RISE Academy
Readiness in Supervisory Excellence
RISE Academy is a selective, six-month applied leadership experience for Purdue leaders who want to deepen how they lead themselves, their teams and the organization.
Offered through Purdue University Human Resources, RISE moves beyond traditional leadership training by combining assessment, individual coaching, applied practice and real workplace challenges. Participants build greater self-awareness, strengthen essential people-leadership behaviors and practice leading through change and complexity.
Why RISE?
Leadership growth requires more than learning new concepts. It takes sustained practice, candid feedback and opportunities to apply new behaviors in real situations.
RISE gives leaders the structure, coaching and accountability to turn insight into action. Over six months, participants practice leadership in the context of their own teams, receive individualized feedback and coaching, learn alongside peers and contribute to a real Purdue leadership challenge. Along the way, participants strengthen their ability to understand and manage their leadership impact, build trust and connection, communicate expectations, create clarity, give feedback, foster accountability and coach and develop others.
The experience builds from leading self, to leading others, to leading the organization, helping participants navigate change and complexity, influence across organizational boundaries and bring a broader perspective to organizational challenges. RISE concludes with integration and action, helping leaders carry what they have practiced into their ongoing work.
Five Core Practices
Own Your
Impact
Build
Connection
Create
Clarity
Grow
Talent
Lead
Forward
Who Should Apply?
RISE is open to Purdue employees in a management classification who lead people, as well as faculty who manage or lead others. Applicants should have at least one year of supervisory experience and be ready to deepen their leadership impact.
RISE may be a strong fit if you:
- Currently supervise others and want to grow as a leader
- Are open to candid feedback, reflection and coaching
- Want to better understand and strengthen your leadership impact
- Value learning and practicing alongside peers
- Are ready to apply what you learn directly with your team
Interested faculty leaders or more senior leaders may also be considered when the program is a strong fit.
What to Expect
From January through June 2027, participants will take part in a cohort-based leadership development experience that includes a leadership assessment and developmental feedback, monthly 90-minute onsite learning sessions, four individual coaching conversations, peer learning and leadership practice, applied cases and simulations, and a real Purdue Leadership Challenge.
The experience culminates in a June capstone showcase and the development of a personal 90-day leadership action plan, followed by a 90-day post-program check-in.
Participants who successfully complete the program will earn RISE certification.
Application and Selection
Applications will be accepted November 2–18, 2026.
Approximately 10 participants will be selected for the inaugural cohort. Selection will consider each applicant’s readiness, program fit, ability to meet the commitment and the composition of the overall cohort.
Applicants should speak with their supervisor before applying. Supervisor support is an important part of the RISE experience and helps ensure participants have the time and opportunity to fully engage and apply their learning in the workplace.
Selection is not an evaluation of an applicant’s job performance or leadership potential. Because RISE is launching with a deliberately small pilot cohort, not every qualified applicant will be selected.
Applicants selected for the cohort and their supervisors will be notified by December 4.
Frequently Asked Questions
RISE is designed as a sustained, applied leadership experience rather than a single-topic workshop. Participants learn as a cohort over six months and combine leadership development with assessment, individual coaching, peer practice, feedback and a real Purdue leadership challenge.
The emphasis is not simply on learning new leadership concepts, but on practicing specific behaviors, receiving feedback and applying the learning in the workplace.
Leadership assessment and feedback
Gain greater insight into your leadership tendencies and how your leadership behaviors are experienced by others.
Individual coaching and peer practice
Participate in one-on-one coaching conversations and practice alongside peers from across Purdue.
Applied leadership simulation
Practice navigating complex leadership situations and receive developmental feedback from facilitators and peers.
Purdue Leadership Challenge
Work collaboratively on a real Purdue challenge, applying leadership skills to an organizational issue and presenting recommendations at the June capstone showcase.
- Attend and actively participate in the monthly onsite sessions
- Complete required pre-work
- Participate in four individual coaching conversations
- Complete assessment and reflection activities
- Contribute to a cross-functional Purdue Leadership Challenge
- Apply RISE practices in the workplace
- Participate in the June capstone showcase
- Complete a 90-day leadership action plan and follow-up
- Support the participant’s time and active involvement
- Complete one multi-rater assessment
- Participate in one midpoint development check-in
- Encourage workplace application of the participant’s learning
Supervisors will not receive confidential assessment reports or details from individual coaching conversations.
RISE Academy runs from January through June 2027, followed by a 90-day check-in in September.
Participants should plan for one 90-minute onsite session each month, approximately 30–45 minutes of pre-work, approximately 30–45 minutes of peer practice and leadership challenge work, and four 45-minute individual coaching conversations during designated months.
The total commitment is up to 4 hours per month.
2027 cohort session schedule
| Date | Time | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 20, 2027 | 10:30 a.m.–noon | Discovery Learning Research Center, Room 221 |
| Feb. 24, 2027 | 10:30 a.m.–noon | Discovery Learning Research Center, Room 221 |
| March 24, 2027 | 10:30 a.m.–noon | Discovery Learning Research Center, Room 221 |
| April 21, 2027 | 10:30 a.m.–noon | Discovery Learning Research Center, Room 221 |
| May 19, 2027 | 10:30 a.m.–noon | Location to be determined |
| June 2027 | Time to be determined | Location to be determined |
Assessment, multi-rater feedback and coaching information are used solely for developmental purposes. They will not be used for selection, promotion, performance appraisal or employment decisions.
The assessment process gives participants complementary perspectives on their leadership and helps identify meaningful development goals. Supervisors will not receive confidential assessment reports or details from individual coaching conversations.
Participants who successfully complete the academy will receive RISE certification and develop a personal 90-day leadership action plan to continue applying their learning beyond the six-month program.
Applications are open November 2–18, 2026.
Ready to deepen your leadership impact?
Questions about RISE Academy? Contact Purdue HR Talent Experience and Communications at TECLearning@purdue.edu.