Leadership Tools (External Leadership Development)

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The Institute for Academic Leadership hosted by Florida State University

The Institute for Academic Leadership, hosted by Florida State University, conducts workshops to enhance the planning, management, and leadership competencies of department chairpersons, deans, and academic administrators of the State University System of Florida.



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Academy for Innovative Higher Education Leadership - a partnership between Arizona State and Georgetown Universities

The Academy for Innovative Higher Education Leadership, a partnership between Arizona State University and Georgetown University, is the premier training ground for those who aspire to senior leadership positions in higher education, and those who want to lead organizational change at colleges and universities in the future.

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American Association of State Colleges & Universities (AASCU) Leadership Development Programs

AASCU is dedicated to the goal of building and enhancing leadership for public higher education, especially those who serve as leaders of state colleges and universities. AASCU’s primary focus is on developing support for the president or chancellor and their senior leadership team.

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American Conference of Academic Deans

ACAD provides academic leaders who share a commitment to student learning and to the ideals of liberal education with networking and professional development opportunities to support them in their work as educational leaders.

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American Council on Education (ACE), ACE Fellows Program & ACE Forums

American Council on Education (ACE) convenes, organizes, mobilizes, and leads advocacy efforts that shape effective public policy and help colleges and universities best serve their students, their communities, and the wider public good. ACE works to improve equity, expand access to colleges and universities, and diversify the higher education leadership pipeline.

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The Ace Fellows Program is a customized learning experience that enables participants to immerse themselves in the study and practice of leadership and experience the culture, policies and decision-making processes of another institution. The Program helps ensure that higher education’s future leaders are ready to take on real-world challenges and serve the capacity-building needs of their institutions.

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ACE Forums are face-to-face convenings of experts on critical and emerging higher education issues. Designed to complement ACE’s Regional Summits and the resources available on ACE ENGAGE®, Forums highlight data, best practices, and innovative strategies in order to inform institutional decision-making and action.

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Association of American Colleges & Universities (AAC&U)

Association of American Colleges & Universities (AAC&U) is the leading national association dedicated to advancing the vitality and public standing of liberal education by making quality and equity the foundations for excellence in undergraduate education in service to democracy.

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Executive Leadership Academy of the University of California at Berkeley’s Center for Studies in Higher Education

The Executive Leadership Academy (ELA) is designed for individuals from all backgrounds, who are currently serving in administrative positions in higher education, and who are interested in preparing themselves for appointments to executive positions such as dean, vice president, provost, president, and chancellor. It offers a five-day intensive training experience and is guided by a select faculty team, comprised of over 25 senior-level higher education executives.

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Harvard Institutes for Higher Education Programs

The Harvard Institutes for Higher Education (HIHE) offers comprehensive leadership development programs designed for higher education administrators — from directors, department heads, and deans, to vice presidents, provosts, and presidents. Because the leadership issues you face depend on your position, we group you with peers who share similar experiences and perspectives.

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HERS Institute - Higher Education Leadership Programs for Women

The HERS Institute is a transformational, leadership development program for women in higher education, founded to fill leadership pipelines across the United States with dynamic women, each capable of ushering their respective institutions into a more inclusive and equitable future.

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University of Illinoi's National Center for Professional & Research Ethics (NCPRE)

The National Center for Professional & Research Ethics (NCPRE) creates and shares resources to support the development of better ethics and leadership practices in academic and other professional contexts.

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American Association of University Administrators (AAUA)

The American Association of University Administrators is a non-profit professional organization for higher education leaders and administrative personnel. It is the only professional association for individuals who are interested in the entire range of higher education management (from department chair/unit director through president) in the entire diverse set of American colleges and universities (two- and four-year; public, private non-profit, private for-profit; comprehensive, research-focused, special mission).

Membership in AAUA helps support the association’s mission. In addition, membership provides—for those members who have an interest—opportunities for professional networking and leadership. In addition to enrolling and serving a significant complement of administrators at the most senior levels, the association is also interested in assisting early-career practitioner administrators build/enhance their leadership portfolios by providing leadership opportunities through service on association committees, boards, and taskforces. Opportunities to collaborate on offering professional development services are available as well.

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