individualized experiential activities, and structured mentorship experiences. By completing the program, participants will have acquired considerable knowledge, skills, and experiences that are germane to the portfolio of responsibilities and activities central to the work of the president.

(Results as of September 2016)

CIC, AASCU, and AALI piloted a Provost to President program in 2009–2010 to prepare cabinet-level administrators in CIC and AASCU member institutions to assume presidencies. Of the 41 participants in that pilot program, 14 have since been appointed as president or chancellor.

The program’s name was changed to the Executive Leadership Academy for the 2011–2012 academic year, and 16 of the 42 participants have since been appointed president or chancellor. Of the 40 participants in the 2012–2013 ELA, six have been appointed to presidencies. In the 2013–2014 cohort of 37 participants, eight have earned presidential appointments. Of the 29 participants in 2014–2015, three have assumed presidencies. Five of 37 participants during 2015–2016 already have been appointed president.

Although AALI and CIC maintain data on the professional advancement of participants, successful outcomes also are obtained when participants’ leadership in their current positions is strengthened, when they learn from the experiences that they do not want to pursue a presidency, or when the participant is selected for a succession plan to the presidency of the same institution.

​Two seminars will be held in Washington, DC, led by current and former presidents and chancellors as well as experts in various areas of presidential responsibility, on July 20–22, 2017, and June 18–20, 2018.

The program fee for the 2017–2018 academic year is $2,400. The fee includes all program costs as well as meals during the two seminars. The participant or his or her institution is responsible for travel and lodging expenses. Support to offset some of these costs is available to a small number of participants at institutions with limited funding for professional development.

​​​​For questions about the nomination, selection process, or program logistics, contact David Brailow, vice president for development, CIC, at dbrailow@cic.nche.edu or (202) 466-7230.

For questions about program content, contact Tom Kepple, president, AALI, at kepplet@americanali.org or (202) 263-7488.