The Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) and the American Academic Leadership Institute (AALI) are pleased to announce the 2019–2020 Senior Leadership Academy (SLA), a yearlong program for mid-level administrators in higher education who aspire to senior leadership positions in independent colleges or universities. 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 a college or university vice president or cabinet officer.

The Need for Well-Prepared Leaders

CIC and AALI developed the Senior Leadership Academy in response to presidents and provosts who noted that many talented people on their campuses now serving in mid-levels of leadership responsibility would benefit from professional development opportunities to become better prepared to assume senior “line” responsibilities at the vice presidential/cabinet level. The SLA helps to fill the gap in the current leadership pipeline through the preparation of leaders who show promise of developing the talents and skills needed to succeed in a senior leadership position on campus. The SLA also helps participants achieve a better understanding of the broader context within which their own institution operates and a perspective on higher education beyond their current role.

Not only was participation in the SLA program pivotal in my advancement to associate provost, but it also has helped prepare me for the challenges in my new role.”—Tamara Floyd Smith, SLA 2017–2018, Associate Provost, Tuskegee University; Director, Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program, National Science Foundation

​CIC selected 41 participants from independent colleges and universities to participate in the program, which is intended for individuals whose next position most likely would be a cabinet position in academic affairs, student affairs, finance and administration, enrollment management, or advancement and who would like to advance in responsibilities in college administration.

(Results as of October 2018)

Nearly one-third (29.5 percent) of all participants have experienced career advancement.

Nearly half (48 percent) of participants from the first four cohorts have advanced in their careers.

In a time of data-informed decision making, the Senior Leadership Academy merges two important elements: a people-focused approach with a solidly grounded curriculum. Graduates emerge with new information, skills, and relationships with colleagues and mentors to make evidence-based and strategic decisions as leaders.”—Allyson M. Lowe, SLA 2017–2018, Vice President for Academic Affairs, Trocaire College

​CIC recently learned that the American Academic Leadership Institute (AALI), which generously supports CIC’s Executive Leadership Academy and Senior Leadership Academy, has decided to add special support for CIC’s efforts to increase the gender and racial and ethnic diversity of well-prepared leaders of independent colleges and universities. AALI will provide an AALI Diversity Fellowship to several participants in the Senior Leadership Academy, with preference being given to nominees from under-resourced institutions that otherwise might not be able to support a participant in CIC’s leadership development programs.

CIC will be able to provide the following support for approximately five SLA participants:

• A fellowship of $2,200 that covers the full fee for participation; and
• $800 toward the reimbursement of the cost of travel and/or lodging for the two national seminars.

Presidents and vice presidents who have nominated a candidate for the 2019–2020 Senior Leadership Academy who is a woman or a person of color and now would like him or her to be considered for this award, please send a message to Barbara Hetrick, CIC senior advisor, at bhetrick@cic.nche.edu. Those who would like to nominate an additional participant who meets the criteria for SLA and the award, please complete a nomination packet for the additional candidate by Friday, February 15, 2019. If you have not yet nominated someone for this program, please consider nominating more than one candidate—both those who are eligible for the AALI award and others. Please indicate in your letter of nomination if you wish the candidate to be considered for the AALI Diversity Fellowship.

​The fall seminar will be held in Baltimore, MD, November 1–3, 2019. The closing seminar will be held in Washington, DC, June 18–20, 2020.

The program fee for the 2019–2020 academic year is $2,200. 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 especially limited funding for professional development.

​For questions about the nomination process, selection process, or program logistics, contact Barbara Hetrick, senior advisor, CIC, at bhetrick@cic.nche.edu or (202) 466-7230.

For questions about program content, contact Linda Bleicken, president, AALI, at linda@americanali.org or (202) 263-7488.