Big Ten Academic Alliance Academic Leadership Program (ALP) Goals and Objectives
Goals Statement
The goal of the Big Ten Academic Alliance, Academic Leadership Program is to help a select group of talented and diverse faculty in our institutions further develop their ability to be effective academic leaders. Faculty participants (designated as ALP Fellows) are chosen by their home institutions, based on their proven abilities or demonstrated promise. Our goal is to prepare ALP Fellows for leadership positions at all levels of research universities in a cost-effective, collaborative way.
Objectives
The overarching objectives for the Academic Leadership Program, which apply across all three seminars, are described below. In addition, objectives are provided below for each seminar.
- To learn more about the organization, operations, finances, and structure of research universities, as well as their similarities and differences
- To consider the skills and attributes of effective academic leaders, and the challenges and rewards of becoming an academic leader
- To consider the importance of physical infrastructure and its effect on our ability to meet our missions by visiting model or unique campus buildings and facilities
- To consider current and future challenges and opportunities in higher education
- To meet and develop professional relationships with faculty from across the participating Big Ten Academic Alliance universities, through interactions during seminar sessions, and opportunities to socialize and network
Toward these objectives, ALP Liaisons and Big Ten Academic Alliance AA staff aim to design seminar programs with (a) a balance of informational and interactive sessions, (b) opportunities to network and socialize, and (c) campus tours or visits to buildings of special interest.
Specific Objectives for Seminar I: The Evolving University
- To acquire some historical context for contemporary issues in higher education
- To consider sustainability within one or more contexts in higher education
- To consider approaches for enhancing campus diversity and meeting the needs of a diverse campus
- To consider aspects of today’s student population
- To explore opportunities for university engagement and globalization
Specific Objectives for Seminar II: Internal and External Relationships
- To focus on one or more key topics related to faculty and their development
- To explore one or more key topics related to the role of university staff and ways to work effectively with them
- To consider and discuss one or more key topics related to teaching and learning
- To consider and discuss opportunities and challenges in the university research enterprise
- To look outside the walls of the university to matters related to external relationships and engagement
Specific Objectives for Seminar III: Money, Management, and Strategies
- To increase understanding of various university budget models and to encourage fellows to compare and contrast the model at their home institutions with other approaches, particularly in relation to academic priorities and fiscal constraints
- To learn more about university sources of revenue (e.g., philanthropy, development, and technology commercialization)
- To consider one or more approaches to strategic planning or visioning in research universities, at one or more levels of the institution
- To learn more about the issues surrounding space and infrastructure within the university
- To consider the variety of competing requests, tasks, and projects that academic administrators undertake or respond to, and to formulate strategies for time management
- To gain insights about the pathways to university leadership and reflect on the entire seminar experience within the context of possible leadership opportunities