Design of Leadership Programs
for Faculty:
Methods and Approaches
David Kiel, Leadership Coordinator
UNC-CH Center for Faculty Excellence
kiel@unc.edu
CHEP, 2015
Higher Education Is Facing Challenges
Short List of Challenges Facing
Higher Education
Declines In Public Funding
Increases In Costs
Rapidly Changing Technology
Declining Infrastructure
The Need To Increase Diversity
More Contentious Stakeholders
Partisan Polarization
Globalization
Troubling Campus Safety Issues
Decline In Faculty Morale
Declining Middle Class Incomes
Increasing Student Debt
Lower Graduation Rates For Minorities
A Knowledge Explosion
Creation Of New Media In The Arts
New Disciplines In The Sciences
Restiveness Of Graduate Students
Excessive Length Of Time To Some Graduate Degrees
Increasing Pressures To Show Vocational Relevance
Higher Education in the US
If Faculty Do Not Lead, Who Will?
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IHE’s have multiple stakeholders
Corporate vs. academic values
Disciplinary nature of academic units
Each unit and discipline will need to respond
Only faculty can lead a response
Preserving academic values through change
Mid-Level Leaders Are Key
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Chairs, center and institute directors, associate deans
New incumbents
Experienced leaders
Emerging leaders
The leadership “pipeline”
Issues Facing Mid-Level Leaders
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Unit Strategy
Funding
Recruitment and retention
Marketing
Communications
Personnel management
Change management
Conflict
Quality in curriculum, teaching, service, and research
Issues Facing Faculty Leaders
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Facilities
Operations
Technology
Innovation
Diversity
Safety
Global Outreach
Interdisciplinarity
Public Service
Athletics
Student Life
Support Is Lacking, and Providing the
Support Is Not a Simple Matter
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Mid-level leaders are not prepared
Mid-level leaders lack support to learn to lead
Existing HR programs are not targeted toward faculty
We need a whole new set of programs
Leadership is a complex and diverse set of
competencies
What Leaders Need to Lead
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Opportunities for learning at multiple career points
Opportunities for shared problem-solving
Connection to helping systems, people
Connection to other leaders: vertical, horizontal
Access to best practices
Time and incentives to lead
Strong administrative staff
What Leaders Need to Know
• Broad perspectives and knowledge about higher
education
• Role and institution-specific knowledge
• General leadership and management skill and
knowledge
• Core interpersonal, analytical, and self-management
skills
Meeting This Challenge Will
Require Resources
Meeting This Challenge Will Require
Time and Energy
How to Solve It:
An Incremental Approach
1. “Collect the dots”—program development
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Target one specific need at a time
Tailor learning objectives and formats
Develop resources and sponsorship
Pilot, revise, and sustain
2. “Connect the dots”—curriculum building
3. Fill in the gaps—continuous improvement
4. Long-term resource development
UNC-CH Programs:
A Mix of Audiences, Sponsors, Styles,
Campus-wide
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ALP – Seminar Style: emerging leaders
CLP – Support Group Style: new incumbents
Core Skills – Short Course Style: open enrollment
FADP – Orientation Style: new incumbents
U-Lead – Institute Style: rising leaders
FLC – Coaching style: experienced leaders
School of Medicine
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Leadership Programs for Chairs: coaching service
ACCLAIM Program: minority retention
UNC System
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Entrepreneurship Boot Camp – Immersion Style: experienced leaders
Bridges (serves women faculty and staff) – Institute Style
When to Provide Opportunities
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For potential leaders
For emerging leaders
For new incumbents
For established leaders
For rising leaders
For established leaders in transition
Other Support Options
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Consultation services
Multi-campus leadership programs
External vendors
Professional associations
Coaching
Peer coaching
Online information and resources
Blended learning and virtual options
Learning communities
Continuing support groups
Lessons Learned
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Address faculty values and needs
Link to clear priorities and goals
Focus on one audience at a time
Address needs
Be opportunistic
Adapt style to purpose
Fit program to resources
Establish a personal contact
Lessons Learned
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Address the career context
Build a clientele
Work with senior leaders
Find the right sponsors
Support multiple programs and offerings
Flexibility about funding
Work to secure continuous funding
Ultimately, Leadership Is About:
The institutions we love and the people we serve,
so let’s do it right!