Faculty Affairs

Big Ten Academic Alliance: Academic Leadership Program

big ten alliance members

The Big Ten Academic Alliance Academic Leadership Program (BTAA-ALP) is a year-long extensive leadership development program that is designed to expand the leadership and managerial skills of faculty who have demonstrated exceptional ability and administrative promise. It is specifically oriented to prepare faculty members to meet the challenges of academic administration at major research universities in the 21 st century. The Big Ten Academic Alliance is an academic consortium of Big Ten universities. More details about the BTAA-ALP goals and objectives can be found at the following sites:

BTAA-ALP at Purdue University

Each year, Purdue competitively selects up to five faculty members to participate in the BTAA-ALP. One of these spaces for the 2026-2027 cohort is reserved for a Mellon Fellow selected from a faculty member in the humanities. The chosen fellows meet weekly with administrators on the Purdue  campus to learn more about roles, responsibilities, challenges, and leadership strategies on a weekly basis.

Additionally, there are BTAA-wide seminars scheduled throughout the academic year. The in-person 3-day seminars rotate among the Big Ten Academic Alliance universities.

For 2026-2027 they are:

  • October 22-24, 2026 at Michigan State University
  • February 11-13, 2027 at Northwestern University
  • April 8-10, 2027 at University of Michigan

The current calendar of events can be viewed at  Calendar of Events Big Ten Academic Alliance ALP Fellows 2025-2026. Fellows are expected to fully participate in all in-person and online activities.

Current and previous Purdue Fellows in the BTAA-ALP are available at the following sites:

Nomination Process

Colleges are asked to submit nomination materials to the Office of the Provost using the following BTAA Program Nomination Link no later than noon on Monday, March 23, 2026, for consideration for the 2026-2027 ALP cohort. Please combine the following materials into one PDF document for each nominee, titled ‘faculty last name ALP nomination’ for submission:

  • A biographical statement (one-page limit) describing the nominee’s career trajectory and experience most relevant to the BTAA-ALP.
  • Nominee letter of interest (three-page limit) stating why they want to participate in the ALP and including: a brief description of their leadership trajectory (where they have been and where they want to go) and an overview of the issues they view as critical for higher education leaders.
  • Letter of recommendation and support from the nominee’s direct supervisor (head or dean) and endorsement by the dean, with commentary about priorities and leadership development needs in the College.
  • Fellows are expected to attend and fully participate in all of the in-person and online sessions; therefore, nominees are asked to include a statement of acknowledgement that they are available to attend the weekly on-campus meetings (Tuesday afternoons from 2:30-3:30) and scheduled BTAA-ALP seminars.
  • A complete curriculum vitae.

Fellows are selected based on their demonstrated potential for and interest in academic administration, endorsement from their college leadership, and willingness to commit the time needed to benefit from the year-long program. Having a formal leadership role is not a criterion for selection but will strengthen the nomination. Attention is given to the frequency of each College’s previous participation in the program, as well as leadership development needs in the Colleges. Preference will be shown to applicants who have not participated in a Faculty Affairs leadership program in the last 3 years. The 2026-2027 Fellows will be recommended to the Provost following a review process that includes former Big Ten Academic Alliance Fellows, and selected participants will be announced in mid-April.

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