Professional Development Programs
Chairs' Academy I
Chairs' Academy I is a program for faculty new to leadership roles such as department chair, division chief, director, associate dean and similar, or those who aspire to such roles. The program provides training to develop skills that are requisite for effective institutional leadership, introduces participants to key university contacts, and provides peer-mentoring and networking.
Chairs' Academy II
Chairs' Academy II is a program for faculty in leadership positions (department chairs, directors, division chiefs, associated deans, and similar) to provide further leadership development. Prior participation in Chairs' Academy I is useful but not required. This program aims to help leaders mature their skills to maximize their impact and effectiveness, as well as support their leadership trajectory.
Women's Executive Leadership Development (WELD) Program
The WELD Program seeks to develop a new generation of leaders in higher education who can successfully contribute to the future of the university. In addition to the two 2-day retreats, the 8-month program includes monthly full-day sessions in addition to project work. Approximately 24 faculty and staff participate in programming annually (typically 2/3 faculty and 1/3 management-level staff).
Southeastern Conference Academic Leadership Development Program - SEC-ALDP
This prestigious professional development program aims to prepare and advance academic leaders for roles within SEC institutions and beyond. The program includes a series of meetings with university-level leaders and administrators to provide detailed insight into higher education operations and challenges, and two SEC-wide three-day workshops held on specified campuses for all program participants (typically held in October and February).
University of Kentucky Emerging Leaders Academy (ELA)
ELA's purpose is to encourage mid-career faculty and professional staff to consider leadership career paths and to guide them in developing the essential skills for effective institutional leadership.
Applicants should demonstrate academic leadership potential and have an interest in pursuing academic leadership roles. Participants will learn more about themselves as emerging leaders while attaining skills that lead to successful personal and professional outcomes.
DREAM Scholars Program
During the two-year program, participants will receive a solid foundation in career development and core human subjects research, with an emphasis on health equity research methods (e.g. community-based participatory research and dissemination and implementation). Each participant works with a mentor to create an Individual Development Plan, and the community of other scholars provides exposure to multidisciplinary research and clinical and translational science. Up to $5,000 in pilot funding ($2,500 yearly) and up to $3,000 of travel funds ($1,500 yearly) are provided.
Markey Cancer Center Leadership Academy
The Markey LAUNCH Leadership Academy will provide leadership development skills necessary for leading a diverse, multi-disciplinary cancer center. LAUNCH will leverage virtual and campus-wide resources to implement program activities.
The program duration is 12 months. Participants will be required to participate in regular interactive sessions via in-person and virtual formats. Session content will include access to Academic Impressions webinars, seminar discussion of topics essential for effective leadership and particularly critical for leading a diverse, multidisciplinary workforce. Participants will learn the roles of each Markey Cancer Center leader, the mission of each Markey program and network with university-wide leaders. Participants will partner with a Markey leader to develop a project in alignment with Markey’s Diversity Equity and Inclusion Strategic Plans. Participants will also be required to participate in program evaluations and periodic alumni surveys.
The LAUNCH leadership academy does not provide salary support. Participants will receive funding support for completion of their leadership project and candidates may receive travel support to present their final project at a national conference, e.g., ASCO (American Society of Clinical Oncology).
UK Engagement Academy
The UK Engagement Academy will bring together UK professionals, colleges, departments and/or units to build partnerships that thrive through Extension-sponsored and other engagement efforts. The goals include hosting a 2-day symposium for county level staff and campus-based faculty/staff/administrators to learn more about the significance of engaged scholarship through the lens of the land-grant mission. The Engagement Academy aims to emphasize the role of the Cooperative Extension Service and its success as the outreach arm of the University of Kentucky. Moreover, it serves in educating new and current UK administrators on the position engagement plays to harness community change in the city of Lexington, the region and state. The Academy also offers support to those UK scholars who focus on engagement by assuring that their work is valued equitably and seen as a relevant contribution.
The Engagement Academy will be held on September 11-12, 2024. The first day will consist of seminars, opportunities to engage in discussions with colleagues and to learn about projects that could potentially lead to campus-wide collaborations. The second day will include a tour of several models of campus-community engagement efforts within the state of Kentucky.